Question

Brown tree snakes are an invasive species causing huge environmental and financial damage in Guam. Researchers captured brown tree snakes on Guam's Andersen Air Force Base, and a random sample of 250 of these snakes were weighed. The researchers want to perform a hypothesis test to see if the mean weight of a brown tree snake in Guam is significantly greater than 120 grams.

Set up the appropriate null and alternate hypotheses for the test.

Answer 1

Null Hypothesis,
`H_0` :
`\mu`
`\leq` 120 grams

Alternate Hypothesis,
`H_A` :
`\mu` > 120 grams

Explanation:

We are given that researchers captured brown tree snakes on Guam's Andersen Air Force Base, and a random sample of 250 of these snakes were weighed.

The researchers want to perform a hypothesis test to see if the mean weight of a brown tree snake in Guam is significantly greater than 120 grams.

Let
`\mu` = mean weight of a brown tree snake in Guam.

So, Null Hypothesis,
`H_0` :
`\mu`
`\leq` 120 grams

Alternate Hypothesis,
`H_A` :
`\mu` > 120 grams

Here, null hypothesis states that the mean weight of a brown tree snake in Guam is smaller than or equal to 120 grams.

On the other hand, alternate hypothesis states that the mean weight of a brown tree snake in Guam is significantly greater than 120 grams.

So, this would be the appropriate null and the alternative hypothesis to test this claim.