Word Problem: One-Sample Z-Test
Example 1.
A coffee shop claims that their average wait time for a customer's order is 3 minutes. To test this claim, a
random sample of 50 customers is taken, and their wait times (in minutes) are recorded. The sample
mean is found to be 3.5 minutes with a sample standard deviation of 0.8 minutes. Conduct a one-sample
z-test at a significance level of 0.05 to determine if there is evidence to support the coffee shop's claim.
Solution:
Step 1: State the hypotheses.
Null hypothesis (H0): The average wait time for a customer's order is 3 minutes.
Alternative hypothesis (Ha): The average wait time for a customer's order is not 3 minutes.
Step 2: Set the significance level (α).
Given that the significance level is 0.05.
Step 3: Compute the test statistic.
The test statistic for a one-sample z-test is given by:
z = (sample mean - population mean) / (sample standard deviation / sqrt(sample size))
In this case:
Sample mean (x̄) = 3.5 minutes
Population mean (μ) = 3 minutes
Sample standard deviation (s) = 0.8 minutes
Sample size (n) = 50 customers
Plugging in the values:
z = (3.5 - 3) / (0.8 / sqrt(50))
z ≈ 2.78
Step 4: Determine the critical value.
Since the alternative hypothesis is two-tailed, we divide the significance level by 2 (0.05/2 = 0.025) to
find the critical value corresponding to the z-score. Looking up the critical value in the z-table, we find it
to be approximately ±1.96.
Step 5: Make a decision.
Since the calculated test statistic (2.78) is greater than the critical value (±1.96) at a significance level of
0.05, we reject the null hypothesis.
Step 6: Interpret the results.
There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the average wait time for a customer's order at the coffee
shop is not 3 minutes, supporting the alternative hypothesis.
Note: The critical value and decision can vary based on different significance levels or alternative
hypotheses. Make sure to adjust accordingly.
Word Problem 1:
A manufacturer claims that the average weight of their cereal boxes is 500 grams. To test this claim, a
random sample of 36 cereal boxes is selected, and their weights (in grams) are recorded. The sample
mean is found to be 485 grams with a sample standard deviation of 20 grams. Conduct a one-sample z-
test at a significance level of 0.01 to determine if there is evidence to support the manufacturer's claim.
Solution:
Step 1: State the hypotheses.
Null hypothesis (H0): The average weight of the cereal boxes is 500 grams.
Alternative hypothesis (Ha): The average weight of the cereal boxes is not 500 grams.
Step 2: Set the significance level (α).
Given that the significance level is 0.01.
Step 3: Compute the test statistic.
Using the formula for the test statistic:
z = (sample mean - population mean) / (sample standard deviation / sqrt(sample size))
z = (485 - 500) / (20 / sqrt(36))
z ≈ -4.5
Step 4: Determine the critical value.
For a two-tailed test at a significance level of 0.01, the critical value is approximately ±2.58.
Step 5: Make a decision.
Since the calculated test statistic (-4.5) is less than the critical value (±2.58) at a significance level of 0.01,
we reject the null hypothesis.
Step 6: Interpret the results.
There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the average weight of the cereal boxes is not 500 grams,
supporting the alternative hypothesis.
Word Problem 2:
A tutoring center claims that their average SAT Math score improvement is 50 points. To test this claim, a
random sample of 25 students is selected, and their score improvements (in points) are recorded. The
sample mean improvement is found to be 45 points with a sample standard deviation of 10 points.
Conduct a one-sample z-test at a significance level of 0.05 to determine if there is evidence to support
the tutoring center's claim.
Solution:
Step 1: State the hypotheses.
Null hypothesis (H0): The average SAT Math score improvement is 50 points.
Alternative hypothesis (Ha): The average SAT Math score improvement is not 50 points.
Step 2: Set the significance level (α).
Given that the significance level is 0.05.
Step 3: Compute the test statistic.
Using the formula for the test statistic:
z = (sample mean - population mean) / (sample standard deviation / sqrt(sample size))
z = (45 - 50) / (10 / sqrt(25))
z = -2.5
Step 4: Determine the critical value.
For a two-tailed test at a significance level of 0.05, the critical value is approximately ±1.96.
Step 5: Make a decision.
Since the calculated test statistic (-2.5) is less than the critical value (±1.96) at a significance level of 0.05,
we reject the null hypothesis.
Step 6: Interpret the results.
There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the average SAT Math score improvement is not 50 points,
supporting the alternative hypothesis.
Word Problem 3:
A company claims that the average time to resolve a customer complaint is 24 hours. To test this claim, a
random sample of 100 customer complaints is selected, and the time taken to resolve each complaint (in
hours) is recorded. The sample mean is found to be 27 hours with a sample standard deviation of 6
hours. Conduct a one-sample z-test at a significance level of 0.05 to determine if there is evidence to
support the company's claim.
Solution:
Step 1: State the hypotheses.
Null hypothesis (H0): The average time to resolve a customer complaint is 24 hours.
Alternative hypothesis (Ha): The average time to resolve a customer complaint is not 24 hours.
Step 2: Set the significance level (α).
Given that the significance level is 0.05.
Step 3: Compute the test statistic.
Using the formula for the test statistic:
z = (sample mean - population mean) / (sample standard deviation / sqrt(sample size))
z = (27 - 24) / (6 / sqrt(100))
z = 1.5
Step 4: Determine the critical value.
For a two-tailed test at a significance level of 0.05, the critical value is approximately ±1.96.
Step 5: Make a decision.
Since the calculated test statistic (1.5) is less than the critical value (±1.96) at a significance level of 0.05,
we fail to reject the null hypothesis.
Step 6: Interpret the results.
There is insufficient evidence to suggest that the average time to resolve a customer complaint is not 24
hours. The company's claim is supported.
Word Problem 4:
A manufacturer claims that the average length of their pencils is 7 inches. To test this claim, a random
sample of 64 pencils is selected, and their lengths (in inches) are recorded. The sample mean length is
found to be 6.8 inches with a sample standard deviation of 0.5 inches. Conduct a one-sample z-test at a
significance level of 0.01 to determine if there is evidence to support the manufacturer's claim.
Solution:
Step 1: State the hypotheses.
Null hypothesis (H0): The average length of the pencils is 7 inches.
Alternative hypothesis (Ha): The average length of the pencils is not 7 inches.
Step 2: Set the significance level (α).
Given that the significance level is 0.01.
Step 3: Compute the test statistic.
Using the formula for the test statistic:
z = (sample mean - population mean) / (sample standard deviation / sqrt(sample size))
z = (6.8 - 7) / (0.5 / sqrt(64))
z = -1.6
Step 4: Determine the critical value.
For a two-tailed test at a significance level of 0.01, the critical value is approximately ±2.58.
Step 5: Make a decision.
Since the calculated test statistic (-1.6) is less than the critical value (±2.58) at a significance level of 0.01,
we fail to reject the null hypothesis.
Step 6: Interpret the results.
There is insufficient evidence to suggest that the average length of the pencils is not 7 inches. The
manufacturer's claim is supported.
Example 1.
A coffee shop claims that their average wait time for a customer's order is 3 minutes. To test this claim, a
random sample of 50 customers is taken, and their wait times (in minutes) are recorded. The sample
mean is found to be 3.5 minutes with a sample standard deviation of 0.8 minutes. Conduct a one-sample
z-test at a significance
Word Problem 1:
A manufacturer claims that the average weight of their cereal boxes is 500 grams. To test this claim, a
random sample of 36 cereal boxes is selected, and their weights (in grams) are recorded. The sample
mean is found to be 485 grams with a sample standard deviation of 20 grams. Conduct a one-sample z-
test at a significance level of 0.01 to determine if there is evidence to support the manufacturer's claim.
Word Problem 2:
A tutoring center claims that their average SAT Math score improvement is 50 points. To test this claim, a
random sample of 25 students is selected, and their score improvements (in points) are recorded. The
sample mean improvement is found to be 45 points with a sample standard deviation of 10 points.
Conduct a one-sample z-test at a significance level of 0.05 to determine if there is evidence to support
the tutoring center's claim.
Word Problem 3:
A company claims that the average time to resolve a customer complaint is 24 hours. To test this claim, a
random sample of 100 customer complaints is selected, and the time taken to resolve each complaint (in
hours) is recorded. The sample mean is found to be 27 hours with a sample standard deviation of 6
hours. Conduct a one-sample z-test at a significance level of 0.05 to determine if there is evidence to
support the company's claim.
Word Problem 4:
A manufacturer claims that the average length of their pencils is 7 inches. To test this claim, a random
sample of 64 pencils is selected, and their lengths (in inches) are recorded. The sample mean length is
found to be 6.8 inches with a sample standard deviation of 0.5 inches. Conduct a one-sample z-test at a
significance level of 0.01 to determine if there is evidence to support the manufacturer's claim.
