Steply

Find the test statistic and the p-value

Step by step, with the reason for every step · AP Statistics Practice Exam 1 · AP Statistics

Step by step

The question

Question: in a sample of 200, 75 say yes: at the 5% level, is the true proportion more than 0.3?

p > 0.3? 75 of 200 say yes, α = 0.05

1 Write the hypotheses

H₀ is the "nothing new" idea: it has the equal sign.

Here: the proportion is 0.3.

H0 : p = 0.3

Hₐ is what we want to show.

Here: the proportion is more than 0.3.

Ha : p > 0.3

More than means only the right end counts.

One tail.

one tail: the right end

2 Big enough for the bell

The bell works if both counts are at least 5.

200 times 0.3 is 60.

200 times 0.7 is 140.

Both are big enough.

n × p0 = 200 × 0.3 = 60, n × q0 = 200 × 0.7 = 140

3 The test number

p prime, the sample's part: 75 divided by 200 is 0.375.

p′ = 75200 = 0.375

The SD uses p zero from H zero: 0.3 times 0.7, over 200, then the square root.

About 0.0324.

SD = √p0 q0n = √0.3 × 0.7200 ≈ 0.0324

Careful!

We act as if H zero is true.

So the SD uses 0.3, not 0.375.

Careful: in the SD: p0 = 0.3, not p′
= 0.375

z is p prime minus p zero, over the SD.

0.375 minus 0.3 is 0.075.

Divided by 0.0324: about 2.31.

z = p′ − p0SD = 0.375 − 0.30.0324 ≈ 2.31

4 The p-value

The p-value is the chance of getting a sample at least this far out, if H zero is true.

p-value: the chance of a sample this far out, if H0 is true

On the bell of H zero: 0.3 in the middle, our sample at z = 2.31.

We shade the right end, from our z up.

The z-table gives the area to the left of z.

Row 2.3, column .01.

For z = 2.31: the row 2.3 and the column .01 meet at 0.9896.

The right end is 1 minus 0.9896: 0.0104.

p-value = 1 − 0.9896 = 0.0104

5 Decide

The p-value, 0.0104, is less than alpha, 0.05.

Our sample would be rare if H zero were true.

So we reject H zero.

p-value 0.0104 < α = 0.05 → reject H0

6 Say it in words

At the 5% level, there is enough evidence that

In words: at the 5% level, there is enough evidence that the proportion is more than 0.3.

the proportion is more than 0.3.

7 Check

Let's check the other way, with the cut-off.

0.05 in the right end gives the cut-off 1.645, from the table, as in the cut-offs lesson.

0.05 in one end: cut-off 1.645

z is 2.31: past the cut-off.

The same decision.

So it is right!

z = 2.31 > 1.645: past the cut-off, reject

Let's look back.

First: write the hypotheses.

Then: big enough for the bell.

Then: the test number.

Then: the p-value.

Then: decide.

Then: say it in words.

Last: check.

Answer
p-value 0.0104 < α = 0.05 → reject H0

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check your answer:

p > 0.6? 325 of 500 say yes, α = 0.05
Show the answer
reject H0

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