Steply

Test the claim p > 0.05: 18 of 200 are broken, alpha 0.05

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Hypothesis test for a proportion · University Statistics

Step by step

The question

Question: in a sample of 200, 18 are broken: at the 5% level, is the true proportion more than 0.05?

p > 0.05? 18 of 200 are broken, α = 0.05

1 Write the hypotheses

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

Here: the proportion is 0.05.

H0 : p = 0.05

Hₐ is what we want to show.

Here: the proportion is more than 0.05.

Ha : p > 0.05

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 0.05 is 10.

200 times 0.95 is 190.

Both are big enough.

= n × p0 = 200 × 0.05 = 10, n × q0 = 200 × 0.95 = 190

3 The test number

p prime, the sample's part: 18 divided by 200 is 0.09.

p′ = 18200 = 0.09

The SD uses p zero from H zero: 0.05 times 0.95, over 200, then the square root.

About 0.0154.

SD = √p0 q0n = √0.05 × 0.95200 ≈ 0.0154

Careful!

We act as if H zero is true.

So the SD uses 0.05, not 0.09.

Careful: in the SD: p0 = 0.05, not p′ = 0.09

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

0.09 minus 0.05 is 0.04.

Divided by 0.0154: about 2.6.

z = p′ − p0SD = 0.09 − 0.050.0154 ≈ 2.6

4 The p-value

The p-value is the chance of getting a sample 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: 0.05 in the middle, our sample at z = 2.6.

We shade the right end, from our z up.

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

Row 2.6, column .00.

For z = 2.6: the row 2.6 and the column .00 meet at 0.9953.

The right end is 1 minus 0.9953: 0.0047.

p-value = 1 − 0.9953 = 0.0047

5 Decide

The p-value, 0.0047, is less than alpha, 0.05.

Our sample would be rare if H zero were true.

So we reject H zero.

= p-value 0.0047 < 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 0.05.

the proportion is more than 0.05.

7 Check

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

0.05 in the right end gives the cut-off 1.645.

0.05 in one end: cut-off 1.645

z is 2.6: past the cut-off.

The same decision.

So it is right!

z = 2.6 > 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 0.0047 < α = 0.05 → reject H0

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

p > 0.2? 123 of 500 are broken, α = 0.05
Show the answer
reject H0

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