hypothesis testing when population mean is unknown

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Inference for a Population Mean (HT for 1 Mean, Sigma Unknown)

Now we get to the good stuff! We will need to know how to label the null and alternative hypothesis, calculate the test statistic, and then reach our conclusion using the critical value method or the p-value method.

The Test Statistic for Testing 1 Mean, σ Unknown:

[latex]t = \displaystyle \frac{\bar{x} - \mu}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}}[/latex]

What the different symbols mean:

[latex]n[/latex] is the sample size (number of people, items, etc… in the study)

[latex]df = n - 1[/latex] is the degrees of freedom

[latex]\mu[/latex] is the population mean

[latex]\bar{x}[/latex] is the sample mean (also known as average)

[latex]s[/latex] is the sample standard deviation

[latex]\alpha[/latex] is the significance level , usually given within the problem, or if not given, we assume it to be 5% or 0.05

Assumptions when conducting a Test for 1 Mean, σ Unknown:

• We have a simple random sample
• We have a normal distribution OR [latex]n\ge 30[/latex]

Steps to conduct a Test for 1 Mean, σ Unknown:

• Identify all the symbols listed above (all the stuff that will go into the formulas). This includes [latex]n[/latex], [latex]df[/latex], [latex]\mu[/latex], [latex]\bar{x}[/latex], [latex]s[/latex], and [latex]\alpha[/latex]
• Identify the null and alternative hypotheses
• Calculate the test statistic, [latex]t = \displaystyle \frac{\bar{x} - \mu}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}}[/latex]
• Find the critical value(s) OR the p-value OR both
• Apply the Decision Rule
• Write up a conclusion for the test

Example 1: The Cost of a Big Mac in Imperial County vs the World

One of the things that chain restaurants and fast food bring us is some consistency. In many cases, we would also expect the prices of items to be consistent at different locations. This may not always be the case. A Big Mac in Imperial County will likely cost about $5.99. How does this compare to other locations, even other countries? Is it higher or lower? Data collected from [latex]n = 112[/latex] countries during 2020 revealed a mean cost of [latex]\bar{x} = \$3.58[/latex] and a standard deviation of [latex]s = \$1.07[/latex]. Is there convincing statistical evidence that the cost of a Big Mac differs in places other than Imperial County?

Since we are being asked for convincing statistical evidence, a hypothesis test should be conducted. In this case, we are dealing with averages or means from one sample or group (McDonald’s around the world), so we will conduct a Test for 1 Mean, [latex]\sigma[/latex] Unknown.

• [latex]n = 112[/latex]
• [latex]df = n -1 = 112 - 1 = 111[/latex]
• [latex]\bar{x} = \$3.58[/latex]
• [latex]s = \$1.07[/latex]
• [latex]\alpha = 0.05[/latex] (we were not told a specific value in the problem, so we are assuming it is 5%)
• [latex]H_{0}: \mu = \$5.99[/latex]
• [latex]H_{A}: \mu \neq \$5.99[/latex]
• [latex]\mu = \$5.99[/latex] (from the null hypothesis)
• [latex]t = \displaystyle \frac{\bar{x} - \mu}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}}\ = \displaystyle \frac{3.58 - 5.99}{\frac{1.07}{\sqrt{112}}} = -23.836[/latex] (generally we round [latex]t[/latex] to 3 places)
• Applying the Decision Rule: We now compare this to our significance level, which is 0.05. If the p-value is smaller or equal to the alpha level, we have enough evidence for our claim, otherwise we do not. Here, [latex]p-value = 0.000[/latex], which is definitely smaller than [latex]\alpha = 0.05[/latex], so we have enough evidence for the claim…but what does this mean?
• Conclusion: Because our p-value of [latex]0.000[/latex] is less than our [latex]\alpha[/latex] level of [latex]0.05[/latex], we reject [latex]H_{0}[/latex]. We have convincing evidence that the true mean price of a Big Mac in Imperial County is different that prices around the world.

Example 2: Bacteria in Swimming Pools

A random sample of water from 30 different pools in Ohio revealed E. coli bacteria levels averaging [latex]\bar{x} = 1231[/latex] per sample with a standard deviation of [latex]s = 1038[/latex]. Using a significance level of [latex]\alpha = 0.05[/latex], test the claim that the population of pools have a mean coliform bacteria level of more than 400 . Is there convincing statistical evidence that the bacteria is higher than expected?

Since we are being asked for convincing statistical evidence, a hypothesis test should be conducted. In this case, we are dealing with averages or means from one sample or group (pools in Ohio), so we will conduct a Test for 1 Mean, [latex]\sigma[/latex] Unknown.

• [latex]n = 30[/latex]
• [latex]df = n -1 = 30 - 1 = 29[/latex]
• [latex]\bar{x} = 1231[/latex]
• [latex]s = 1038[/latex]
• [latex]\alpha = 0.05[/latex] (we are told to use 0.05 or 5%)
• [latex]H_{0}: \mu = 400[/latex]
• [latex]H_{A}: \mu > 400[/latex]
• [latex]\mu = 400[/latex] (from the null hypothesis)
• [latex]t = \displaystyle \frac{\bar{x} - \mu}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}}\ = \displaystyle \frac{1231 - 1038}{\frac{1038}{\sqrt{30}}} = 4.385[/latex] (generally we round [latex]t[/latex] to 3 places)
• Applying the Decision Rule: We now compare this to our significance level, which is [latex]\alpha = 0.05[/latex]. If the p-value is smaller or equal to the alpha level, we have enough evidence for our claim, otherwise we do not. Here, [latex]p-value = 0.000[/latex], which is definitely smaller than [latex]\alpha = 0.05[/latex], so we have enough evidence for the claim…but what does this mean?
• Conclusion: Because our p-value of [latex]0.000[/latex] is less than our [latex]\alpha[/latex] level of [latex]0.05[/latex], we reject [latex]H_{0}[/latex]. We have convincing evidence that the mean bacteria level is above 400.

Example 3: Are M&M’s Cheating Us Out of Chocolate?

Did you ever notice that sometimes packaged food has a lot of air, or that some items seem smaller than they used to be? The average M&M candy weighs about 1 gram. One day, I got curious and decided to weigh 100 individual M&M candies. The average came out to be [latex]\bar{x} = 0.92[/latex] grams. The standard deviation was [latex]s = 0.03[/latex] grams. Is there convincing statistical evidence that we are being cheated out of M&M chocolate?

Since we are being asked for convincing statistical evidence, a hypothesis test should be conducted. In this case, we are dealing with averages or means from one sample or group (M&M candies), so we will conduct a Test for 1 Mean, [latex]\sigma[/latex] Unknown.

• [latex]n = 100[/latex]
• [latex]\bar{x} = 0.95[/latex] grams
• [latex]s = 0.03[/latex] grams
• [latex]H_{0}: \mu = 1[/latex]
• [latex]H_{A}: \mu < 1[/latex]
• [latex]\mu = 1[/latex] (from the null hypothesis)
• [latex]t = \displaystyle \frac{\bar{x} - \mu}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}}\ = \displaystyle \frac{0.95 - 1}{\frac{0.03}{\sqrt{100}}} = -26.667[/latex] (generally we round [latex]t[/latex] to 3 places)
• Conclusion: Because our p-value of [latex]0.000[/latex] is less than our [latex]\alpha[/latex] level of [latex]0.05[/latex], we reject [latex]H_{0}[/latex]. We have convincing evidence that we are being cheated out of M&M’s chocolate!

Basic Statistics Copyright © by Allyn Leon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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