/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 10 Airline Occupancy Rates Suppose ... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

Airline Occupancy Rates Suppose a scheduled airline flight must average at least \(60 \%\) occupancy in order to be profitable to the airline. An examination of the occupancy rate for 12010: 00 A.M. flights from Atlanta to Dallas showed a mean occupancy per flight of \(58 \%\) and a standard deviation of \(11 \%\). a. If \(\mu\) is the mean occupancy per flight and if the company wishes to determine whether or not this scheduled flight is unprofitable, give the alternative and the null hypotheses for the test. b. Does the alternative hypothesis in part a imply a one- or two-tailed test? Explain. c. Do the occupancy data for the 120 flights suggest that this scheduled flight is unprofitable? Test using \(\alpha=.05\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Yes, based on the hypothesis testing, there is evidence to suggest that the flights from Atlanta to Dallas are unprofitable, as the mean occupancy per flight is less than 60%.

Step by step solution

01

a. Formulate the null and alternative hypotheses

We will test the hypothesis that the average occupancy rate is at least 60%. The null and alternative hypotheses are: - Null hypothesis (\(H_0\)): \(\mu \geq 60\%\) - Alternative hypothesis (\(H_1\)): \(\mu < 60\%\)
02

b. One- or two-tailed test?

The alternative hypothesis states that the mean occupancy per flight is less than 60%. Since we are only concerned with one direction (less than 60%), this is a one-tailed test.
03

c. Perform the hypothesis test

We will use a t-test to compare the sample mean with the population mean, since we have the sample size, sample mean, and sample standard deviation. Following the steps for a one-tailed t-test: 1. State the null and alternative hypotheses: \(H_0: \mu \geq 60\%\) \(H_1: \mu < 60\%\) 2. Identify the significance level, sample mean (\(\bar{x}\)), sample standard deviation (s), and sample size (n): \(\alpha = 0.05\) \(\bar{x} = 58\%\) \(s = 11\%\) \(n = 120\) 3. Calculate the t-value: \(t = \frac{\bar{x} - \mu}{s/\sqrt{n}}\) \(t = \frac{58 - 60}{11/\sqrt{120}}\) \(t = -1.915\) 4. Find the critical t-value (one-tailed test) using the t-table. We have to look up the t-value for \(\alpha = 0.05\) and degrees of freedom (df), which is \(n - 1\): df = 120 - 1 = 119 From the t-table, we find that the critical t-value for a one-tailed test with \(\alpha = 0.05\) and df = 119 is approximately 1.657. 5. Compare the calculated t-value with the critical t-value: Our calculated t-value is -1.915, and the critical t-value is 1.657. 6. Make the conclusion: Since our calculated t-value is less than the critical t-value (-1.915 < 1.657), we reject the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)) and conclude that there is evidence to suggest that the flight is unprofitable, as the mean occupancy per flight is less than 60%.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Null Hypothesis
In hypothesis testing, the null hypothesis is a statement we aim to test. It usually represents a status quo or a claim of no effect or no difference. In our exercise on airline occupancy rates, the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)) suggests that the mean occupancy per flight is at least 60%. This implies that the flight is, on average, meeting the minimum requirement for profitability.
  • Symbolically represented as: \(\mu \geq 60\%\).
  • This hypothesis assumes that any observed deviation from the 60% occupancy rate is due to random chance.
  • It's what the airline hopes to confirm as true, maintaining the profitability status.
The burden of proof in statistical testing lies in disproving the null hypothesis, not proving it.
Alternative Hypothesis
The alternative hypothesis is the complement of the null hypothesis and represents a new claim or observation that contradicts the status quo. For the airline's occupancy rates, the alternative hypothesis (\(H_1\)) is that the mean occupancy per flight is less than 60%. This suggests that the flights may be operating below the threshold needed for profitability.
  • Expressed mathematically as: \(\mu < 60\%\).
  • Unlike the null hypothesis, the alternative hypothesis suggests a specific condition or effect.
  • The test's aim is to find enough statistical evidence to support the alternative hypothesis if the null hypothesis can be rejected.
By seeking evidence against the null hypothesis, we indirectly attempt to support the alternative hypothesis.
One-Tailed Test
A one-tailed test in hypothesis testing is used when we are interested in determining if there is a relationship in only one direction. In this exercise, the concern is whether the mean occupancy is less than 60%. Therefore, it is a one-tailed test.
  • This test is directional, focusing on values only in one tail of the distribution.
  • It gives more power to detect an effect in one direction by not testing the other direction.
  • A one-tailed test requires specifying the direction of the effect we are interested in before conducting the test.
In our scenario, testing unfolds only in one direction, allowing us to determine if occupancy truly falls below the required rate.
T-test
A t-test is a statistical method used to compare the means of two groups or a sample mean against a known population mean. It's particularly useful when dealing with small sample sizes or unknown population variances. In our exercise, the t-test evaluates if the average flight occupancy rate deviates from the 60% target.
  • The t-test formula: \(t = \frac{\bar{x} - \mu}{s / \sqrt{n}}\)
  • Where \(\bar{x}\) is the sample mean, \(\mu\) is the population mean, \(s\) is the sample standard deviation, and \(n\) is the sample size.
  • Critical values determine if we reject or accept the null hypothesis based on the t-test results.
This method effectively evaluates the significance of our sample data, confirming if the occupancy rates fall short in terms of profitability.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Noise and Stress In Exercise \(8.52,\) you compared the effect of stress in the form of noise on the ability to perform a simple task. Seventy subjects were divided into two groups; the first group of 30 subjects acted as a control, while the second group of 40 was the experimental group. Although each subject performed the task, the experimental group subjects had to perform the task while loud rock music was played. The time to finish the task was recorded for each subject and the following summary was obtained: $$\begin{array}{lll} & \text { Control } & \text { Experimental } \\\\\hline n & 30 & 40 \\\\\bar{x} & 15 \text { minutes } & 23 \text { minutes } \\\s & 4 \text {minutes } & 10 \text { minutes }\end{array}$$

Biomass Exercise 7.65 reported that the biomass for tropical woodlands, thought to be about 35 kilograms per square meter \(\left(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{2}\right),\) may in fact be too high and that tropical biomass values vary regionally - from about 5 to \(55 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^{2} .21\) Suppose you measure the tropical biomass in 400 randomly selected square- meter plots and obtain \(\bar{x}=31.75\) and \(s=10.5\). Do the data present sufficient evidence to indicate that scientists are overestimating the mean biomass for tropical woodlands and that the mean is in fact lower than estimated? a. State the null and alternative hypotheses to be tested. b. Locate the rejection region for the test with \(\alpha=.01\). c. Conduct the test and state your conclusions.

A Maze Experiment In a maze running study, a rat is run in a T maze and the result of each run recorded. A reward in the form of food is always placed at the right exit. If learning is taking place, the rat will choose the right exit more often than the left. If no learning is taking place, the rat should randomly choose either exit. Suppose that the rat is given \(n=100\) runs in the maze and that he chooses the right exit \(x=64\) times. Would you conclude that learning is taking place? Use the \(p\) -value approach, and make a decision based on this \(p\) -value.

Childhood Obesity According to a survey in PARADE magazine, almost half of parents say their children's weight is fine. \(^{9}\) Only \(9 \%\) of parents describe their children as overweight. However, the American Obesity Association says the number of overweight children and teens is at least \(15 \%\). Suppose that you sample \(n=750\) parents and the number who describe their children as overweight is \(x=68\). a. How would you test the hypothesis that the proportion of parents who describe their children as overweight is less than the actual proportion reported by the American Obesity Association? b. What conclusion are you able to draw from these data at the \(\alpha=.05\) level of significance? c. What is the \(p\) -value associated with this test?

Flextime A company was contemplating the installation of a flextime schedule in which a worker schedules his or her work hours or compresses work weeks. The company estimates that it needs a minimum mean of 7 hours per day per assembly worker in order to operate effectively. Each of a random sample of 80 of the company's assemblers was asked to submit a tentative flextime schedule. If the mean number of hours per day for Monday was 6.7 hours and the standard deviation was 2.7 hours, do the data provide sufficient evidence to indicate that the mean number of hours worked per day on Mondays, for all of the company's assemblers, will be less than 7 hours? Test using \(\alpha=.05\).

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.