Module 25: Confidence Intervals and

Hypothesis Tests for Variances for

One Sample
This module discusses confidence intervals and hypothesis
tests for variances for the one sample situation.

Reviewed 19 July 05/ MODULE 25

The Situation
Earlier we selected from the population of
weights numerous samples of sizes n = 5, 10,
and 20 where we assumed we knew that the
population parameters were:
= 150 lbs,
2 = 100 lbs2,
= 10 lbs.

For the population mean , point estimates,

confidence intervals and hypothesis tests were based
on the sample mean x and the normal or t
distributions.
For the population variance 2, point estimates,
confidence intervals and hypothesis tests are based
on the sample variance s2 and the chi-squared
distribution for
( n 1) s 2 SS ( x)
2

2
2

For a 95% confidence interval, or = 0.05, we use

2
(n 1) s 2
(
n

1)
s
2
0.95
C

2
2
/2
1 / 2

For hypothesis tests we calculate

2

( n 1) s 2

and compare the results to the 2 tables.

Population of Weights Example

n = 5, x = 153.0, s = 12.9, s2 = 166.41
s2 = 166.41 is sample estimate of 2 = 100
s = 12.9 is sample estimate of = 10
For a 95% confidence interval, we use
(n 1) s 2
(n 1) s 2
2
C

0.95
2
2
0.025
0.975
2
0.975(4)
11.143

2
0.025(4)

0.484

df = n - 1 = 4

 (n 1) s 2
( n 1) s 2
2
C

0.95
2
2
0.025
0.975

(5 1)(166.41)
(5 1)(166.41)
2
C

0.95

11.143
0.484

665.64
665.64
2
C

0.95

0.484
11.143
C 59.74 2 1, 375.29 0.95
Length 1, 315.55lbs 2

Other Samples
From the Population of weights, for n = 5, we had
x2 146.4

s2 = 5.4

s 29.16

x3 153.2

s3 = 18.6

s32 345.96

s4 = 8.1

s 65.61

s5 = 7.7

s52 59.29

x4 149.0
x5 153.6

2
2

2
4

95% CI for 2, n = 5, df = 4
s

2
2

4(29.16)
4(29.16)
2

C
10.47

240.99 0.95

0.484
11.143

Length = 230.52 lbs2

s32

4(345.96)
4(345.96)
2

C
124.19

2,859.17 0.95

0.484
11.143

Length = 2,734.98 lbs2

2
4

4(65.61)
4(65.61)
2

C
23.55

542.23 0.95

0.484
11.143

Length = 518.68 lbs2

s52

4(59.29)
4(59.29)
2

C
21.28

490.00 0.95

0.484
11.143

Length = 468.72 lbs2

For n = 20, we had

x1 151.6

s1 = 10.2

s12 104.04

x2 151.3

s2 = 8.4

s22 70.55

s3 = 11.4

s32 129.96

x3 150.4
x4 151.4

x5 150.1

s4 = 11.5
s5 = 8.4

s42 132.25

s52 70.56

95% CIs for 2, n = 20, df = 19

(n 1) s 2
( n 1) s 2
2
C 2
2
0.95
0.025 8.907
0.975 32.852
2
1

19(104.04)
19(104.04)
2

C
60.17

221.93 0.95

8.907
32.852

Length = 161.76 lbs2

2
2

2
3

19(70.55)
19(70.55)
2

C
40.80

149.44 0.95

8.907
32.852

19(129.96)
19(129.96)
2

C
75.16

277.22 0.95

8.907
32.852

Example: For the first sample from the samples with

n = 5, we had s2 = 166.41.
Test whether or not 2 = 200.

1. The hypothesis:

H0: 2 = 200, vs H1: 2 200

2. The assumptions:

Independent observations
normal distribution

3. The -level:

= 0.05

4. The test statistic:

2
(
n

1)
s
2
2

5. The critical region: Reject H0: 2 = 200 if the value

calculated for 2 is not between
20.025 (4) =0 .484, and
20.975 (4) =11.143
6. The Result:

7. The conclusion:

(n 1) s 2 4(166.41)

3.33
2

200
2

Accept H0: 2 = 200.

The Question
Table 3 indicates that the mean Global Stress Index
for Lesbians is 16 with SD = 6.8. Suppose that
previous work in this area had indicated that the SD
for the population was about = 10. Hence, we would be
interested in testing whether or not 2 = 100.

1. The hypothesis:

H0: 2 = 100, vs H1: 2 100

2. The assumptions:
Independence, normal distribution
3. The -level:
= 0.05
2
(
n

1)
s
4. The test statistic:
2
2
5. The critical region: Reject H0: 2 = 100 if the value
calculated for 2 is not between
20.025 (549) = 615.82, and
20.975 (549) = 485.97
6. The Result:
7. The conclusion:

2
(
n

1)
s
549(46.24)
2

253.86
2

100

Reject H0: 2 = 100.