I.B.

Mathematics HL Option: Hypothesis Testing z and t-Tests

Index:

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Question 1 Question 2

Question 3 Question 4

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Question 1

A machine packs sugar into 1 kg bags. A random sample of the 8 filled bags
was taken and the masses of the bags measured to the nearest gram. There
masses in grams were

1001, 998, 999, 1002, 1001, 1003, 1002, 1002

It is suspected that the machine overfills the bags. Perform a test at the 1%
level, to determine whether the machine needs maintenance. It is known that
the masses of the bags of sugar are normally distributed with a variance 2.25 g.

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Solution to question 1

Let X be the r.v. the mass of a bag of sugar filled by the machine.

Then X ∼ N ( µ, σ 2 ) ∼ N (1000, 2.25 )

x=
∑ x = 8008 = 1001g . Note: We do
n 8
not need to calculate the standard
deviation, as we are given this in the
question, therefore we perform a z-test.

H0 : µ = 1000 g The mean mass of a bag of sugar is 1000 and the machine
does not overfill the bags.

H0 : µ > 1000 g The mean mass of a bag of sugar is more than 1000 g and the
machine overfills the bags.

⎛ σ2 ⎞ ⎛ 2.25 ⎞
Under H0 X ~ N ⎜ µ, ⎟ ∼ N ⎜ 1000,
⎝ n ⎠ ⎝ 8 ⎟⎠

To calculate the critical z-value you can use the tables or the graphics
calculator. In the DISTR menu select 3: invNorm, ENTER and enter area as
0.99, µ as 0 and σ as 1. Pres ENTER and the calculator returns the critical
value of 2.326.

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We will perform a one-tailed test at the 1% level and we will reject H0 if
ztest > 2.326 .
σ
s.d. =
n
x −µ 1001 − 1000
z= = = 1.886
σ 1.5
n 8

1000 Reject H0
0 2.326

Now as ztest < 2.326 , we do not reject H0 and conclude that there is significant
evidence at the 1% that the machine does not overfill the bags.

Using a graphics calculator we can perform the test. In the STAT menu, using
the same list select TESTS followed by 1: Z-Test, ENTER. Select Inpt: Data,
press ENTER.

Enter in µ0 = 1000 σ = 2.25 = 1.5 , List as L1, Freq as 1 and µ > µ0 (one-
tailed test). Select Calculate, ENTER and the calculator returns z = 1.886 and a
p-value

as 2.96% and again we not reject H0 . Returning to the previous screen

and selecting Draw, ENTER we obtain the corresponding graph.

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Question 2

A machine is used to fill bottled water. The bottles are to be filled to a volume of
500 ml. Ten, random measurements of the volume of water give a mean of 499
ml with a standard deviation of 1.2 ml. Assuming that the volumes of water are
normally distributed, test at the 1% level, whether there is a significant
difference from the expected value.

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Solution to question 2

Let X be the r.v.’ the volume of water in ml each bottle of water filled by the
machine. Then X ~ N ( µ, σ 2 ) .
H0 : µ = 500ml The expected mean is 500 ml.

H0 : µ ≠ 500ml The expected mean is not 500 ml.

As we only have the sample standard deviation we will perform a two-tailed t-

test at the 1% level where T ∼ t ( n − 1) ∼ t ( 9 ) . There are 9 degrees of freedom.
We will reject H0 if t test > 3.250 , where

x −µ x −µ
t test = or t test = if you used the unbiased estimate of the population
sn sn −1
n −1 n
standard deviation where
n 2
sn2−1 = s
n −1 t(9)

x −µ 499 − 500
t test = = = −2.5
sn 1.2
n −1 10 − 1

Reject H0 Reject H0
-3.250 0 3.250

As t test < 3.250 , we do not reject H0 and that there is not significance evidence
at the 1% level that the machine is different from the expected value.

Using the graphics calculator, enter the RUN menu and calculate the unbiased
n 10
estimate of the standard deviation sn −1 = sn = 1.2 . Enter this value
n −1 9
into memory A (Ans → ALPHA A, ENTER).

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Enter the STAT menu, select TESTS followed by 2: T-Test (see the diagrams
above) ENTER. Set Inpt to Stats, press ENTER. Enter in µ0 = 500 , x = 499 ,
Sx = ALPHA A (the actual value will appear when you press ENTER) n = 10
and µ ≠ µ0 (one tailed test). You will need to press ENTER after each item.

Select Calculate, ENTER and the calculator will calculate the value of t and the
corresponding p-value of 3.38%. We therefore do not reject H0 .

Returning to the previous screen and selecting Draw, ENTER, we obtain the
corresponding graph.

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Question 3

A school wants to introduce a new teaching method for the IB diploma course. It
is claimed that this teaching method will give better scores in the final IB
examinations. In order to test this hypothesis the school splits its diploma
students into two different groups. The final IB diploma scores of a random
sample of both groups are given below.

Sample A: The diploma scores of a random sample of 7 students who were

taught by using the original teaching method were

24, 23, 22, 30, 32, 36, 24.

Sample B: The diploma scores of a random sample of 9 students who were

taught by using the new teaching method were

36, 32, 40, 27, 40, 32, 27, 28, 29.

Test at the 5% level whether the new teaching method has resulted in an
improvement in the scores assuming that they are normally distributed.

Find the 95% confidence interval for the difference of the two means and decide
if there is a difference between the population means

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Solution to question 3

Performing an independent sample t-test. Let the population mean of sample A

be µm and of sample B be µn .

H0 : µ n = µm There is no improvement in the mean scores.

H1 : µn > µm The new teaching method does give an improvement in the

mean scores.

Entering the two lists in the STAT menu, 1;EDIT, ENTER in the graphics
calculator. Enter in the two samples A and B into L1 and L2 respectively. Select
CALC followed by 1; 1-Var Stats, ENTER, L1, ENTER. Write down the sample
mean and standard deviation. The unbiased estimate is written down in green.

Now repeat for L2. Select CALC followed by 1; 1-Var Stats, ENTER, L2,
ENTER. Write down the sample mean and standard deviation. The unbiased
estimate is written down in green.

xm =
∑x m
=
191
= 27.2857142
m 7

sm =
∑x 2

− xm =
5385 ⎛ 191 ⎞
−⎜
2

(Sm −1 = 5.3763149 )
⎟ = 4.97750039
m

m 7 ⎝ 7 ⎠

xn =
∑x n
=
291
= 32.3
n 9

∑x 2
9627 ⎛ 291 ⎞
2

sn = − xn =−⎜ ⎟ = 4.92160768 ( Sn −1 = 5.22015325 )

n

n 9 ⎝ 9 ⎠
We will use a pooled variance.
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 ns 2 + msm2 9 ( 4.92160768 ) + 7 ( 4.97750039 )
2

sn + m − 2 = n = = 27.95918359
n+m−2 9+7−2

We will perform a one-tailed t-test at the 5% level of significance. We consider

the T ∼ t ( n + m − 2 ) ∼ t (14 ) distribution and will reject H0 if ttest > 1.761 .

xn − xm − ( µ n − µ m )
t= T ∼ t (14 )
1 1
sn + m −2 +
n m
32.3 − 27.285…
=
⎛ 1 1⎞
27.959… ⎜ + ⎟
⎝9 7⎠
= 1.8942 Reject H0
0 1.761

As ttest > 1.761 we reject H0 and conclude that there is significant evidence at
the 5% level that the new teaching methods improve IB diploma scores.

Using the graphics calculator we can also do the test. In the STAT menu, select
TESTS keeping the same lists, select 4: 2-SampTTest, ENTER.

Set Inpt to Data, press ENTER. Set to List 1 to L2 and List 2 to L1, as we are
testing whether Sample B is an improvement on Sample A. Set Freq 1 and 2 to
1 , µ1 > µ2 ,and Pooled to Yes. Select Calculate, ENTER, to obtain the value of t
and notice the p-value

gives 3.9% for the one-tailed test. Scrolling down we can obtain the unbiased
estimates for the standard deviation and the pooled value. If we select Draw,
ENTER, in the previous screen we can obtain the graph.

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For a 95% confidence interval we consider the difference of two population
means with 14 degrees of freedom.
T ∼ t (14 )

1 1
xn − xm ± tsn + m −2 +
n m
⎛ 1 1⎞
32.3 − 27.285… ± 2.145 27.954… ⎜ + ⎟
⎝9 7⎠
( −0.668, 10.762) .
Reject H0 Reject H0
-2.145 0 2.145

Since zero (i.e. no difference) falls into the acceptance region we do not reject
H0 and there is no improvement in the mean scores.

A graphics calculator again can do this. In the STAT menu, select TESTS,
0:2-SampTInt with the same lists, select Inpt: Data.

Check that List 1 to L2 and List 2 to L1, as we are testing whether Sample B is
an improvement on Sample A. Also set both frequencies to 1, C-level to 0.95
and Pooled to Yes. Select Calculate, ENTER and the calculator will return the
required confidence interval ( −0.668, 10.762 ) .

Scrolling down we can obtain

further information such as the
unbiased estimates for the
standard deviation as well as

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Question 4

A group of 10 students were given a revision course before their final I.B.
examination. To see if there is going to be an improvement the students took a
test at the beginning and at the end of the course. These marks were recorded
in the table below.

Student A B C D E F G H I J
Pre- test 12 13 11 14 10 16 14 13 13 12
Post test 11 14 16 13 12 18 15 14 15 11

a. State why it would not be appropriate to work with the difference between
the means of these two sets of scores. Hence determine a 90%
confidence interval for the mean difference of the examination scores.
Explain the meaning of your answer.

b. It was hoped that by doing the revision course that the students score
would improve. Perform an appropriate test at the 5% level of significance
to determine whether this is the case.

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Solution to question 4

a. Since the observations are not independent, i.e. the same group of
students the difference of means is not an appropriate model.

Using a graphics calculator we can complete the table. Enter the STAT
menu, 1:EDIT, ENTER and put the pre-test marks into L1 and the post-
test marks into L2. Then enter QUIT and enter L2-L2 STO L3.

Re-enter the STAT menu, 1:EDIT to see L3. Now enter again STAT menu.

CALC and select 1: 1-Var Stats, press ENTER, L3, ENTER

The completed table can be seen on the next page. From this we have

d =
∑ d = 11 = 1.1 and Sdn =
∑d 2

−d2 =
43
− (1.1) = 1.75783958
2

n 10 n 10

For those who prefer to use the unbiased estimate for the standard
deviation we have

n 10
Sdn −1 = Sdn = 1.757… = 1.85292561
n −1 9

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Continued with question 4

The completed table is shown below.

Difference in
Student Pre-test Post-test
scores (d)
A 12 11 -1
B 13 14 1
C 11 16 5
D 14 13 -1
E 10 12 2
F 16 18 2
G 14 15 1
H 13 14 1
I 13 15 2
J 12 11 -1
∑ d = 11
Now for a 90% confidence interval look at T ∼ t (9)
t ( n − 1) ∼ t ( 9 ) . (9 degrees of freedom).
90%

sdn
Using d ± t we have
n −1 5% 5%

⎛ 1.757… ⎞
11 ± 1.833 ⎜ ⎟ = ( 0.0259, 2.17 )
⎝ 10 − 1 ⎠
-1.833 0 1.833

The same answer can be obtained very easily by using the graphics
calculator. In the STAT menu, select TESTS. Select Inpt Data, set, List to
L3 and Freq to 1 the C-level to 0.9 (90%). Select Calculate and press
ENTER to obtain the same answer.

A 90% confidence interval means that there is a probability of 0.1 that the
µd will not be in that interval.

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b. Using a paired t-test

H0 : µd = 0 There was no improvement after the revision course.

H1 : µd > 0 There was an improvement after the revision course.

We will perform a one-tailed t-test at the 5% level, with 9 degrees of

freedom. Considering T ∼ t ( 9 ) and we
will reject H0 if t test > 1.833 where T ∼ t (9)

d − µd 1.1 − 0
t= = = 1.877
sdn 1.757…
n −1 9

Reject H0
0 1.833

As t test > 1.833 we reject H0 and say that there is significant evidence at
the 5% level that there was an improvement in the students’ Mathematics
after the revision course.

The test can be done as well by the graphics calculator. In the STAT
menu, select TESTS, 2: T-Test, ENTER. Now put Inpt to Data press
ENTER.

Enter µ0 = 0 (no difference), List as L3 Freq to 1 and µ > µ0 (one-tailed

test). Select Calculate, ENTER to perform test or Draw, ENTER, to draw
the graph. Note the p-value is 0.0466, which means that t test is in the
rejection area, hence reject H0 .

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