Question

Calories in school lunches. A University of Florida economist conducted a study of Virginia elementary school lunch menus. During the state-mandated testing period, school lunches averaged 863 calories (National Bureau of Economic Research, November 2002). The economist claims that after the testing period ends, the average caloric content of Virginia school lunches drops significantly. Set up the null and alternative hypotheses to test the economist’s claim.

Short answer

The null and the alternative hypotheses are H₀: μ₀ = 863 and H_a: μ_a< 863.

Step-by-step solution

Given information

As per National Bureau of Economic Research, the schools launch averaged 863 calories during the state-mandated testing period.

Setting up the hypotheses

The null hypothesis is the assumed-true hypothesis, while the alternative is the hypothesis that must demonstrate with the data. Because the researcher is attempting to prove that the lunch calories drop from 863 calories, data must be used to confirm this hypothesis. The null hypothesis is thus that the caloric value of lunches doesn’t fall below 863 calories after the testing, while the alternative hypothesis is that the caloric value of school lunches does drop below 863 calories after the end of the test period. That is,

H₀: μ₀ = 863

H_a: μ_a < 863