Question

A study identified top accounting firms across the United States. The Southeast and Gulf Coast regions reported the highest combined growths. A characteristic description of the accounting firms in the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions included the number of partners in the firm. Below represents the number of partners within various firms of the two regions [Southeast and Gulf Coast].

Southeast     174          Gulf Coast     79
Southeast     45            Gulf Coast     106
Southeast     29            Gulf Coast     22
Southeast     51            Gulf Coast     22
Southeast     40            Gulf Coast     38
Southeast     10            Gulf Coast     17
Southeast     29            Gulf Coast     27
Southeast     37            Gulf Coast     21
Southeast     32            Gulf Coast     17
Southeast     22            Gulf Coast     12
Southeast     9              Gulf Coast     9
Southeast     30            Gulf Coast     6
Southeast     21            Gulf Coast     9
                                       Gulf Coast     12
                                       Gulf Coast     18

(a) At the 0.05 level of significance, is there evidence of a difference between Southeast region accounting firms and Gulf Coast accounting firms with respect to the mean number of partners? (Include: null and alternate hypotheses, value of test statistic, decision rule, conclusion in a complete sentence that includes why in terms of the decision rule.)

(b) Determine the p-value and interpret its meaning.

Answer 1