A random sample of 10 college students was drawn from a large university. Their ages are 22, 17, 27, 20, 23, 19, 24, 18, 19, and 24 years. Test the hypothesis to determine if we can infer at the 5% significance level that the population mean is less than 20.

The test statistic  t = 1.219 < 2.262 at 5% level of significance

we accept significance of  level that the population mean is less than 20.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given ages are 22, 17, 27, 20, 23, 19, 24, 18, 19, and 24

The random sample (n) = 10

Null hypothesis (H0): μ = 20

Alternative hypothesis(H1) : μ < 20 (left tailed test)

we will use statistic 't' distribution with small sample 10 < 30

mean (χ) = sum of observations divided by no of observations

mean(x) = ∑x / n =

x         x - mean           (x-mean)^2

22      22-21.3  =  0.7       0.49

17       17-21.3    = -4.3      18.49

27      27-21.3 = 5.7         32.49

20      20-21.3 =-1.3          1.69

23      23-21.3 = 1.7          2.89

19       19-21.3 = -2.3        5.29

24       24-21.3 = 2.7       7.29

18        18-21.3 = -3.3      10.89

19        19-21.3 = -2.3      5.29

24       24-21.3 = -=2.7    7.29

                                  S = 3.198

The test statistic (t) =

                            t = 1.219

The degrees of freedom = n-1 = 10-1 =9

Tabulated value of t for 9 degrees of freedom at 5% level of significance

= 2.262

since calculated t < tabulated t we accept the null hypothesis

we accept significance of  level that the population mean is less than 20.

your answer would be 12