Biology 300, Biometrics Name:

Key to Exam #2b, Winter Quarter 2010

PART I
Multiple Choice (30 points). Circle the best answer. Only one choice is “best”.

1. Over the course of six months, one hundred sufferers of acid reflux were asked to try five
medications and choose the one that gave them the most relief. What analysis would you
recommend for these data to see if there were preferences among the medications?
(a) Z-test for a binomial proportion
(b) Student’s t-test for two independent groups
(c) Chi-square test for a contingency table
(d) Student’s t-test for paired observations
E (e) Chi-square test for goodness of fit

2. If we change the level of significance from  = 0.05 to  = 0.01, we

(a) increase the power of the test.
B (b) decrease the probability of a Type I error.
(c) decrease the probability of a Type II error.
(d) all of the above
(e) none of the above

3. Reaction times were measured for 16 volunteers before and after the administration of a
medication to treat flu symptoms. What analysis would you recommend to see if the
medication reduces reaction times?
(a) Z-test for a binomial proportion
(b) Student’s t-test for two independent groups
(c) Chi-square test for a contingency table
D (d) Student’s t-test for paired observations
(e) Chi-square test for goodness of fit

4. If sample size is decreased, this will result in

(a) an increase in the probability of a Type I error.
B (b) a decrease in the power of the test.
(c) no effect on the probability of a Type II error.
(d) all of the above
(e) none of the above

5. In a statistical test of a null hypothesis, H0, versus an alternative, H1, the power of the test is
the probability that you
A (a) reject H0 when H1 is true.
(b) do not reject H0 when H0 is false.
(c) reject H0 when H0 is true.
(d) do not reject H0 when H0 is true.
(e) none of the above.
 Biometrics — Winter 2010 Key to Exam #2b Page 2

6. Which of the following statements is true?

(a) A 99% confidence interval is wider than a 95% confidence interval.
(b) Decreasing the sample size will result in a wider confidence interval.
(c) A 90% confidence interval is narrower than a 95% confidence interval.
D (d) All of the above are true.
(e) None of the above are true.

7. Which of the following rules apply to chi-square analysis?

A (a) Use the Yates correction factor whenever you have one degree of freedom.
(b) Combine groups whenever the observed frequencies are less than five.
(c) Use the Yates correction factor whenever you have a contingency table.
(d) All of the above
(e) None of the above

8. Eight rabbits were raised on feed with a jojoba oil supplement and their total serum cholesterol
(TSC) levels were measured at three months of age. The TSC levels were also measured in ten
control rabbits of the same age raised on standard feed. What analysis would you use to see if
there is a significant effect of jojoba oil on TSC?
(a) Z-test for a binomial proportion
B (b) Student’s t-test for two independent groups
(c) Chi-square test for a contingency table
(d) Student’s t-test for paired observations
(e) Chi-square test for goodness of fit

9. In a statistical test of a null hypothesis, H0, versus an alternative, H1, a Type I error occurs when
you
(a) reject H0 when H1 is true.
(b) do not reject H0 when H0 is false.
C (c) reject H0 when H0 is true.
(d) do not reject H0 when H0 is true.
(e) none of the above.

10. Sixty adult smokers were divided into two groups of 30. The first group was given nicotine
patches to help them quit smoking. The second group was encouraged to quit smoking on their
own. One month later each adult reported on whether or not they had quit smoking. What
analysis would you recommend for these data?
(a) Z-test for a binomial proportion
(b) Student’s t-test for two independent groups
C (c) Chi-square test for a contingency table
(d) Student’s t-test for paired observations
(e) Chi-square test for goodness of fit
Biology 300, Biometrics Name:
Key to Exam #2b, Winter Quarter 2010

PART II
Answer each question and show all intermediate calculations. Be Neat! You may use one sheet of
paper containing statistical formulas and statistical tables A, B, and C. Use the other sides of the
exam sheets if you need more room.

1. In a random sample of 150 adults, 105 were found to have the ability to roll their tongue. Find
a 95% confidence interval for the probability of having the tongue-rolling trait. (10 points)

Binomial data with N = 150 and X = 105. Find 95% CI for p which is the proportion of volunteers who experienced nausea.

Estimated Values: pˆ = X/N = 105/150 = 0.70, qˆ = 1 – pˆ = 1 – 0.70 = 0.30.

95% Confidence Interval: (1)  = 0.05.

(2) A = (1–(1–0.05)/2 = 0.95/2 = 0.475.
(3) Z = 1.96 from Table A (or last row of Table B for two-sided ).
(4) p = pˆ  Z Sqrt[ pˆ qˆ / N]
= 0.7000  1.96 Sqrt[(0.70)(0.30) / 150]
= 0.7000  1.96 Sqrt[0.21 / 150]
= 0.7000  1.96 Sqrt[0.0014]
= 0.7000  1.96 (0.0374166)
= 0.7000  0.0733
p is in (0.6267, 0.7733) with a 95% probability

2. Fructose concentrations were measured for two varieties of grape. A total of n1 = 16 Calmeria
grapes were sampled and the mean fructose concentration per 100 g was x 1 = 8.2 mg with a
standard deviation of s1 = 0.6 mg. For Perlette grapes, a total of n2 = 21 grapes were sampled
and the mean fructose concentration per 100 g was x 2 = 8.8 mg with a standard deviation of
s2 = 0.8 mg. Test the hypothesis of no difference in mean fructose concentration versus the
alternative that a difference exists. Use a 5% level of significance. (10 points)

Sum of Squares: (1) H0: 1–2 = 0

H1: 1–2  0 (two-sided alternative)
SS1 = (n1 –1) (s1)2 = (16–1) (0.6)2 = (15) (0.36) = 5.4 mg2
SS2 = (n2 –1) (s2)2 = (21–1) (0.8)2 = (20) (0.64) = 12.8 mg2 (2)  = 0.05

(3) Two-sided t-test for two groups with df = n1+n2–2 = 35.

Pooled Std Dev: Test statistic: t = (x1–x2) / [sp Sqrt(1/n1 + 1/n2)]

sp =Sqrt[(SS1 + SS2) / (n1+n2–2)] (4) Reject H0 if t < –2.030 or t > 2.030.

=Sqrt[(5.4 + 12.8) / (21+26–2)]
(5) t = (8.2–8.8) / [0.721110 Sqrt(1/16 + 1/21)]
= Sqrt[18.2 / 35] = Sqrt[0.52] = 0.721110 mg
= –0.6 / [0.721110 Sqrt(0.0625000 + 0.0476190)]
= –0.6 / [0.721110 Sqrt(0.1101190)]
= –0.6 / [0.721110 (0.331842)]
= –0.6 / 0.239295 = –2.507

(6) Do not reject H0. There is no evidence for a difference in

fructose concentrations between the two varieties of
grape.
Biometrics — Winter 2010 Key to Exam #2b Page 4

3. The number of ticks per chipmunk were counted for a random sample of chipmunks. The data
are given below. These data have sample mean of x = 1.1 ticks per chipmunk. Test the
hypothesis (at the 5% level of significance) that the number of ticks per chipmunk follows a
Poisson distribution. (20 points)

Number of ticks Number of

per chipmunk chipmunks
0 21
1 23
2 8
3 5
4 3

X Observed Prob Expected Chi sq Chi sq = (Obs - Exp)2 / Expt

0 21 0.3329 19.97 0.053
To avoid small expected numbers, we must pool the
1 23 0.3662 21.97 0.048
last two groups:
2 8 0.2014 12.08 1.378
3 5 0.0738 4.43 0.690 Obs = 5 + 3 = 8
4 or more 3 0.0257 1.54
TOTALS 60 1.0000 60.0 2.169 Exp = 4.43 + 1.54 = 5.97

Chi sq = (8 – 5.97)2 / 5.97 = 0.690

Use the sample mean x = 1.1 to compute probabilities from the Poisson distribution:
Prob(X=0) = exp(–1.1) (1.1)0/(0!) = (0.332871) (1)/(1) = 0.332871 Expt = n Prob(X=0) = 60 (0.332871) = 19.97
1
Prob(X=1) = exp(–1.1) (1.1) /(1!) = (0.332871) (1.1)/(1) = 0.366158 Expt = n Prob(X=1) = 60 (0.366158) = 21.97
Prob(X=2) = exp(–1.1) (1.1)2/(2!) = (0.332871) (1.21)/(2) = 0.201387 Expt = n Prob(X=2) = 60 (0.201387) = 12.08
Prob(X=3) = exp(–1.1) (1.1)3/(3!) = (0.332871) (1.331)/(6) = 0.073842 Expt = n Prob(X=3) = 60 (0.073842) = 4.43
For the last group, we use Prob(X4) = 1 – Prob(X3):
Prob(X4) = 1 – Prob(X3) = 1 – [ Prob(X=0) + Prob(X=1) + Prob(X=2) + Prob(X=3) ]
= 1 – [ 0.332871 + 0.366158 + 0.201387 + 0.073842 ] = 1 – 0.974258 = 0.025742
Expt = n Prob(X4) = 60 (0.025742) = 1.54
These probabilities and expected values have been added to the table above.

(1) H0: data come from a Poisson distribution

H1: data do not come from a Poisson distribution

(2)  = 0.05

(3) Chi-squared test with df = k – m – 1 = 4 – 1 – 1 = 2.

Note: must pool last two groups, so k = 4 groups after pooling.

(4) Reject H0 if 2 > 5.991.

(5) 2 = 2.169. (See table above.)

(6) Do not reject H0. The data are consistent with a Poisson distribution.
Biometrics — Winter 2010 Key to Exam #2b Page 5

4. Total serum cholesterol (TSC) was measured in five volunteers before and one month after the
the start of a low fat diet. The result appear below. Test the hypothesis of no effect of diet on
mean TSC against the alternative that a low fat diet reduced mean TSC. Use 5% level of
significance. (15 points)

TSC (mg/dL)
Before diet After diet
241 222 Before After d d*d
241 222 -19 361
219 195 219 195 -24 576
205 201 205 201 -4 16
211 213 211 213 2 4
199 184 -15 225
199 184 SUM: -60 1182

Sample size: n = 5 (1) H0: d = 0

Mean: d =  d)/n = –60/5 = –12.0 mg/dL
Std dev: sd = Sqrt([( d2) – ( d)2/n] /[n–1])
= Sqrt([1182 – (–60)2/5] / [5–1])
= Sqrt([1182 – 3600/5] / 4)
= Sqrt([1182 – 720] / 4)
= Sqrt(462 / 4)
= Sqrt(115.5)
= 10.74709 = 10.7 mg/dL
H1: d0 (one-sided alternative)
(2)  = 0.05
(3) One-sided paired t-test with df = n–1 = 5–1 = 4.
Test statistic: t = d / [sd/Sqrt(n)].
(4) Reject H0 if t < –t4 = –2.132.
(5) t = –12.0 / [10.74709 / Sqrt(5)]
= –12.0 / [10.74709 / 2.23607]
= –12.0 / 4.80624 = –2.497

(6) Reject H0. There is evidence that the mean TSC decreased after the
low fat diet.

5. A randomly selected group of 60 senior citizens with cataracts were surveyed regarding their
use of sunglasses. Within this group, 15 were found not to have used sunglasses regularly while
outdoors. For comparison, a control group of 90 senior citizens with healthy eyes were
surveyed, and 7 of these seniors were found not to have used sunglasses while outdoors. Test
for an association between presence or absence of cataracts and the use of sunglasses. Use a
1% level of significance. (15 points)
Cataracts
Present Absent
Sunglass Yes 45 (51.2) 83 (76.8) 128
Use No 15 (8.8) 7 (13.2) 22
60 90 150
R = 2, C = 2. Expected numbers: (row total)(column total)/(grand total)

(1) H0: no assocation exists between cataracts and sunglass use

H1: an assocation exists between cataracts and sunglass use

(2)  = 0.01

(3) 2  2 contingency table with df = (R–1)(C–1) = (2–1)(2–1) = 1. (Use Yates correction factor.)

(4) Reject H0 if 2 > 6.635.

(5) 2 = (|45 – 51.2| – 0.5)2/51.2 + (|83 – 76.8| – 0.5)2/76.8 + (|15 – 8.8| – 0.5)2/8.8 + (|7 – 13.2| – 0.5)2/13.2

= (6.2 – 0.5)2/51.2 + (6.2 – 0.5)2/76.8 + (6.2 – 0.5)2/8.8 + (6.2 – 0.5)2/13.2

= 5.72/51.2 + 5.72/76.8 + 5.72/8.8 + 5.72/13.2

= 32.49/51.2 + 32.49/76.8 + 32.49/8.8 + 32.49/13.2 = 0.634570 + 0.423047 + 3.692045 + 2.461364 = 7.211.

(6) Reject H0. There is evidence for an association between cataracts and sunglass use.