Question

Cellulose content in alfalfa hay. An agronomist examines the cellulose content of a variety of alfalfa hay. Suppose that the cellulose content in the population has standard deviation σ = 8 milligrams per gram (mg/g). A sample of 15 cuttings has mean cellulose content  = 145 mg/g.

(a) Give a 90% confidence interval for the mean cellulose content in the population.

(b) A previous study claimed that the mean cellulose content was μ = 140 mg/g, but the agronomist believes that the mean is higher than that figure. State H₀ and H_a and carry out a significance test to see if the new data support this belief.

(c) The statistical procedures used in parts (a) and (b) are valid when several assumptions are met. What are these assumptions?

Answer 1

Ans:

a)

90% confidence interval for the mean cellulose content

=145+/-1.645*(8/sqrt(15))

=145+/-3.40

=(141.60, 148.40)

b)

Test statistic:

z=(145-140)/(8/sqrt(15))

z=2.42

p-value=P(z>2.42)=0.0077

As,p-value<0.05,we reject the null hypothesis.

There is sufficient evidenec to support the belief that mean is higher than 140.

c)It is valid when population distribution is normally distributed.