Question

1. In order for a doctor to prescribe medication for a fever, a patient needs to have a temperature of over 99.5 degrees. Suppose we do a test to try to prove that someone’s temperature is more than 99.5 degrees. (Hint: In order to answer this question, you should first write out the null and alternative hypotheses).
   1. What is the type I error I could make here? Describe it in terms of this situation, NOT a general definition.
   2. What is the type II error I could make here? Describe it in terms of this situation, NOT a general definition.
   3. Which one has more severe consequences and why? Are both bad?

Answer 1

Hypothesis:

H₀ : temperature of a patient is less than or equal to 99.5 ^oC

H₁: temperature of a patient is more than or equal to 99.5 ^oC

a) Type-I error:- Prescribing a medicine to the patient when in reality the temperature of a patient is less than or equal to 99.5 ^oC.

b) Type-II error:- Not prescribing a medicine to the patient when in reality he is suffering from fever or the temperature of a patient is more than to 99.5 ^oC.

c) Both the errors are bad, occurrence of type - II error is have more consequences because the patient is already suffering from fever and still not giving medicine will have a severe impact on the patient.