Type I/II errors and power of test

69 questions · 15 question types identified

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State meaning of Type I error

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to define or explain what a Type I error means in the specific context given, without requiring any calculation.

9 Standard +0.5
13.0% of questions
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5 The time, in minutes, spent by customers at a particular gym has the distribution \(\mathrm { N } ( \mu , 38.2 )\). In the past the value of \(\mu\) has been 42.4. Following the installation of some new equipment the management wishes to test whether the value of \(\mu\) has changed.
  1. State what is meant by a Type I error in this context.
  2. The mean time for a sample of 20 customers is found to be 45.6 minutes. Test at the \(2.5 \%\) significance level whether the value of \(\mu\) has changed.
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Easiest question Standard +0.3 »
5 The time, in minutes, spent by customers at a particular gym has the distribution \(\mathrm { N } ( \mu , 38.2 )\). In the past the value of \(\mu\) has been 42.4. Following the installation of some new equipment the management wishes to test whether the value of \(\mu\) has changed.
  1. State what is meant by a Type I error in this context.
  2. The mean time for a sample of 20 customers is found to be 45.6 minutes. Test at the \(2.5 \%\) significance level whether the value of \(\mu\) has changed.
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Hardest question Challenging +1.8 »
3
  1. Explain the meaning of the following terms in the context of hypothesis testing: Type I error, Type II error, operating characteristic, power.
  2. A chemical manufacturer is endeavouring to reduce the amount of a certain impurity in one of its bulk products by improving the production process. The amount of impurity is measured in a convenient unit of concentration, and this is modelled by the Normally distributed random variable \(X\). In the old production process, the mean of \(X\), denoted by \(\mu\), was 63 and the standard deviation of \(X\) was 3.7. Experimental batches of the product are to be made using the new process, and it is desired to examine the hypotheses \(\mathrm { H } _ { 0 } : \mu = 63\) and \(\mathrm { H } _ { 1 } : \mu < 63\) for the new process. Investigation of the variability in the new process has established that the standard deviation may be assumed unchanged. The usual Normal test based on \(\bar { X }\) is to be used, where \(\bar { X }\) is the mean of \(X\) over \(n\) experimental batches (regarded as a random sample), with a critical value \(c\) such that \(\mathrm { H } _ { 0 }\) is rejected if the value of \(\bar { X }\) is less than \(c\). The following criteria are set out.
    • If in fact \(\mu = 63\), the probability of concluding that \(\mu < 63\) must be only \(1 \%\).
    • If in fact \(\mu = 60\), the probability of concluding that \(\mu < 63\) must be \(90 \%\).
    Find \(c\) and the smallest value of \(n\) that is required. With these values, what is the power of the test if in fact \(\mu = 58.5\) ?
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Simultaneous critical region and Type II error

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to both find the critical region of a test and then use that critical region to calculate the probability of a Type II error for a specified alternative mean, as two linked parts.

9 Standard +0.6
13.0% of questions
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6. A butter packing machine cuts butter into blocks. The weight of a block of butter is normally distributed with a mean weight of 250 g and a standard deviation of 4 g . A random sample of 15 blocks is taken to monitor any change in the mean weight of the blocks of butter.
  1. Find the critical region of a suitable test using a \(2 \%\) level of significance.
    (3)
  2. Assuming the mean weight of a block of butter has increased to 254 g , find the probability of a Type II error.
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Easiest question Standard +0.3 »
5 Over a long period of time it is found that the time spent at cash withdrawal points follows a normal distribution with mean 2.1 minutes and standard deviation 0.9 minutes. A new system is tried out, to speed up the procedure. The null hypothesis is that the mean time spent is the same under the new system as previously. It is decided to reject the null hypothesis and accept that the new system is quicker if the mean withdrawal time from a random sample of 20 cash withdrawals is less than 1.7 minutes. Assume that, for the new system, the standard deviation is still 0.9 minutes, and the time spent still follows a normal distribution.
  1. Calculate the probability of a Type I error.
  2. If the mean withdrawal time under the new system is actually 1.5 minutes, calculate the probability of a Type II error.
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Hardest question Challenging +1.2 »
5 The time \(T\) seconds needed for a computer to be ready to use, from the moment it is switched on, is a normally distributed random variable with standard deviation 5 seconds. The specification of the computer says that the population mean time should be not more than 30 seconds.
  1. A test is carried out, at the \(5 \%\) significance level, of whether the specification is being met, using the mean \(\bar { t }\) of a random sample of 10 times.
    1. Find the critical region for the test, in terms of \(\bar { t }\).
    2. Given that the population mean time is in fact 35 seconds, find the probability that the test results in a Type II error.
    3. Because of system degradation and memory load, the population mean time \(\mu\) seconds increases with the number of months of use, \(m\). A formula for \(\mu\) in terms of \(m\) is \(\mu = 20 + 0.6 m\). Use this formula to find the value of \(m\) for which the probability that the test results in rejection of the null hypothesis is 0.5 .
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Hypothesis test then Type II error probability

A question is this type if and only if it requires the student to first carry out a full hypothesis test and then, in a subsequent part, calculate the probability of a Type II error for a later similar test given a specified true alternative mean.

8 Standard +0.8
11.6% of questions
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6 Parcels arriving at a certain office have weights \(W \mathrm {~kg}\), where the random variable \(W\) has mean \(\mu\) and standard deviation 0.2 . The value of \(\mu\) used to be 2.60 , but there is a suspicion that this may no longer be true. In order to test at the 5\% significance level whether the value of \(\mu\) has increased, a random sample of 75 parcels is chosen. You may assume that the standard deviation of \(W\) is unchanged.
  1. The mean weight of the 75 parcels is found to be 2.64 kg . Carry out the test.
  2. Later another test of the same hypotheses at the \(5 \%\) significance level, with another random sample of 75 parcels, is carried out. Given that the value of \(\mu\) is now 2.68 , calculate the probability of a Type II error.
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Carry out hypothesis test

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to perform a full z-test or normal-distribution hypothesis test for a population mean, including computing the test statistic and reaching a conclusion, without asking about Type II error probability.

7 Moderate -0.3
10.1% of questions
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2 In the past the yield of a certain crop, in tonnes per hectare, had mean 0.56 and standard deviation 0.08 Following the introduction of a new fertilizer, the farmer intends to test at the \(2.5 \%\) significance level whether the mean yield has increased. He finds that the mean yield over 10 years is 0.61 tonnes per hectare.
  1. State two assumptions that are necessary for the test.
  2. Carry out the test.
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Calculate probability of Type I error

A question is this type if and only if it requires the student to calculate the probability of a Type I error by finding P(reject H0 | H0 true) using a given critical region or decision rule, requiring actual probability computation.

6 Standard +0.3
8.7% of questions
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3 In the past, Arvinder has found that the mean time for his journey to work is 35.2 minutes. He tries a different route to work, hoping that this will reduce his journey time. Arvinder decides to take a random sample of 25 journeys using the new route. If the sample mean is less than 34.7 minutes he will conclude that the new route is quicker. Assume that, for the new route, the journey time has a normal distribution with standard deviation 5.6 minutes.
  1. Find the probability that a Type I error occurs.
  2. Arvinder finds that the sample mean is 34.5 minutes. Explain briefly why it is impossible for him to make a Type II error.
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Find minimum sample size for Type II error constraint

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to find the minimum sample size n such that the probability of a Type II error is below a specified threshold for a given alternative mean value.

6 Challenging +1.3
8.7% of questions
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5 The masses of packets of cornflakes are normally distributed with standard deviation 11 g . A random sample of 20 packets was weighed and found to have a mean mass of 746 g .
  1. Test at the \(4 \%\) significance level whether there is enough evidence to conclude that the population mean mass is less than 750 g .
  2. Given that the population mean mass actually is 750 g , find the smallest possible sample size, \(n\), for which it is at least \(97 \%\) certain that the mean mass of the sample exceeds 745 g .
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State meaning of Type II error

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to define or explain what a Type II error means in the specific context given, without requiring any calculation.

5 Standard +0.4
7.2% of questions
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4 People who diet can expect to lose an average of 3 kg in a month. In a book, the authors claim that people who follow a new diet will lose an average of more than 3 kg in a month. The weight losses of the 180 people in a random sample who had followed the new diet for a month were noted. The mean was 3.3 kg and the standard deviation was 2.8 kg .
  1. Test the authors' claim at the \(5 \%\) significance level, stating your null and alternative hypotheses.
  2. State what is meant by a Type II error in words relating to the context of the test in part (i).
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State probability of Type I error

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to simply state the probability of a Type I error, where the answer is just the significance level of the test with no further calculation needed.

4 Moderate -0.1
5.8% of questions
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2 Jamie is conducting a hypothesis test on a random variable which has a normal distribution with standard deviation 1 The hypotheses are $$\begin{aligned} & \mathrm { H } _ { 0 } : \mu = 5 \\ & \mathrm { H } _ { 1 } : \mu > 5 \end{aligned}$$ He takes a random sample of size 4
The mean of his sample is 6
He uses a 5\% level of significance.
Before Jamie conducted the test, what was the probability that he would make a Type I error? Circle your answer.
[0pt] [1 mark] \(0.0228 \quad 0.0456 \quad 0.0500 \quad 0.1587\)
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Identify which error type was made

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to state, with a reason, which of Type I or Type II error might have been made given the outcome of a completed hypothesis test.

4 Standard +0.4
5.8% of questions
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5 The numbers of basketball courts in a random sample of 70 schools in South Mowland are summarised in the table.
Number of basketball courts01234\(> 4\)
Number of schools228261040
  1. Calculate unbiased estimates for the population mean and variance of the number of basketball courts per school in South Mowland.
    The mean number of basketball courts per school in North Mowland is 1.9 .
  2. Test at the \(5 \%\) significance level whether the mean number of basketball courts per school in South Mowland is less than the mean for North Mowland.
  3. State, with a reason, which of the errors, Type I or Type II, might have been made in the test in part (ii).
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Calculate probability of Type II error

A question is this type if and only if it requires the student to calculate the probability of a Type II error by finding P(do not reject H0 | specific alternative mean is true), given or after finding the critical region.

3 Challenging +1.1
4.3% of questions
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3 The random variable \(X\) has the distribution \(\mathrm { N } \left( \mu , 5 ^ { 2 } \right)\). A hypothesis test is carried out of \(\mathrm { H } _ { 0 } : \mu = 20.0\) against \(\mathrm { H } _ { 1 } : \mu < 20.0\), at the \(1 \%\) level of significance, based on the mean of a sample of size 16. Given that in fact \(\mu = 15.0\), find the probability that the test results in a Type II error.
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Find critical region for test

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to determine the critical region (rejection region) for a hypothesis test in terms of the sample mean or test statistic, at a given significance level.

2 Standard +0.3
2.9% of questions
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3. A clothes manufacturer wishes to find out if adult females have become taller on average since twenty years ago when their mean height was 5 ft 6 inches. Studies over time have shown that the standard deviation of the height of adult females has been fairly constant at 2.3 inches. The manager wishes to test if the mean height is now more than 5 ft 6 inches and takes a sample of 150 adult females.
  1. Stating your hypotheses clearly, find the critical region for the mean height of the sample for a test at the \(5 \%\) level of significance. The total height of the females in the sample is 832 ft .
  2. Carry out the test making your conclusion clear.
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Compare tests by Type II error probability

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to compare two hypothesis tests (differing in sample size or significance level) and determine which has a smaller or larger probability of Type II error, with or without calculation.

2 Standard +0.3
2.9% of questions
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8 A random variable \(Y\) is normally distributed with mean \(\mu\) and variance 12.25. Two statisticians carry out significance tests of the hypotheses \(\mathrm { H } _ { 0 } : \mu = 63.0 , \mathrm { H } _ { 1 } : \mu > 63.0\).
  1. Statistician \(A\) uses the mean \(\bar { Y }\) of a sample of size 23, and the critical region for his test is \(\bar { Y } > 64.20\). Find the significance level for \(A\) 's test.
  2. Statistician \(B\) uses the mean of a sample of size 50 and a significance level of \(5 \%\).
    1. Find the critical region for \(B\) 's test.
    2. Given that \(\mu = 65.0\), find the probability that \(B\) 's test results in a Type II error.
    3. Given that, when \(\mu = 65.0\), the probability that \(A\) 's test results in a Type II error is 0.1365 , state with a reason which test is better.
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Find sample size from partial test information

A question is this type if and only if it requires the student to determine the sample size n given partial information about a completed hypothesis test (e.g. a document showing significance level and conclusion but not n).

2 Challenging +1.2
2.9% of questions
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4 The manufacturer of a tablet computer claims that the mean battery life is 11 hours. A consumer organisation wished to test whether the mean is actually greater than 11 hours. They invited a random sample of members to report the battery life of their tablets. They then calculated the sample mean. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the records of this test except for the following partial document. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{c460afa4-1387-421d-87ac-74a64be99714-2_467_593_1612_776} Given that the population of battery lives is normally distributed with standard deviation 1.6 hours, find the set of possible values of the sample size, \(n\).
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Explain impossibility of one error type

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to explain why it is impossible to make a Type I error or a Type II error given the specific outcome of the test (e.g. H0 was or was not rejected).

1 Standard +0.3
1.4% of questions
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4 In the past the time, in minutes, taken by students to complete a certain challenge had mean 25.5 and standard deviation 5.2. A new challenge is devised and it is expected that students will take, on average, less than 25.5 minutes to complete this challenge. A random sample of 40 students is chosen and their mean time for the new challenge is found to be 23.7 minutes.
  1. Assuming that the standard deviation of the time for the new challenge is 5.2 minutes, test at the \(1 \%\) significance level whether the population mean time for the new challenge is less than 25.5 minutes.
  2. State, with a reason, whether it is possible that a Type I error was made in the test in part (a).
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State what extra info needed for Type II

A question is this type if and only if it asks the student to state what additional information would be required in order to calculate the probability of a Type II error.

1 Standard +0.3
1.4% of questions
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4 In the past, the time taken by vehicles to drive along a particular stretch of road has had mean 12.4 minutes and standard deviation 2.1 minutes. Some new signs are installed and it is expected that the mean time will increase. In order to test whether this is the case, the mean time for a random sample of 50 vehicles is found. You may assume that the standard deviation is unchanged.
  1. The mean time for the sample of 50 vehicles is found to be 12.9 minutes. Test at the \(2.5 \%\) significance level whether the population mean time has increased.
  2. State what is meant by a Type II error in this context.
  3. State what extra piece of information would be needed in order to find the probability of a Type II error.
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