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Ch. 10 - Chi-Square Tests and the F-Distribution
Larson - Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World 8th Edition
Larson8th EditionElementary Statistics: Picturing the WorldISBN: 9780137493470Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 10, Problem 10.3.3

List the three conditions that must be met in order to use a two-sample F-test.

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The first condition is that the two samples must be independent. This means that the selection of one sample should not influence or affect the selection of the other sample.
The second condition is that the populations from which the samples are drawn must be normally distributed. This ensures that the F-test is valid and reliable.
The third condition is that the variances of the two populations must be equal under the null hypothesis. This is a key assumption of the two-sample F-test.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Independence of Samples

The two samples being compared in a two-sample F-test must be independent of each other. This means that the selection of one sample does not influence the selection of the other. Independence is crucial because it ensures that the variability in one sample does not affect the variability in the other, allowing for a valid comparison of their variances.
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Normality

Both samples should be drawn from populations that are normally distributed. This assumption is important because the F-test relies on the properties of the F-distribution, which is derived under the assumption of normality. If the sample sizes are large, the Central Limit Theorem may mitigate this requirement, but for smaller samples, normality is essential.
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Homogeneity of Variances

The variances of the two populations from which the samples are drawn must be equal, a condition known as homogeneity of variances. This assumption is critical for the validity of the F-test, as it compares the ratio of the variances of the two samples. If this condition is violated, the results of the F-test may be misleading, and alternative methods should be considered.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

In Exercises 13–18, test the claim about the difference between two population variances σ₁² and σ₂² at the level of significance α. Assume the samples are random and independent, and the populations are normally distributed.


Claim: σ₁² ≤ σ₂²; α = 0.01.

Sample statistics: s₁² = 842, n₁ = 11 and s₂² = 836, n₂ = 10

Textbook Question

Performing a Chi-Square Independence Test In Exercises 13–28, perform the indicated chi-square independence test by performing the steps below.

a. Identify the claim and state H₀ and Hₐ


b. Determine the degrees of freedom, find the critical value, and identify the rejection region.


c. Find the chi-square test statistic.


d. Decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.


e. Interpret the decision in the context of the original claim.


Achievement and School Location The contingency table shows the results of a random sample of students by the location of school and the number of those students achieving basic skill levels in three subjects. At α=0.01, test the hypothesis that the variables are independent. (Adapted from HUD State of the Cities Report)


Textbook Question

Performing a Two-Sample F-Test In Exercises 19–26, (a) identify the claim and state H0 and Ha, (b) find the critical value and identify the rejection region, (c) find the test statistic F, (d) decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis, and (e) interpret the decision in the context of the original claim. Assume the samples are random and independent, and the populations are normally distributed.


U.S. History Assessment Tests A state school administrator claims that the standard deviations of U.S. history assessment test scores for eighth-grade students are the same in Districts 1 and 2. A sample of 10 test scores from District 1 has a standard deviation of 30.9 points, and a sample of 13 test scores from District 2 has a standard deviation of 27.2 points. At α=0.01, can you reject the administrator’s claim? (Adapted from National Center for Education Statistics)

Textbook Question

Performing a Chi-Square Independence Test In Exercises 13–28, perform the indicated chi-square independence test by performing the steps below.

a. Identify the claim and state H₀ and Hₐ


b. Determine the degrees of freedom, find the critical value, and identify the rejection region.


c. Find the chi-square test statistic.


d. Decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.


e. Interpret the decision in the context of the original claim.


Attitudes about Safety The contingency table shows the results of a random sample of students by type of school and their attitudes on safety steps taken by the school staff. At α=0.01, can you conclude that attitudes about the safety steps taken by the school staff are related to the type of school? (Adapted from Horatio Alger Association)


Textbook Question

Contingency Tables and Relative Frequencies In Exercises 33–36, use the information below.

The frequencies in a contingency table can be written as relative frequencies by dividing each frequency by the sample size. The contingency table below shows the number of U.S. adults (in millions) ages 25 and over by employment status and educational attainment. (Adapted from U.S. Census Bureau)



Explain why you cannot perform the chi-square independence test on these data.

Textbook Question

True or False? In Exercises 5 and 6, determine whether the statement is true or false. If it is false, rewrite it as a true statement.


If the two variables in a chi-square independence test are dependent, then you can expect little difference between the observed frequencies and the expected frequencies.