The Test-Statistic Value for

the Population Mean

 Test statistic
1 a quantity calculated from a sample data; used to decide whether the null
hypothesis should be rejected in a hypothesis test

-test
2 used when the population variance is known or when the sample size is
sufficiently large, that is,

The -score is obtained using the formula

where is the sample mean, is the hypothesized population

mean, is the population standard deviation, and is the sample
size.
 -test
3 used if the population variance is unknown and the sample size is not
sufficiently large

The -score is obtained using the formula

where is the sample mean, is the hypothesized population

mean, is the sample standard deviation, and is the sample
size.
Example 1: Find the -score if , , , and
.
Solution:
Use the formula for -score.

Therefore, the -score is .

Example 2: Identify the appropriate test statistic to be used
given the following: . Then, compute for the test statistic.

Solution:
1. Identify the appropriate test statistic.

Since the sample size is less than 30 and the population

standard deviation is unknown, -test should be used.
Solution:
2. Compute for the test statistic.

Therefore, the test statistic is .

A. Individual Practice. Write answers in your
notebook

1. Identify the appropriate test statistic to be used given

the following: , , , and . Then compute for the test
statistic.

2. Identify the appropriate test statistic to be used given

the following: , , , and . Then compute for the test
statistic.
3. A new drug in the market is claimed by its
manufacturers to reduce acne marks in 14 days of
continuous use with a standard deviation of 2.15 days.
One hundred test users were chosen and reported to
reduce acne marks to none in 12.56 days. What is the
test statistic for the problem?
Interpretation of the
Population Mean
1 Null Hypothesis
denoted by ; shows that there is no difference or relationship between
quantities involved

2 Alternative Hypothesis
denoted by ; specifies an existence of a difference or relationship between
the quantities being considered
Example:
A gym trainer claims that a new diet plan will help
people lose weight by 10kg in a month. The null and
alternative hypotheses are as follows.

: The amount of weight that the people will lose in

following the new diet plan is 10 kg. ()
: The amount of weight that the people will lose in
following the new diet plan is not 10 kg. ()
 Test Statistic
3 a quantity calculated from a sample data; used to decide whether the null
hypothesis should be rejected in a hypothesis test

4 Rejection Region
an interval of values for which the null hypothesis is rejected
 5 Making Decision Based on the Test-Statistic

The test statistic is used to make the decision on

whether to reject the null hypothesis or not.
● If the test statistic is in the rejection region, reject the
null hypothesis.
● If the test statistic is not in the rejection region, do
not reject the null hypothesis.
6 Guidelines when to Reject the Null
Hypothesis
Type of Hypothesis Test Reject the Null Hypothesis if:
the test statistic is located to the left
Left-tailed
of the critical value.
the test statistic is located to the right
Right-tailed
of the critical value.
the test statistic is located to the left
Two-tailed of the negative critical value or to the
right of the positive critical value.
Example 1: In a hypothesis test, the test statistic is
and the critical values are . What is the appropriate
decision?

Solution:
1. Identify the type of tail test to be used.

Since the critical values are , the test is two-tailed.

Solution:

2. Identify the rejection region.

Since the test is two-tailed, the

rejection region can be found
on both tails of a normal
distribution. The rejection
region is found on the left of
and to the right of
Solution:

3. Check whether the value of the test statistic falls in the

rejection region.

The test statistic does not fall in the rejection region.

4. Make a decision.

Since the test statistic does not fall in the rejection

region, we do not reject the null hypothesis.
Example 2: In a hypothesis test, the test statistic is
and the critical value is . What is the appropriate
decision?

Solution:
1. Identify the type of tail test to be used.

Since the critical value is , the test is left-tailed.

Solution:
2. Identify the rejection region.

Since the test is left-tailed, the

rejection region can be found on
the left tail of the distribution.
The rejection region is found on
the left of
Solution:
3. Check whether the value of the test statistic falls in
the rejection region.

The test statistic falls in the rejection region.

4. Make a decision.

Since the test statistic falls in the rejection region, we

reject the null hypothesis.
B. Individual Practice. Write answers in your
notebook

1. In a hypothesis test, the test statistic is and the

critical value is . What is the appropriate decision?

2. Given and , determine the appropriate decision if , ,

and .
Use . Assume that the population is normally
distributed.
3. It is claimed that the average amount of sleep a
teenager has in a day is 6.8 hours with a standard
deviation of 2.6 hours. To test this claim, a researcher
interviewed 50 teenagers about their sleeping hours.
Results revealed that the average amount of sleep they
have is 7.15 hours. Compute for the test statistic at and
interpret.
Practice
Problems
 1 Steps in Interpreting the Computed Test
Statistic
In interpreting the computed test statistic, we need to
follow the following steps:
a. Identify the null and alternative hypothesis.
b. Identify the appropriate form of test statistic.
c. Determine the critical value/s.
d. Identify the rejection region.
e. Compute for the test statistic and interpret.
 2 Making Decisions Based on the Test Statistic

The test statistic is used to make the decision on

whether to reject the null hypothesis or not.
a.If the test statistic is in the rejection region, reject the
null hypothesis.
b.If the test statistic is not in the rejection region, do
not reject the null hypothesis.
Example 1: A left-tailed test with a level of significance
has a critical value of . What is the appropriate decision
rule?

Solution:
A left-tailed test with a level of significance has a
rejection region with area to the left of the critical
value . If the test statistic is less than , then it will fall to
the rejection region.

Thus, the decision rule is to reject the null hypothesis

if the calculated test statistic .
Example 2: ABC Manufacturing Company claims that
their orange juice pack has an average of 90 ml with a
standard deviation of 15 ml. A random sample of 250
orange juice pack yielded an average of 92.30 ml.
Calculate the test statistic.
Solution:
1. Identify the given.

The population mean is .

The sample mean is .
The population standard deviation is .
The sample size is .
2. Identify the appropriate form of test statistic.
Since the population standard deviation is known and the
sample size is greater than , -test should be used.
3. Compute for the test statistic.

Therefore, the test statistic is .

C. Individual Practice. Write answers in your
notebook

1. A right-tailed test with a 5% level of significance has a

critical value . What is the appropriate decision rule?

2. A researcher claims that a toddler can memorize an

average of 10 words in 1 hour. If a sample of 10
toddlers is tested and yielded an average of 8 words
with a standard deviation of 2 words in 1 hour,
calculate the test statistic based on the given
information.
3. It was claimed that the average weight of a dozen
eggs is 500 grams with a standard deviation of 10.20
grams. In a market, 50 packs were randomly inspected
and yielded an average weight of 495 grams with a
standard deviation of 15.90 grams. Test the claim at .
Solving Problems
Involving Test of
Hypothesis on the
Population Mean
 Steps in Hypothesis Testing on the
1 Population mean
1. Formulate the null and alternative hypotheses.
2. Determine the level of significance.
3. Calculate the test statistic and identify the rejection region.
4. Make a decision based on the test statistic and the
rejection region.
5. Draw a conclusion.
Example 1: According to studies, the grade of an
average high school student in Mathematics is 82, with
a standard deviation of 7.25. To improve this, XYZ
mathematical institution introduces a special math
program for high school students. During the pilot
testing, 500 students participated, and at the end of the
session, they found out that the average grade of those
who participated is 89 with a standard deviation of 4.90.
Can we claim that the special program at significantly
improved their grade?
Solution:
1. Formulate the null and alternative hypotheses.

2. Determine the level of significance.

It is given that .

3. Calculate the test statistic and identify the rejection

region.

Since the sample size is , -test can be used. Moreover,

since the alternative hypothesis uses , we will use a two-
tailed test.
Solution:

Using the -table at , the critical value is . Thus, the

rejection region is the region at the tails beyond under
the standard normal curve.
Solution:
4. Make a decision based on the test statistic and the
rejection region.

Since , reject the null hypothesis.

Solution:
5. Draw a conclusion.

At the level of significance, the mathematical

performance of the students is 82. Upon introducing a
special math program, their grades significantly
increased since we rejected the null hypothesis.

Thus, the special math program helped improve their

grades in Mathematics.
Example 2: According to a recent census, the average
entry age of the working force of City Z is at least 21.89
years old. A random sample of 20 working citizens were
asked about their age, and their average age is 19.75
with a standard deviation of 0.8. Test whether the claim
is correct at
.
Solution:
1. Formulate the null and alternative hypotheses.

2. Determine the level of significance.

It is given that .
Solution:
3. Calculate the test statistic and identify the rejection
region.
Since the sample size is and the sample standard
deviations is known, -test should be used. Moreover,
since the alternative hypothesis uses the symbol , we will
use a left-tailed test.
Solution:
3. Calculate the test statistic and identify the rejection
region.

Using the -table at and , the critical value is . Thus,

the rejection region is the region to the left of under
the -distribution curve.
Solution:
4. Make a decision based on the test statistic and the
rejection region.

Since , reject .

5. Draw a conclusion.

At the level of significance, the average entry age of the

working force is less than years.

Thus, the average entry age of the working force has

gone lower.
D. Individual Practice. Write answers in your
notebook

1. It is claimed that the average cost of going to

college is ₱1 000 000 with a standard deviation of
₱590 000. Fifty undergraduate students who recently
finished their course were asked about their
expenses during their
4-year stay at their school, and it appears that the
average cost is ₱950 000. Test whether the claim is
true at .
2. According to studies, women gain at most 5
kilograms in their weight after giving birth. To test
this, a clinic collected data from 25 women who just
gave birth and found out that they gained an average
weight of 5.25 kilograms with a standard deviation of
1.75 kilograms. Is the claim true at
?
3. A recent study shows that an average hen can lay up
to 40 large eggs during its fertile years. A farmer tested
this study to his 100 hens and found out that they can
lay an average of 50 large eggs with a standard
deviation of 5 eggs. At , test whether the claim is
correct.