Modified Battery Life Analysis
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Nayama NayamaModified Battery Life Analysis
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Powered by AIThe main assumptions include the normality of the sample mean distribution, as the original population is normally distributed (given in the problem), and the sample variance is a good estimate of the population variance due to the sample size being reasonably large (n=20). These assumptions are crucial for the validity of the t-test results .
The null hypothesis is H0: μ ≤ 305, and the alternative hypothesis is H1: μ > 305. This sets up a one-tailed test to determine if the modification resulted in a statistically significant increase in battery life .
The t-value is computed using the formula t = (x̄ - μ) / (s/√n). Here, μ = 305, x̄ = 311, s = 12, and n = 20. Plugging these values, we get t = (311 - 305) / (12/√20) = 2.24. A t-value of 2.24, which is greater than the critical value of 1.729, leads to the rejection of the null hypothesis, suggesting the modification did increase battery life .
Increasing the confidence level to 0.01 would necessitate a larger critical value for the t-test, reducing the test's sensitivity to detect a true effect unless the sample mean was very high. With a higher threshold for evidence against the null hypothesis, there could be a failure to reject the null hypothesis at this new level, unless the observed t-value still exceeds the more stringent critical value .
Sample size affects the power of the hypothesis test. A larger sample size would provide a more accurate estimate of the population mean and reduce the standard error, making it easier to detect a true effect. Here, a sample size of 20 contributes to making the t-test valid but somewhat limits its power compared to a larger sample .
By setting α = 0.05, the risk of a Type I error (rejecting a true null hypothesis) is controlled at 5%. However, since we do not directly calculate it, the risk of a Type II error (failing to reject a false null hypothesis) depends on the true effect size and sample size. The reported t-value allows rejecting the null hypothesis, thus reducing the chance of a Type II error if the alternative hypothesis is true .
A t-test is appropriate here because we are dealing with a small sample size of 20 and we do not know the population standard deviation. The t-test is suitable for small samples drawn from normally distributed populations, especially when the population standard deviation is estimated from the sample standard deviation .
Sample variability, measured by the standard deviation of 12 days, impacts the width of the confidence interval around the sample mean and therefore affects whether results are statistically significant. High variability could obscure if the true mean life is greater than 305 days unless the sample mean difference is substantial, as seen with the calculated t-value of 2.24 leading to rejecting the null hypothesis .
The critical value for the t-distribution is used because the sample size is small, and we use the sample standard deviation to estimate the population standard deviation. The t-distribution accounts for additional variability that comes from estimating the population standard deviation, especially for small samples, reflecting greater uncertainty than the normal distribution .
At a significance level of 0.05, the critical value from a t-distribution table with 19 degrees of freedom is 1.729. The decision rule is: if the calculated t-value is greater than 1.729, we reject the null hypothesis .