Hypothesis Set-Up Worksheet
Intro to Statistics, Math2400 Name ______________________________
Set up the hypotheses for the following research studies. State H0 and Ha in both
symbolic form and in words.
1. A random sample of 68 coyotes in northern Minnesota showed the average
age to be 2.05 years old. However, it is thought the overall population mean
age of coyotes is μ0 = 1.75. Test the hypothesis that Minnesota coyotes live
longer than the national population of coyotes.
2. Pyramid Lake is on the Paiute Indian Reservation in Nevada. The lake is
famous for cutthroat trout. The most recent Creel Survey reported that (based
on a random sample of 73 fish caught) the mean length for the population was
μ = 18.7. Suppose a friend tells you that the average length of a trout caught
in Pyramid Lake has increased to μ = 19 inches. Based on a sample of your
friend’s latest 32 trout catches, determine if the average size of trout in the
lake has increased.
3. Franchise and Business Opportunities Annual Report has over 1500 listings
of small business start-up opportunities. Each of these involves a start-up
cost: money needed to get the business going. Dr. Sinn, considering a new
career as a florist, finds the average start-up cost (for the U. S.) is $61,400. A
sample of 34 local florists gave a sample start-up average cost of $55,200.
Does it really cost less to start a flower shop in north Georgia?
4. The heart rate of a healthy lion is about 40 beats per minute. Heart rates that
are either too fast or too slow indicate the lion may be ill. After an operation
on a lion (to remove an abscessed tooth), his heart rates were checked every
half an hour. The average (n = 6) was found to be 36.5. Test the hypothesis
that the lion’s heart is different than 40 beats per minute (either way).
