Porisma

Worked solution

Find the significance levels that reject a claim

At an early stage in analysing the marks scored by a large number of candidates in an examination paper, the Examining Board takes a random sample of 250 candidates and finds that their marks satisfy ∑x=11872\sum x=11872 and ∑x2=646193\sum x^2=646193. Using these figures, the null hypothesis μ=49.5\mu=49.5 is tested against the alternative μ<49.5\mu<49.5 at the α%\alpha\% level of significance. Determine α\alpha for which the null hypothesis is rejected in favour of the alternative hypothesis.

[1988/II/10]

CJC · Lecture · Example 4

Estimate the sample mean and variance

Let μ\mu be the population mean examination mark. xˉ=11872/250=47.488\bar x=11872/250=47.488 and s2=[646193−118722/250]/249=330.9857991968…s^2=[646193-11872^2/250]/249=330.9857991968\ldots. The source rounds this variance to 330.99. Under H0H_0, use Xˉ≈N(49.5,s2/250)\bar X\approx N(49.5,s^2/250) by the large-sample approximation.

How did this part go?

Calculate the lower-tail probability

For H0:μ=49.5H_0:\mu=49.5 against H1:μ<49.5H_1:\mu<49.5, z=(47.488−49.5)/s2/250=−1.748611379…z=(47.488-49.5)/\sqrt{s^2/250}=-1.748611379\ldots and p=0.04017910900…p=0.04017910900\ldots. The source’s p-value strategy is appropriate because the unknown is the significance level. Its Z-Test Stats screen uses μ0=49.5\mu_0=49.5, estimated SD 18.1931305713 from rounded variance 330.99, xˉ=47.488\bar x=47.488, n=250n=250, lower alternative; it reports z=−1.748600283z=-1.748600283, p=0.0401800257p=0.0401800257, printed as 0.040180. These rounded-input/source-algorithm differences are retained separately.

How did this part go?

Invert the significance comparison without rounding the set

Rejection requires p≤α/100p\le\alpha/100. Hence 100p≤α<100100p\le\alpha<100, with exact lower endpoint approximately 4.017910900%4.017910900\% for the full-precision normal approximation. The source’s final 4.02≤α<1004.02\le\alpha<100 is a rounded display of that threshold; it is not the identical set of real significance percentages. If percentages are restricted to 0.01 increments, 4.02% is the least rejecting grid value. The source includes a stray 5% rejection-rule line before solving for α\alpha; 5% is not supplied by the question.

How did this part go?

Common mistakes

Compare the p-value with α/100, not α. A rounded 4.02% label does not replace the unrounded real lower bound.

Solution notes

Teacher strategy, completed estimates and unknown-α inequality retained. The source’s 5% line is recorded as a copied template line rather than added to the question. No printed marks.

Read the hint