Question

You have joined a small drug manufacturer. They have developed a weight loss pill. In general people do not lose weight. That is, the weight change of an adult for any 6-month period would average zero. With these “pills” for this sample of 20 people they appear to be losing weight. The weight change is in the table at the end of this test. A plus means the person lost weight, a minus means the person gained weight. You are hoping for many “pluses” and a successful pill. You are planning to study with a 0.10, 0.05 or a 0.01 alpha.   Generate a hypothesis test to support a claim that this pill will help you to lose weight.

1. Give the null and alternative hypothesis.   

2. What is the mean pounds lost for the sample?

3. What is the standard deviation for the sample?   

4. Compute the test statistic

5. Draw the T-distribution with the area that represents the P-value shaded

6. Approximate and interpret the P-value    

7. If you want to sell this weight loss drug as a success, what would you use for the alpha value, .01, .05, or .10.   Why?

Pounds Lost
(Negative numbers are pounds gained)
2	-2
8	3
-2	-4
-3	1
4	0
3	-2
3	4
1	3
2	-1
0	0

Answer 1