Analytical Chem istry - DePauw University

Chapter 4 Evaluating Analytical Data101H : X =µ0If we conduct the significance test at a = 0.05, then we retain the null hypothesisif a 95% confidence interval around X contains m. If the alternativehypothesis isH : X ≠µAthen we reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis ifm lies in the shaded areas at either end of the sample’s probability distributioncurve (Figure 4.13a). Each of the shaded areas accounts for 2.5% ofthe area under the probability distribution curve. This is a two-tailedsignificance test because we reject the null hypothesis for values of m ateither extreme of the sample’s probability distribution curve.We also can write the alternative hypothesis in two additional waysH : X >µAH : X