Finding P-values
In Exercises 5–8, either use technology to find the P-value or use Table A-3 to find a range of values for the P-value. Based on the result, what is the final conclusion?


Cotinine in Smokers The claim is that smokers have a mean cotinine level greater than the level of 2.84 ng/mL found for nonsmokers. (Cotinine is used as a biomarker for exposure to nicotine.) The sample size is n = 902 and the test statistic is t = 56.319.

A fitness researcher believes a new workout program increases average treadmill endurance beyond $35\min$. A sample of $16$ adults who completed the program had the following endurance times. Test whether the data support the researcher's claim using $\alpha =0.05$ & $\sigma =2.16$.

Designing a Study Stock fund managers are investment professionals who decide which stocks should be part of a portfolio. In an article in the Wall Street Journal (“Not a Stock-Picker’s Market,” WSJ, January 25, 2014), the performance of stock fund managers was considered based on dispersion in the market. In the stock market, risk is measured by the standard deviation rate of return of stock (dispersion). When dispersion is low, then the rate of return of the stocks that make up the market are not as spread out. That is, the return on Company X is close to that of Y is close to that of Z, and so on. When dispersion is high, then the rate of return of stocks is more spread out; meaning some stocks outperform others by a substantial amount. Since 1991, the dispersion of stocks has been about 7.1%. In some years, the dispersion is higher (such as 2001 when dispersion was 10%), and in some years it is lower (such as 2013 when dispersion was 5%). So, in 2001, stock fund managers would argue, one needed to have more investment advice in order to identify the stock market winners, whereas in 2013, since dispersion was low, virtually all stocks ended up with returns near the mean, so investment advice was not as valuable.

e. Suppose this study was conducted and the data yielded a P-value of 0.083. Explain what this result suggests.

Platelet-Rich Plasma In a prospective cohort study, 20 patients with alopecia (hair loss) had platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injected in their scalps. After three months, the mean difference in hair density (after - before) was 170.70 hairs per square centimeter with a standard deviation of 37.81hairs/cm2. Source: Gkini MA, Kouskoukis AE, Tripsianis G, Rigopoulos D, Kouskoukis K., “Study of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia through a One-Year Period”. J Cutan Aesthet Surg, 2014; 7:213–219. 

c. State the null and alternative hypotheses to determine if hair density increased. 

Discarded Plastic

What distribution is used for the hypothesis test described in Exercise 1?

For the hypothesis test described in Exercise 1, is it necessary to determine whether the 62 weights appear to be from a population having a normal distribution? Why or why not?

Test the claim about the population mean $\mu$ at the given level of significance. Assume the population is normally distributed. Find the $P$-value and determine whether you should reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Claim: $\mu \ne 1020$, $\alpha =0.01$, $\sigma =85$

Sample: $\bar{x}=990$, $n=40$

A university claims that the average SAT math score of its incoming freshmen is 600. A skeptical education researcher believes this might not be accurate. The researcher collects a random sample of 40 students and finds a sample mean SAT math score of 622. The population standard deviation is known to be 70. Using a significance level of $\alpha$ = 0.05, test the researcher’s claim.

Test the claim about the population mean $\mu$ at the given level of significance. Assume the population is normally distributed. Find the $P$-value and determine whether you should reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Claim: $\mu >52$, $\alpha =0.10$

Sample: $\bar{x}=53.1$, $s=4.7$, $n=20$