LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Statistics and Probability, Quarter 4, Week 3

Accept or Reject?

Objectives
Objectives:

After going through this LAS, you are expected to:

1. identify the appropriate rejection region for a given level of significance when:
(a) the population variance is assumed to be known;
(b) the population variance is assumed to be unknown; and
(c) the Central Limit Theorem is to be used.

Lesson
The Rejection Region

The rejection region refers to the region under the normal curve where the value of the test
statistic lies for which we will reject the null hypothesis. This is also known as critical region.

Note that the rejection region for a directional test is in one tail and two tails for a non-directional
test. (Please refer to the graphs presented below)

Negative one-tailed test Two-tailed test

Directional Non-directional

Figure 1. Rejection Region for a Directional and Non-directional Test

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In hypothesis testing, we make decisions about the null hypothesis which is denoted by H0. If
your computed statistic is found in the rejection region, then reject H0 or the null hypothesis. If
it is found outside the rejection region, then do not reject the null hypothesis (H0).

The line that separates the rejection region from the non-rejection region passes through the
confidence coefficients, which are also called critical values. The critical values can be
obtained from the critical values table (e.g. z-table, t-table, etc.) of the test statistic, which is
specific to the type of the test and significance level (α) or what we call the sensitivity of the
test. A value of α = 0.01 implies that the null hypothesis is rejected 1% of the time when it is in
fact true.

Now, how can we find the appropriate rejection region for a given level of significance? It
depends on the level of significance and the test statistic used. Before discussing the steps on
how to identify the appropriate rejection region for a given level of significance, take note of the
following details.

z - Distribution t - Distribution

• Population is normally distributed. • Population is normal or nearly normally

distributed.
• Z-scores are used when: • The t-scores are used when the
a) the population variance is known, and population variance is unknown.
b) central limit theorem is applied (n>30)
• Critical values: • Critical values:

Figure 2. Critical Value Table for z-Distribution

Source: www.commons.deped.gov.ph

Note:
Left-tailed test – the alternative hypothesis 𝐻a
contains the less-than inequality symbol (<).
Right-tailed test – the alternative hypothesis
𝐻a contains the greater than inequality symbol
(>).
Two-tailed test – the alternative hypothesis
𝐻𝑎 contains the not-equal-to symbol (≠). Each
tail has an area of 1/2 𝛼.

Figure 3. Critical Value Table for t-Distribution

Source: www.commons.deped.gov.ph

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 Note:
Left-tailed – use “α one tail” column with a
negative sign.
Right-tailed – use “α one tail” column with a
positive sign.
Two-tailed – use “α two tails” column with a
negative and a positive sign.

Rejection Region if Population Variance is Known

To determine the critical region for a normal distribution, we use the table of the z-distribution
(Figure 2). If the level of significance is α = 0.10, then for a one-tailed test, the critical region is
below 𝑧 = −1.28 (left-tailed) or above 𝑧 = 1.28 (right-tailed). For a two-tailed test, 𝝰 = 0.05 and
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the critical region is below 𝑧 = −1.645 and above 𝑧 = 1.645. If the calculated test statistic has a
value that falls within the rejection region, then the null hypotheses 𝐻0 should be rejected.

Example 3.1 Determine the critical values and the appropriate rejection region.

Given: Right-tailed test where 𝝈 is known, 𝜶 = 𝟎.𝟎𝟓, and 𝒏 = 𝟑𝟒

Since the population standard deviation (𝝈) is known, then the test statistic would be z-test. To
obtain the critical value for the level of significance of 0.05 and right-tailed test, the z-value from
the table (Figure 2) is 1.645. The hypothesis test is right-tailed, so the inequality symbol would
be ≥ (refer to the note in the table above). Therefore, the rejection region for a right-tailed test
is z ≥ 1.645.

To illustrate:
HOW TO SKETCH THE GRAPH?
1. Locate the critical value of 1.645
which is between 1 and 2 in the
normal curve.
2. Shade the region greater than the
critical value because it is a right-
Source: www.commons.deped.gov.ph tailed test.

Rejection Region if Population Variance is Unknown

To determine the critical region when population variance is not known, we use the table of the
t-distribution. For instance, we use a t-distribution with 20 degrees of freedom (d.f. = n – 1). If
the level of significance is α = 0.01, then for a one-tailed test, the critical value for left-tailed is
𝑡 = −2.528 and 𝑡 = 2.528 (Figure 3) for right-tailed. For a two-tailed test, if the level of
significance is α = 0.10, use 𝝰 = 0.10 = 0.05, then looking back to the t-distribution table (Figure
2 2
3) we find the critical values 𝑡 = −1.725 and 𝑡 = 1.725. If the calculated test statistic has a value
that falls within the rejection region, then the null hypotheses 𝐻0 should be rejected.

Example 3.2 Determine the critical values and the appropriate rejection region.

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Given: Two-tailed test where 𝝈 is unknown, 𝜶 = 𝟎.𝟎𝟓, and 𝒏 = 𝟏𝟎

Since this is a two-tailed test, we take only the ½ of α in the given which is ½ (0.05) = 0.025.
To determine the critical values when population variance is unknown, we use the t-distribution
table (Figure 3). Since n = 10 then d.f. would be n – 1 = 10 – 1 which is 9. By looking at the t-
score (d.f. = 9) associated with 0.025 on the reference table, we find 2.262. Therefore, +2.262
is the critical value of the right tail and -2.262 is the critical value of the left tail. The rejection
region is −𝟐.𝟐𝟔𝟐 ≤ 𝒕 ≥ 𝟐.𝟐𝟔𝟐.

To illustrate: HOW TO SKETCH THE

GRAPH?
1. Locate the critical values in the
normal curve.

2. Shade the region greater than

2.262 and less than -2.262
Source: www.commons.deped.gov.ph because this is a two-tailed test.

Rejection Region if Central Limit Theorem is Applied

To determine the critical region when Central Limit Theorem is applied, we use the table of the
z-distribution (Figure 2). Then follow the steps in finding the rejection region when population
variance is known since they both use the z-distribution. Central Limit Theorem will only be
applied if n > 30. If the population variance is unknown, use the sample variance instead to
estimate the population.

Example 3.3 Determine the critical values and the appropriate rejection region.

Given: Left-tailed test where 𝝈 is known, 𝜶 = 𝟎.𝟎𝟏, and 𝒏 = 𝟒𝟎

Since n > 30, the Central Limit Theorem is applied and we use z-score as the reference to find
the critical value. This is a left-tailed test, so the critical value we need is negative. By referring
to z-distribution table (Figure 2), we get the critical value z = -2.33. The rejection region is z ≤
-2.33.
To illustrate: HOW TO SKETCH THE GRAPH?
1. Locate the critical value of -2.33
which is between the -2 and -3 in the
normal curve.
2. Shade the region less than the critical
value because it is a left-tailed test.
Source: www.commons.deped.gov.ph

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.

Learning Activities

General Directions: Work on Activities 1-3 that follow. Do them on separate sheets of paper.

Activity 1. Find My Value!

Directions: Find the critical value of the following:

1. left-tailed test, σ known 𝛼 = 0.01 n = 42

2. two-tailed test, σ unknown 𝛼 = 0.05 n = 20
3. right-tailed test, σ known 𝛼 = 0.10 n = 15

Activity 2. How Could You Reject Me?

Directions: Find the rejection region for each hypothesis test based on the information given.

1. 𝐻𝑜: μ = 25 𝐻𝑎: μ < 25 α = 0.025 n = 10 σ = known

2. 𝐻𝑜: μ = 3 𝐻𝑎: μ > 3 α = 0.01 n = 35 σ = known
3. 𝐻𝑜: μ = 60 𝐻𝑎: μ ≠ 60 α = 0.05 n=8 σ = unknown

Activity 3. Supply ‘n Sketch!

Directions: Supply the missing terms and sketch the graph of the rejection region.
A famous mango company claims that the mean weight of their product is 150 grams with a
standard deviation of 18 grams. Data generated from a sample of 49 mangoes randomly
selected indicated a mean weight of 153.5 grams per mango. Is there sufficient evidence to
reject the company’s claim? Use 𝛼 = 0.05.

Population Standard Number z-value

Level of
Hypotheses Test Type Deviation of or
Significance
Known/Unknown? Sample t-value
𝑯𝑶: 𝝁 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎 σ is known 𝒏 = 𝟒𝟗
𝑯𝒂: 𝝁 ≠ 𝟏𝟓𝟎 _____________ ______

The rejection region is .

Your sketch here:

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 Reflection

Directions: Complete the 3-2-1 Chart about your discoveries about the Rejection Region for
a given level of significance. Write your answers on a separate shee

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 References

Book:
Belecina, Rene R., Elisa S. Baccay, and Efren B. Mateo. 2016. Statistics and Probability.
Manila, Philippines: REX Book Store. Pages 229, 230, 237, and 243.

Online:

https://commons.deped.gov.ph/documents/db5210d7-20ae-45e8-8b5e-a9b531995426

https://images.app.goo.gl/2kQ93Px956SH8LCY8

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