Question

Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids have a wide variety of health benefits. Omega-3 oils can be found in foods such as fish, walnuts, and flaxseed. A company selling milled flaxseed advertises that one tablespoon of the product contains, on average, at least 3800 mg of ALNA, the primary omega-3.

(a) The company plans to conduct a test to ensure that there is sufficient evidence that their claim is correct. To be safe, they want to make sure that evidence shows the average is higher than 3800 mg. What are the null and alternative hypotheses?

(b) Suppose, instead, that a consumer organization plans to conduct a test to see if there is evidence against the claim that the product contains an average of 3800 mg per tablespoon. The consumer organization will only take action if it finds evidence that the claim made by the company is false, and that the actual average amount of omega-3 is less than 3800 mg. What are the null and alternative hypotheses?

Answer 1

An null hypothesis is one that states there is no statistically significant relationship between two variables or a position that states something is not happening

An alternative hypothesis is one that states there is a statistically significant relationship between two variables or a position that states something is happening.

(a)

μ = 3800

μ > 3800

(b)

μ = 3800

μ < 3800