Problem 1:

The discharge permit for an industry requires the monthly average chemical oxygen demand (COD)
concentration to be less than 50 mg/L. The industry wants this to be interpreted as “50 mg/L falls
within the confidence interval of the mean, which will be estimated from 20 observations per month.”
For the following 20 observations, would the industry be in compliance according to this interpretation
of the standard?
57, 60, 49, 50, 51, 60, 49, 53, 49, 56, 64, 60, 49, 52, 69, 40, 44, 38, 53, 66

Solution:

Null Hypothesis (H0): The mean (µ) of the observed COD concentration is equal to the standard
value (50 mg/L) at α = 0.05 (µ = 50)

Upper-Tailed Alternative Hypothesis (H1): The mean (µ) of the observed COD concentration is
greater than the standard value (50 mg/L) at α = 0.05 (µ>50)

Observed Standard Difference,

Observation D-Ď (D- Ď)^2
Value Value D
1 57 50 7 3.6 12.6
2 60 50 10 6.6 42.9
3 49 50 -1 -4.5 19.8
4 50 50 0 -3.5 11.9
5 51 50 1 -2.5 6.0
6 60 50 10 6.6 42.9
7 49 50 -1 -4.5 19.8
8 53 50 3 -0.5 0.2
9 49 50 -1 -4.5 19.8
10 56 50 6 2.6 6.5
11 64 50 14 10.6 111.3
12 60 50 10 6.6 42.9
13 49 50 -1 -4.5 19.8
14 52 50 2 -1.5 2.1
15 69 50 19 15.6 241.8
16 40 50 -10 -13.5 180.9
17 44 50 -6 -9.5 89.3
18 38 50 -12 -15.5 238.7
19 53 50 3 -0.5 0.2
20 66 50 16 12.6 157.5
∑(D- Ď)^2 =
∑D = 69 1267.0

∑𝐷 69
𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, Ď, = = = 3.45
𝑁 20

∑(𝐷 − Ď)2 1,267.0

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑆Ď , = = = 8.166
𝑛−1 20 − 1

𝑆Ď 8.166
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟, 𝑆𝐸Ď , = = = 1.826
𝑛 20
Ď 3.45
𝑡= = = 1.889
𝑆𝐸Ď 1.826

Degrees of freedom (d.f.) = n-1 = 20-1 = 19

Using table of critical t-values, the value of tcritical at α=0.05 is 2.09. The t-value of 0.1.889 is less than
tcritical , hence, there is no significant difference between the mean of the observed COD concentration
and the standard value. The standard value of 50 mg/L falls within the confidence interval of the mean
and based on this interpretation, the industry is compliant to the standard.

Problem 2:

14 Laboratories were sent standardized solutions that were prepared to contain 1.2 mg/L dissolved
oxygen (DO). They were asked to measure the DO concentration using the Winkler titration method.
The results were: 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2, 1.35, 1.4, 2.0, 1.95, 1.1, 1.75, 1.05, 1.05, 1.4

Do the laboratories, on average, measure 1.2 mg/L, or is there some bias? Use t-Test to assess
agreement with a Standard.

Solution:

Null Hypothesis (H0): There is no significant difference between the mean (µ) of the measured DO
concentration and the standard solution (1.2 mg/L) at α = 0.05

Alternative Hypothesis (H 1): There is a significant difference between the mean (µ) of the measured
DO concentration and the standard solution (1.2 mg/L) at α = 0.05

Observed Standard Difference,

Observation D-Ď (D- Ď)^2
Value Value D
1 1.2 1.2 0 -0.196 0.038
2 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.004 0.000
3 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.004 0.000
4 1.3 1.2 0.1 -0.096 0.009
5 1.2 1.2 0 -0.196 0.038
6 1.35 1.2 0.15 -0.046 0.002
7 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.004 0.000
8 2 1.2 0.8 0.604 0.365
9 1.95 1.2 0.75 0.554 0.307
10 1.1 1.2 -0.1 -0.296 0.088
11 1.75 1.2 0.55 0.354 0.125
12 1.05 1.2 -0.15 -0.346 0.120
13 1.05 1.2 -0.15 -0.346 0.120
14 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.004 0.000
∑(D- Ď)^2 =
∑D = 2.75 1.2

∑𝐷 2.75
𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, Ď, = = = 0.196
𝑁 14

∑(𝐷 − Ď)2 1.2

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑆Ď , = = = 0.304
𝑛−1 14 − 1

𝑆Ď 0.304
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟, 𝑆𝐸Ď , = = = 0.0812
𝑛 14
Ď 0.196
𝑡= = = 2.418
𝑆𝐸Ď 0.0812
Degrees of freedom (d.f.) = n-1 = 14-1 = 13

Using table of critical t-values, the value of tcritical at α=0.05 is +2.16. The t-value of 2.418 is greater
than tcritical , hence, there a no significant difference between the mean of the measure DO
concentration and the standard solution.