Question

a formal hypothesis test is to be conducted using the claim that the mean body temperature is equal to 98.6°f. what is the null hypothesis and how is it denoted?
a. ( h_0 p < 98.6^{circ}f )
b. ( h_0 mu = 98.6^{circ}f )
c. ( h_0 p = 98.6^{circ}f )
d. ( h_0 mu
eq 98.6^{circ}f )

Explanation:

In hypothesis testing, the null hypothesis \(H_0\) is a statement of equality. When the claim is about the population mean \(\mu\) (body temperature in this case), we use the symbol \(\mu\) for the population mean. The claim that the mean body temperature is equal to \(98.6^{\circ}F\) is represented as \(H_0:\mu = 98.6^{\circ}F\). Option A uses \(p\) (which is for proportion, not mean) and has an inequality. Option C uses \(p\) (proportion) instead of \(\mu\) (mean). Option D is an inequality (\(
eq\)) which is not the null hypothesis (null is equality).

Answer:

B. \(H_0:\mu = 98.6^{\circ}F\)