For a particular species of snap beans, the mean germination period has been 17 days. A new species of snap beans has been developed. An agriculture analyst wants to determine if the new species has a shorter germination period, on average. From a random sample of 10 snap beans of the new species, data appear to be approximately unimodal and symmetric with an average germination period of 16.0 days. (a) What are the null and alternative hypotheses? H0: x = 17 vs. Ha: x < 17 H0: x = 16.0 vs. Ha: x < 16.0 H0: μ = 16.0 vs. Ha: μ < 16.0 H0: μ = 17 vs. Ha: μ < 17 (b) What is the sample statistic?

(a) A null hypothesis is a statement from a population parameter which is either rejected or accepted (fail to reject) the upon testing. It is expressed using the equality sign.

An alternate hypothesis is also a statement from a population parameter which negates the null hypothesis and is accepted if the null hypothesis is rejected. It is expressed using any of the inequality signs.

(b) Sample statistic = sample mean ÷ sample size = 16 ÷ 10 = 1.6