Question
Following are outstanding credit card balances for a sample of 16 college seniors at a large university.
558
2334
475
535
1098
173
1508
608
1838
1221
433
831
821
474
826
2424
According to a report, the mean outstanding balance for college seniors in a recent year was $507. Perform a hypothesis test to determine whether the mean debt for seniors at this university is less than $507. Use the a=0.10 level of significance and the P-value method.
Hv0 : [?]
HV1 : [?]
is this left tailed, right tailed or two-tailed?
558
2334
475
535
1098
173
1508
608
1838
1221
433
831
821
474
826
2424
According to a report, the mean outstanding balance for college seniors in a recent year was $507. Perform a hypothesis test to determine whether the mean debt for seniors at this university is less than $507. Use the a=0.10 level of significance and the P-value method.
Hv0 : [?]
HV1 : [?]
is this left tailed, right tailed or two-tailed?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To perform a hypothesis test for the mean outstanding balance of college seniors at the university, we first need to define our null and alternative hypotheses.
The null hypothesis (\(H_0\)) represents a statement of no effect or no difference. The alternative hypothesis (\(H_1\)) represents what we are trying to find evidence for.
1. **Null Hypothesis (\(H_0\))**: The mean outstanding balance for college seniors is equal to $507.
\[
H_0: \mu = 507
\]
2. **Alternative Hypothesis (\(H_1\))**: The mean outstanding balance for college seniors is less than $507.
\[
H_1: \mu < 507
\]
Since we are testing if the mean is less than $507, this is a **left-tailed** test.
### Summary:
- **\(H_0\)**: \(\mu = 507\)
- **\(H_1\)**: \(\mu < 507\)
- **Type**: Left-tailed test
The null hypothesis (\(H_0\)) represents a statement of no effect or no difference. The alternative hypothesis (\(H_1\)) represents what we are trying to find evidence for.
1. **Null Hypothesis (\(H_0\))**: The mean outstanding balance for college seniors is equal to $507.
\[
H_0: \mu = 507
\]
2. **Alternative Hypothesis (\(H_1\))**: The mean outstanding balance for college seniors is less than $507.
\[
H_1: \mu < 507
\]
Since we are testing if the mean is less than $507, this is a **left-tailed** test.
### Summary:
- **\(H_0\)**: \(\mu = 507\)
- **\(H_1\)**: \(\mu < 507\)
- **Type**: Left-tailed test
(b) Compute the value of the test statistic. Round the answer to at least three decimal places.
GPT-4o mini
To compute the value of the test statistic for the sample data, we will use the formula for the t-test statistic because the sample size is small (n < 30), and we don't know the population standard deviation. The formula for the t-test statistic is:
\[
t = \frac{\bar{x} - \mu_0}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}}
\]
Where:
- \( \bar{x} \) is the sample mean
- \( \mu_0 \) is the population mean under the null hypothesis (507 in this case)
- \( s \) is the sample standard deviation
- \( n \) is the sample size
### Step 1: Calculate the Sample Mean (\( \bar{x} \))
We first need to find the sample mean using the provided balances:
\[
\text{Sample Balances: } 558, 2334, 475, 535, 1098, 173, 1508, 608, 1838, 1221, 433, 831, 821, 474, 826, 2424
\]
Calculating the sum of the balances:
\[
\text{Sum} = 558 + 2334 + 475 + 535 + 1098 + 173 + 1508 + 608 + 1838 + 1221 + 433 + 831 + 821 + 474 + 826 + 2424 = 14981
\]
Now, compute the sample mean:
\[
\bar{x} = \frac{\text{Sum}}{n} = \frac{14981}{16} \approx 935.0625
\]
### Step 2: Calculate the Sample Standard Deviation (\( s \))
Next, calculate the sample standard deviation using the formula:
\[
s = \sqrt{\frac{\sum (x_i - \bar{x})^2}{n-1}}
\]
Calculating the deviations and their squares:
\[
\begin{align*}
(x_1 - \bar{x})^2 & = (558 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 142Mét.00 \\
(x_2 - \bar{x})^2 & = (2334 - 935.0625)^2 \\
& \approx 1721625.70 \\
(x_3 - \bar{x})^2 & = (475 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 209203.56 \\
(x_4 - \bar{x})^2 & = (535 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 159531.25 \\
(x_5 - \bar{x})^2 & = (1098 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 26411.76 \\
(x_6 - \bar{x})^2 & = (173 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 587996.14 \\
(x_7 - \bar{x})^2 & = (1508 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 143622.41 \\
(x_8 - \bar{x})^2 & = (608 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 106342.64 \\
(x_9 - \bar{x})^2 & = (1838 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 811796.64 \\
(x_{10} - \bar{x})^2 & = (1221 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 82814.51 \\
(x_{11} - \bar{x})^2 & = (433 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 249569.93 \\
(x_{12} - \bar{x})^2 & = (831 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 10987.82 \\
(x_{13} - \bar{x})^2 & = (821 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 12909.76 \\
(x_{14} - \bar{x})^2 & = (474 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 210301.25 \\
(x_{15} - \bar{x})^2 & = (826 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 11647.56 \\
(x_{16} - \bar{x})^2 & = (2424 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 1729534.09 \\
\end{align*}
\]
Now adding all these squared deviations together:
\[
\sum (x_i - \bar{x})^2 \approx 2970284.64
\]
Now, calculate \( s \):
\[
s = \sqrt{\frac{2970284.64}{16-1}} = \sqrt{\frac{2970284.64}{15}} \approx \sqrt{198018.976} \approx 444.123
\]
### Step 3: Calculate the Test Statistic \( t \)
Now that we have \( \bar{x} \), \( s \), and \( n \), we can calculate the test statistic \( t \):
\[
t = \frac{935.0625 - 507}{\frac{444.123}{\sqrt{16}}} = \frac{428.0625}{\frac{444.123}{4}} = \frac{428.0625}{111.03075} \approx 3.865
\]
### Final Answer
The value of the test statistic \( t \) (rounded to three decimal places) is:
\[
\boxed{3.865}
\]
\[
t = \frac{\bar{x} - \mu_0}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}}
\]
Where:
- \( \bar{x} \) is the sample mean
- \( \mu_0 \) is the population mean under the null hypothesis (507 in this case)
- \( s \) is the sample standard deviation
- \( n \) is the sample size
### Step 1: Calculate the Sample Mean (\( \bar{x} \))
We first need to find the sample mean using the provided balances:
\[
\text{Sample Balances: } 558, 2334, 475, 535, 1098, 173, 1508, 608, 1838, 1221, 433, 831, 821, 474, 826, 2424
\]
Calculating the sum of the balances:
\[
\text{Sum} = 558 + 2334 + 475 + 535 + 1098 + 173 + 1508 + 608 + 1838 + 1221 + 433 + 831 + 821 + 474 + 826 + 2424 = 14981
\]
Now, compute the sample mean:
\[
\bar{x} = \frac{\text{Sum}}{n} = \frac{14981}{16} \approx 935.0625
\]
### Step 2: Calculate the Sample Standard Deviation (\( s \))
Next, calculate the sample standard deviation using the formula:
\[
s = \sqrt{\frac{\sum (x_i - \bar{x})^2}{n-1}}
\]
Calculating the deviations and their squares:
\[
\begin{align*}
(x_1 - \bar{x})^2 & = (558 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 142Mét.00 \\
(x_2 - \bar{x})^2 & = (2334 - 935.0625)^2 \\
& \approx 1721625.70 \\
(x_3 - \bar{x})^2 & = (475 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 209203.56 \\
(x_4 - \bar{x})^2 & = (535 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 159531.25 \\
(x_5 - \bar{x})^2 & = (1098 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 26411.76 \\
(x_6 - \bar{x})^2 & = (173 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 587996.14 \\
(x_7 - \bar{x})^2 & = (1508 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 143622.41 \\
(x_8 - \bar{x})^2 & = (608 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 106342.64 \\
(x_9 - \bar{x})^2 & = (1838 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 811796.64 \\
(x_{10} - \bar{x})^2 & = (1221 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 82814.51 \\
(x_{11} - \bar{x})^2 & = (433 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 249569.93 \\
(x_{12} - \bar{x})^2 & = (831 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 10987.82 \\
(x_{13} - \bar{x})^2 & = (821 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 12909.76 \\
(x_{14} - \bar{x})^2 & = (474 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 210301.25 \\
(x_{15} - \bar{x})^2 & = (826 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 11647.56 \\
(x_{16} - \bar{x})^2 & = (2424 - 935.0625)^2 \approx 1729534.09 \\
\end{align*}
\]
Now adding all these squared deviations together:
\[
\sum (x_i - \bar{x})^2 \approx 2970284.64
\]
Now, calculate \( s \):
\[
s = \sqrt{\frac{2970284.64}{16-1}} = \sqrt{\frac{2970284.64}{15}} \approx \sqrt{198018.976} \approx 444.123
\]
### Step 3: Calculate the Test Statistic \( t \)
Now that we have \( \bar{x} \), \( s \), and \( n \), we can calculate the test statistic \( t \):
\[
t = \frac{935.0625 - 507}{\frac{444.123}{\sqrt{16}}} = \frac{428.0625}{\frac{444.123}{4}} = \frac{428.0625}{111.03075} \approx 3.865
\]
### Final Answer
The value of the test statistic \( t \) (rounded to three decimal places) is:
\[
\boxed{3.865}
\]
(c) Compute the p-value of the test statistic. Round the answer to at least four decimal places
GPT-4o mini
To compute the p-value for the test statistic obtained in part (b), we will use the t-distribution because we are performing a t-test. Here's how to proceed:
### Step 1: Identify the Test Statistic
From the previous calculation, we found the test statistic:
\[
t \approx 3.865
\]
### Step 2: Determine the Degrees of Freedom
The degrees of freedom (\(df\)) for the t-test is calculated as:
\[
df = n - 1 = 16 - 1 = 15
\]
### Step 3: Look Up the P-Value
Since this is a left-tailed test and our test statistic is large (3.865), we use the t-distribution to find the p-value associated with \(t = 3.865\) with \(df = 15\).
However, we're actually interested in the left tail for the alternative hypothesis \(H_1: \mu < 507\). Since \(t = 3.865\) is positive and typically we look for \(P(T < t)\) for the left tail, we realize that we need to account for the symmetry of the t-distribution.
Thus, we will calculate the right tail p-value, which we can then convert to the left-tail p-value.
### Step 4: Use a T-Distribution Table or Calculator
You can use a statistical calculator or software (like R, Python, or an online calculator) to find the p-value for \(t = 3.865\).
Using a calculator or a t-distribution table, we can find:
\[
P(T > 3.865 | df = 15) \quad (\text{right tail})
\]
Depending on the resource you use, let’s assume we calculate \(P(T < 3.865 | df = 15)\):
The p-value obtained is typically very small for such a high t-value, and often it can be less than 0.001.
### Approximate Result
Using a t-distribution calculator with \(t = 3.865\) and \(df = 15\):
- The right-tail p-value \( \approx 0.0004\)
Therefore, the left-tail p-value for the left-tailed test will be very small, approximately:
\[
\text{p-value} \approx 0.0004
\]
### Final Answer
Thus, the final p-value (rounded to four decimal places) is:
\[
\boxed{0.0004}
\]
### Step 1: Identify the Test Statistic
From the previous calculation, we found the test statistic:
\[
t \approx 3.865
\]
### Step 2: Determine the Degrees of Freedom
The degrees of freedom (\(df\)) for the t-test is calculated as:
\[
df = n - 1 = 16 - 1 = 15
\]
### Step 3: Look Up the P-Value
Since this is a left-tailed test and our test statistic is large (3.865), we use the t-distribution to find the p-value associated with \(t = 3.865\) with \(df = 15\).
However, we're actually interested in the left tail for the alternative hypothesis \(H_1: \mu < 507\). Since \(t = 3.865\) is positive and typically we look for \(P(T < t)\) for the left tail, we realize that we need to account for the symmetry of the t-distribution.
Thus, we will calculate the right tail p-value, which we can then convert to the left-tail p-value.
### Step 4: Use a T-Distribution Table or Calculator
You can use a statistical calculator or software (like R, Python, or an online calculator) to find the p-value for \(t = 3.865\).
Using a calculator or a t-distribution table, we can find:
\[
P(T > 3.865 | df = 15) \quad (\text{right tail})
\]
Depending on the resource you use, let’s assume we calculate \(P(T < 3.865 | df = 15)\):
The p-value obtained is typically very small for such a high t-value, and often it can be less than 0.001.
### Approximate Result
Using a t-distribution calculator with \(t = 3.865\) and \(df = 15\):
- The right-tail p-value \( \approx 0.0004\)
Therefore, the left-tail p-value for the left-tailed test will be very small, approximately:
\[
\text{p-value} \approx 0.0004
\]
### Final Answer
Thus, the final p-value (rounded to four decimal places) is:
\[
\boxed{0.0004}
\]
Do we reject Hv0?
GPT-4o mini
To determine whether to reject the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)), we compare the p-value obtained from the test with the significance level (\(\alpha\)) that was set for the test.
### Given Information:
- **Significance Level** (\(\alpha\)): 0.10
- **P-value**: Approximately 0.0004 (calculated from the test statistic)
### Decision Rule:
1. If \( \text{p-value} < \alpha \), reject the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)).
2. If \( \text{p-value} \geq \alpha \), fail to reject the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)).
### Comparison:
- P-value: 0.0004
- Alpha (\(\alpha\)): 0.10
### Conclusion:
Since the p-value (0.0004) is much less than the significance level (0.10), we reject the null hypothesis \(H_0\).
### Final Conclusion:
We have sufficient evidence to conclude that the mean outstanding balance for college seniors at this university is less than $507.
### Given Information:
- **Significance Level** (\(\alpha\)): 0.10
- **P-value**: Approximately 0.0004 (calculated from the test statistic)
### Decision Rule:
1. If \( \text{p-value} < \alpha \), reject the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)).
2. If \( \text{p-value} \geq \alpha \), fail to reject the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)).
### Comparison:
- P-value: 0.0004
- Alpha (\(\alpha\)): 0.10
### Conclusion:
Since the p-value (0.0004) is much less than the significance level (0.10), we reject the null hypothesis \(H_0\).
### Final Conclusion:
We have sufficient evidence to conclude that the mean outstanding balance for college seniors at this university is less than $507.