1. Hypothesis Testing for Variance and Standard Deviation
Section 7.5
Hypothesis Testing for Variance and Standard Deviation
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

2. Section 7.5 Objectives Find critical values for a χ2-test
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Section 7.5 Objectives
Find critical values for a χ2-test
Use the χ2-test to test a variance or a standard deviation

3. Finding Critical Values for the χ2-Test
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Finding Critical Values for the χ2-Test
Specify the level of significance .
Determine the degrees of freedom d.f. = n – 1.
The critical values for the χ2-distribution are found in Table 6 of Appendix B. To find the critical value(s) for a
right-tailed test, use the value that corresponds to d.f. and .
left-tailed test, use the value that corresponds to d.f. and 1 – .
two-tailed test, use the values that corresponds to d.f. and ½ and d.f. and 1 – ½.

4. Finding Critical Values for the χ2-Test
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Finding Critical Values for the χ2-Test
Left-tailed
Right-tailed χ2
1 – α χ2
1 – α
Two-tailed χ2
1 – α

5. Example: Finding Critical Values for χ2
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Example: Finding Critical Values for χ2
Find the critical χ2-value for a left-tailed test when n = 11 and  = 0.01.
Solution:
Degrees of freedom: n – 1 = 11 – 1 = 10 d.f.
The area to the right of the critical value is 1 –  = 1 – 0.01 = 0.99. χ2
From Table 6, the critical value is

6. Example: Finding Critical Values for χ2
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Find the critical χ2-value for a two-tailed test when n = 13 and  = 0.01.
Solution:
Degrees of freedom: n – 1 = 13 – 1 = 12 d.f.
The areas to the right of the critical values are χ2
From Table 6, the critical values are and

7. The Chi-Square Test χ2-Test for a Variance or Standard Deviation
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
The Chi-Square Test
χ2-Test for a Variance or Standard Deviation
A statistical test for a population variance or standard deviation.
Can be used when the population is normal.
The test statistic is s2.
The standardized test statistic
follows a chi-square distribution with degrees of freedom d.f. = n – 1.

8. Using the χ2-Test for a Variance or Standard Deviation
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
In Words In Symbols
State the claim mathematically and verbally. Identify the null and alternative hypotheses.
Specify the level of significance.
Determine the degrees of freedom and sketch the sampling distribution.
Determine any critical value(s).
State H0 and Ha.
Identify .
d.f. = n – 1
Use Table 6 in Appendix B.

9. Using the χ2-Test for a Variance or Standard Deviation
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
In Words In Symbols
Determine any rejection region(s).
Find the standardized test statistic.
Make a decision to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
Interpret the decision in the context of the original claim.
If χ2 is in the rejection region, reject H0. Otherwise, fail to reject H0.

10. Example: Hypothesis Test for the Population Variance
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Example: Hypothesis Test for the Population Variance
A dairy processing company claims that the variance of the amount of fat in the whole milk processed by the company is no more than You suspect this is wrong and find that a random sample of 41 milk containers has a variance of At α = 0.05, is there enough evidence to reject the company’s claim? Assume the population is normally distributed.

11. Solution: Hypothesis Test for the Population Variance
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
H0:
Ha:
α =
df =
Rejection Region:
σ2 ≤ 0.25
σ2 > 0.25
Test Statistic:
Decision:
0.05
41 – 1 = 40
Fail to Reject H0 χ2
55.758
At the 5% level of significance, there is not enough evidence to reject the company’s claim that the variance of the amount of fat in the whole milk is no more than 0.25.
55.758
43.2

12. Example: Hypothesis Test for the Standard Deviation
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Example: Hypothesis Test for the Standard Deviation
A restaurant claims that the standard deviation in the length of serving times is less than 2.9 minutes. A random sample of 23 serving times has a standard deviation of 2.1 minutes. At α = 0.10, is there enough evidence to support the restaurant’s claim? Assume the population is normally distributed.

13. Solution: Hypothesis Test for the Standard Deviation
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
H0:
Ha:
α =
df =
Rejection Region:
σ ≥ 2.9 min.
σ < 2.9 min.
Test Statistic:
Decision:
0.10
23 – 1 = 22
Reject H0
14.042 χ2
At the 10% level of significance, there is enough evidence to support the claim that the standard deviation for the length of serving times is less than 2.9 minutes.
14.042
11.536

14. Example: Hypothesis Test for the Population Variance
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Example: Hypothesis Test for the Population Variance
A sporting goods manufacturer claims that the variance of the strength in a certain fishing line is A random sample of 15 fishing line spools has a variance of At α = 0.05, is there enough evidence to reject the manufacturer’s claim? Assume the population is normally distributed.

15. Solution: Hypothesis Test for the Population Variance
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
H0:
Ha:
α =
df =
Rejection Region:
σ2 = 15.9
σ2 ≠ 15.9
Test Statistic:
Decision:
0.05
15 – 1 = 14
Fail to Reject H0
5.629 χ2
26.119
At the 5% level of significance, there is not enough evidence to reject the claim that the variance in the strength of the fishing line is 15.9.
5.629
26.119
19.194

16. Section 7.5 Summary Found critical values for a χ2-test
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Section 7.5 Summary
Found critical values for a χ2-test
Used the χ2-test to test a variance or a standard deviation