The reason for using the t-distribution in a hypothesis test about the population mean is:
A) the population standard deviation is unknown.
B) it results in a lower probability of a Type I error occurring.
C) it provides a smaller critical value than the standard normal distribution for a given sample size.
D) the population is not normally distributed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The t-distribution is used when the population standard deviation is unknown, which is a common scenario in real-world data analysis. When the population standard deviation is unknown, the sample standard deviation is used as an estimate, necessitating the use of the t-distribution to account for the additional uncertainty introduced by estimating the population standard deviation.

The Reason for Using the T-Distribution in a Hypothesis Test