TEST OF HYPOTHESIS

 If the null hypothesis is rejected, then the

HYPOTHESIS alternative to the null hypothesis (called
alternative hypothesis) is accepted
 A claim or statement about a
 The test procedure is based on the initial
property/characteristics of a population (in
our case, about the mean or a proportion assumption that H 0 is true.
of the population)
 An educated guess. An idea that CAN be EXAMPLE 1
tested. A publisher of college textbooks claims that the
average price of all hardbound college
HYPOTHESIS TESTING textbooks is $127.50. A group believes that the
 Also called “Test of Significance” actual mean is higher and wishes to test their
 Hypothesis testing involves making a belief. State the relevant null and alternative
hypotheses.
decision between two opposing
H 0 :μ=127.50
hypothesis or statements.
H a : μ>127.50
Steps in Hypothesis Testing EXAMPLE 2
1. Set up two contradictory hypothesis The recipe for a bakery item is designed to
2. Collect sample data result in a product that contains 8 grams of fat
3. Determine the correct distribution to per serving the quality control department
perform the hypothesis test. samples the product periodically to insure that
4. Analyze sample data by performing the the production process is working as designed.
State the relevant null and alternative
calculations that ultimately will allow you
hypotheses.
to: H 0 :μ=8
a. Reject Null Hypothesis
H a : μ≠ 5
b. Fail to reject the null hypothesis
5. Make a decision and write a meaningful EXAMPLE 3
conclusion. We want to test if college students take less
than five years to graduate from college, on the
NULL HYPOTHESIS average. State the relevant null and alternative
 Denoted by H 0 hypotheses.
 A statement about the population H 0 :μ ≥ 5
parameter that is assumed to be true H a : μ<5
unless there is convincing evidence to the EXAMPLE 4
contrary. On a state driver’s test, about 40% pass the test
 This typically represents the status quo, on the first try. We want to test if more than 40%
or what has historically been true. pass on the first try. State the null and
 ALWAYS CONTAIN SOME FORM OF alternative hypotheses.
EQUALITY ( ¿ , ≤ ,≥ ) H 0 : p=0.40
H a : p >0.40
ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS EXAMPLE 5
 Denoted by H a or H 1 A medical trial is conducted to test whether or
 A statement about the population not a new medicine reduces cholesterol by
parameter that is contradictory to the null 25%. State the null and alternative hypotheses.
hypothesis and is accepted as true only if H 0 : p=0.25
there is convincing evidence in favor of it. H a : p ≠ 0.25
 USES ¿
LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE 2. Type II error
 The number α that is used to determine  The decision not to reject H0 when it
the rejection region is called the level of is in fact not true
significance of the test.  IF the null hypothesis is false, then
 It is the probability that the test procedure the probability of Type II error is
will result in a Type I error. called β.

THE REJECTION REGION EXAMPLE 6

Each different form of the alternative hypothesis Suppose the null hypothesis, Ho, is: Frank's
Ha has its own kind of rejection region rock climbing equipment is safe.

Type I error: Frank thinks that his rock climbing

equipment may not be safe when, in fact, it
really is safe.
Type II error: Frank thinks that his rock climbing
equipment may be safe when, in fact, it is not
safe.

α = probability that Frank thinks his rock

climbing equipment may not be safe when, in
fact, it really is safe.

β = probability that Frank thinks his rock

climbing equipment may be safe when, in fact, it
is not safe.

Notice that, in this case, the error with the

greater consequence is the Type II error.
(If Frank thinks his rock climbing equipment is
safe, he will go ahead and use it.)

EXAMPLE 7

Answers:

TYPES OF ERRORS IN HYPOTHESIS TESTING

In a test of hypothesis:
1. Type I error
 The decision to reject H0 when it is
in fact true.
 Affected by the α - the lower the α
level, the lower the Type I error rate.
 IF the null hypothesis is FALSE,
then it is impossible to make a Type
I error.
EXERCISES
DIRECTIONS: State the null and alternative hypotheses in terms of the appropriate
parameter ( μ∨p)
Null hypothesis Alternative hypothesis
1. The average July temperature in a
region historically has been 74.5°F. ____________________ ____________________
Perhaps it is higher now.
2. The average room rate in hotels in a
certain region is $82.53. A travel agent ____________________ ____________________
believes that the average in a particular
resort area is different.
3. The average farm size in a
predominately rural state was 69.4 acres. ____________________ ____________________
The secretary of agriculture of that state
asserts that it is less today.
4. In a population of fish, approximately
42% are female. A test is conducted to ____________________ ____________________
see, in fact, the proportion is less.
5. At most 60% of Americans vote in
presidential elections. ____________________ ____________________

EXERCISES
DIRECTIONS: State the type I and type II errors in each.
1. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is: the blood cultures contain no traces of
pathogen XX. State the Type I and Type II errors.
2. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is: The victim of an automobile accident is alive when
he arrives at the emergency room of a hospital. State the Type I and Type II error.
3. The mean price of mid-sized cars in a region is $32,000. A test is conducted to see if
the claim is true. State the Type I and Type II errors in complete sentences.
4. A certain experimental drug claims a cure rate of at least 75% for males with prostate
cancer. Describe both the Type I and Type II errors in context. Which error is the more
serious?
5. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is: a patient is not sick. Which type of error has the
greater consequence, Type I or Type II?

EXERCISES
DIRECTIONS: Find the rejection region (for the standardized test statistic) for each
hypothesis test.

a. H0 : μ = 27 c. H0 : μ = −105
Ha : μ < 27 Ha : μ > −105
α = 0.05 α = 0.10
b. H0 : μ = 52 d. H0 : μ = 78.8
Ha : μ ≠ 52 Ha : μ ≠ 78.8
α = 0.05 α = 0.10