Which of the following would be an appropriate alternative hypothesis?
A) The mean of a population is equal to 55.
B) The mean of a population is greater than 55.
C) The mean of a sample is greater than 55.
D) The mean of a sample is equal to 55.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An alternative hypothesis should propose a scenario that contradicts or challenges the null hypothesis. Option B proposes that the population mean is greater than 55, which is a different scenario from the null hypothesis. Option A is the null hypothesis, which is assumed to be true until there is evidence to suggest otherwise. Option C and D propose hypotheses about the sample mean, but we are interested in making inferences about the population mean, so they are not appropriate alternatives to the null hypothesis.

Which of the Following Would Be an Appropriate Alternative Hypothesis