t-Test [43 marks]

1a. [1 mark]
Ms Calhoun measures the heights of students in her mathematics class. She is interested to
see if the mean height of male students, μ1, is the same as the mean height of
female students, μ2. The information is recorded in the table.

At the 10 % level of significance, a t -test was used to compare the means of the two
groups. The data is assumed to be normally distributed and the standard deviations are
equal between the two groups.
State the null hypothesis.

Markscheme
μ1 − μ2=0 A1
Note: Accept equivalent statements in words.
[1 mark]
1b. [1 mark]
State the alternative hypothesis.

Markscheme
μ1 − μ2 ≠ 0 A1

Note: Accept equivalent statements in words.

Markscheme
0.296 (0.295739…) A2
[2 marks]
1d. [2 marks]
State, giving a reason, whether Ms Calhoun should accept the null hypothesis.

Markscheme
0.296 > 0.1 R1
fail to reject the null hypothesis, there is no difference between the mean height of male
and female students A1
Note: Award (R1) for a correct comparison of their p-value to the test level, award (A1) for
the correct interpretation from that comparison.
Do not award R0A1.
[2 marks]
2a. [2 marks]
The weights of apples on a tree can be modelled by a normal distribution with a mean of 85
grams and a standard deviation of 7.5 grams.
Find the probability that an apple from the tree has a weight greater than 90 grams.

Markscheme
* This sample question was produced by experienced DP mathematics senior examiners to
aid teachers in preparing for external assessment in the new MAA course. There may be
minor differences in formatting compared to formal exam papers.
Let the weight of an apple be X
P ( X >90 )=0.252 ( 0.252492 … ) (M1)A1

[2 marks]
2b. [2 marks]
A sample of apples are taken from 2 trees, A and B, in different parts of the orchard.
The data is shown in the table below.

The owner of the orchard wants to know whether the mean weight of the apples from
tree A ( μ A ) is greater than the mean weight of the apples from tree B ( μ B ) so sets up
the following test:
H 0 : μ A =μ B and H 1 : μ A > μ B

Find the p-value for the owner’s test.

Markscheme
p-value ¿ 0.0189 ( 0.018947 … ) (M1)A1

[2 marks]
2c. [2 marks]
The test is performed at the 5 % significance level.
State the conclusion of the test, giving a reason for your answer.

Markscheme
0.0189< 0.05 R1
Sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis (that the weights of apples from the two
trees are equal) A1

[2 marks]
3a. [1 mark]
Anita is concerned that the construction of a new factory will have an adverse affect on the
fish in a nearby lake. Before construction begins she catches fish at random, records their
weight and returns them to the lake. After the construction is finished she collects a second,
random sample of weights of fish from the lake. Her data is shown in the table.

Anita decides to use a t-test, at the 5% significance level, to determine if the mean weight of
the fish changed after construction of the factory.
State an assumption that Anita is making, in order to use a t-test.

Markscheme
EITHER
The weights of the fish are distributed normally. A1
OR
The variance of the two groups of fish is equal. A1
[1 mark]
3b. [1 mark]
State the hypotheses for this t-test.

Markscheme
H 0 :B= A and H 1 : B ≠ A A1
where B and A represent the weights before and after.
[1 mark]
3c. [3 marks]
Find the p-value for this t-test.

Markscheme
df = 14, t = 0.861 (M1)
p-value = 0.403 A2
[3 marks]
3d. [2 marks]
State the conclusion of this test, in context, giving a reason.

Markscheme
Since 0.403 > 0.05 R1
Do not reject H0.
There is insufficient evidence, at the 5% level, of a change in weight. A1
[2 marks]
4a. [1 mark]
A pharmaceutical company has developed a new drug to decrease cholesterol. The final
stage of testing the new drug is to compare it to their current drug. They have 150
volunteers, all recently diagnosed with high cholesterol, from which they want to select a
sample of size 18. They require as close as possible 20% of the sample to be below the age
of 30, 30% to be between the ages of 30 and 50 and 50% to be over the age of 50.
State the name for this type of sampling technique.
Markscheme
stratified sampling A1
[1 mark]
4b. [3 marks]
Calculate the number of volunteers in the sample under the age of 30.

Markscheme
0.2 ×18=3.6 M1A1
so 4 volunteers need to be chosen A1
[3 marks]
4c. [1 mark]
Half of the 18 volunteers are given the current drug and half are given the new drug. After
six months each volunteer has their cholesterol level measured and the decrease during the
six months is shown in the table.

Calculate the mean decrease in cholesterol for

Markscheme
34.8 mg/dL A1
[1 mark]
4d. [1 mark]
The current drug.

Markscheme
24.7 mg/dL A1
[1 mark]
4e. [1 mark]
The company uses a t-test, at the 1% significance level, to determine if the new drug is
more effective at decreasing cholesterol.
State an assumption that the company is making, in order to use a t-test.

Markscheme
EITHER
The decreases in cholesterol are distributed normally A1
OR
The variance of the two groups of volunteers is equal. A1
[1 mark]
4f. [1 mark]
State the hypotheses for this t-test.

Markscheme
H 0 : N=C and H 1 : N >C A1
where N and C represent the decreases of the new and current drug
[1 mark]
4g. [3 marks]
Find the p-value for this t-test.

Markscheme
df = 16, t = 2.77 (M1)
p-value = 0.00683 A2
[3 marks]
4h. [2 marks]
State the conclusion of this test, in context, giving a reason.

Markscheme
Since 0.00683 < 0.01 R1
Reject H0. There is evidence, at the 1% level, that the new drug is more effective. A1
[2 marks]
5a. [1 mark]
Manny and Annabelle, mathematics teachers at Burnham High School, give their
students the same examination. A random sample of the examination scores were collected
from each of their classes.

Annabelle uses these scores to conduct a two-tailed t -test to compare the means of the two
classes, at the 5 % level of significance. It is assumed the examination scores for
both classes have the same variance and are normally distributed.
The null hypothesis is μ1=μ2 , where μ1 is the mean examination score from Manny’s
class and μ2 is the mean examination score from Annabelle’s class.
Write down the alternative hypothesis.

Markscheme
( H 1 : ) μ1 ≠ μ2 A1

Note: Accept an equivalent statement in words referring to μ1 and μ2 as defined in the

[1 mark]
5b. [2 marks]
Find the p-value for this test. Give your answer correct to five decimal places.

Markscheme
0.97652 ( 0.976516 … ) A2

[2 marks]
5c. [2 marks]
Annabelle concludes there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis.
State whether Annabelle’s conclusion is correct. Give a reason for your answer.
Markscheme
0.97652>0.05 ( 0.977 >0.05 ) R1
Annabelle’s conclusion is correct. A1

Note: Do not award R0A1. Answer must reference Annabelle’s conclusion; do not accept an
answer, without context, of “fail to reject H 0” for the A1 mark.

[2 marks]
6a. [1 mark]
A study was conducted to investigate whether the mean reaction time of drivers who
are talking on mobile phones is the same as the mean reaction time of drivers who are
talking to passengers in the vehicle. Two independent groups were randomly selected for
the study.
To gather data, each driver was put in a car simulator and asked to either talk on a
mobile phone or talk to a passenger. Each driver was instructed to apply the brakes as soon
as they saw a red light appear in front of the car. The reaction times of the drivers, in
seconds, were recorded, as shown in the following table.

At the 10 % level of significance, a t -test was used to compare the mean reaction times
of the two groups. Each data set is assumed to be normally distributed, and the
population variances are assumed to be the same.
Let μ1 and μ2 be the population means for the two groups. The null hypothesis for this test
is H 0 : μ1 − μ 2=0.
State the alternative hypothesis.

Markscheme
( H 1 : ) μ1 − μ2 ≠ 0 ( μ1 ≠ μ 2 ) A1

Note: Accept an equivalent statement in words, however reference to “population mean”

[1 mark]
6b. [2 marks]
Calculate the p-value for this test.

Markscheme
0.0778 ( 0.0778465 … ) A2

Note: Award A1 for an answer of 0.0815486 … from not using a pooled estimate of the
variance.

[2 marks]
6c. [2 marks]
State the conclusion of the test. Justify your answer.

Markscheme
0.0778< 0.1 R1
reject the null hypothesis A1

Note: Do not award R0A1.

[2 marks]
6d. [1 mark]
State what your conclusion means in context.
Markscheme
there is (significant evidence of) a difference between the (population) mean reaction
times A1

Note: Their conclusion in (c)(ii) must match their conclusion in (c)(i) to earn A1. Award A0
if their conclusion refers to mean reaction times in the sample.

[1 mark]

Printed for 2 SPOLECZNE LICEUM