FORMULATING APPROPRIATE

NULL AND ALTERNATIVE

HYPOTHESES ON A
POPULATION PROPORTION
NULL AND ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES ON A POPULATION
PROPORTION
population proportion p
hypothesized proportion po
NULL HYPOTHESIS

• The null hypothesis states that the proportion is equal to a specific value or the hypothesized
proportion, po. The null hypothesis is always a statement of equality.

Ho: p = po

ALTERNATIVE
HYPOTHESIS
• The alternative hypothesis is the competing claim that the population proportion is less than,
greater than, or not equal to po.

Ha: p < po smaller,lees,decreased,fewer,lower

Ha: p > po larger,greater,more,increased

Ha: p ≠ different,not equal to, changed
po
 One-tailed and two-tailed test
Letters a and b are used in a one-tailed test or one-sided tests (directional) while letter c is used
for a two-tailed test (non-directional).

TWO-TAILED TEST ONE-TAILED TEST

• Alternative contains the inequality (≠) • Alternative hypothesis contains the greater
symbol. than (>) or less than (<) symbols.
• It has no direction. • It is directional (either right-tailed or left-tailed).

Right-tailed Left-tailed Test

NULL Ho: p = po HTest
o : p = po or Ho: p = po or
HYPOTHESI Ho: p < po Ho: p > po
S

Alternative Ha: p ≠ po Ha: p > po Ha: p < po

Hypothesis
EXAMPLE
1
It has been claimed that 40% of students in a particular senior high school dislike Mathematics. When a
survey was conducted by a researcher, it showed that 145 of 800 students dislike Mathematics . Test if
the claim was different at a =0.05 level.

The hypothesized proportion is 40% or 0.40 p = 0.40

Null Hypothesis (Ho)

The proportion of students who dislike Mathematics is Ho : p = 0.40

40%.
Alternative Hypothesis (Ha)

The proportion of students who dislike Mathematics is Ha : p ≠ 0.40

not equal to 40%.

THIS IS A TWO-TAILED TEST OR NON-DIRECTIONAL

EXAMPLE
2
A certain senior high school plans to open HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) as an
academic track only if 63% of the students in their junior high school will enroll on the following
academic year. A survey conducted among a random sample of students revealed that 485 out
of 1000 students will enroll. Is the expected enrolment significantly lower than the desired
enrolment?
Test at a = 0.05 level.
The hypothesized proportion is 63% or 0.63 p = 0.63

Null Hypothesis
(Ho)
The proportion of students who will enroll on HUMSS Ho : p = 0.63
track is 63%.
Alternative Hypothesis (Ha)

The proportion of students who will enroll on HUMSS Ha : p < 0.63

track is lower than 63%.

THIS IS A ONE-TAILED TEST OR DIRECTIONAL

EXAMPLE 3

It’s been claimed that 35% of qualified applicants passed in a particular job interview.
When a survey was conducted by a researcher of a certain company, it showed that 95
of 155 applicants passed the job interview. Test if the claim was larger at a = 0.05 level.

The hypothesized proportion is 35% or 0.35 p = 0.35

Null Hypothesis (Ho)

The proportion of qualified applicants in a Ho : p = 0.35

particular job interview is 35%.

Alternative Hypothesis
(Ha)
The proportion of qualified applicants in a Ha : p > 0.35
particular job interview was larger than 35%.

THIS IS A ONE-TAILED OR DIRECTIONAL

EXAMPLE 4

In a public market, 65% of the vendors preferred to use plastic over paper bags. After the
local ordinance was signed, 92 out of 120 randomly selected vendors preferred plastic over
paper bags. Does this indicate that vendors in that public market have less preferrence in
using paper bags? Use 0.05 level of significance.

The hypothesized proportion is 65% or 0.65 p = 0.65

Null Hypothesis (Ho) Ho :p = 0.65

Alternative Hypothesis Ha: p < 0.65

(Ha)

THIS IS A ONE-TAILED TEST OR DIRECTIONAL

EXAMPLE 5

Before the national elections, 75% of the votes in a certain town said that they preferred
older senatorials candidates running for senatorial positions than younger candidates.
After a certain survey was conducted ,910 out of 1,300 randomly selected voters
preferred older senatorial candidates. Does this claim indicate that votes in that town
have a greater interest in older candidates than in younger ones? Use a= 0.05.

The hypothesized proportion is 75% or 0.75 p= 0.75

Null Hypothesis (Ho) Ho : p = 0.75

Alternative Hypothesis (Ha) Ha : p > 0.75

THIS IS ONE-TAILED TEST OR DIRECTIONAL.