Question

In the general population, patients who are recovering from bronchial pneumonia normally take a mean (average) of 4.75 days to leave the hospital, with a population standard deviation of 1.82 days. Medical personnel at a hospital are trying a new medication that is designed to ease breathing during recovery. What is not currently known is whether the new medication will impact duration of hospital stay. The first sample of 25 patients (n=25) to whom this medication was administered were released from the hospital in a mean (average) of 2.60 days. Based on this result, should the hospital conclude that there is a significant difference in duration of hospital stay because of the new medication?  

The most appropriate alternative hypothesis (in symbols) would be:

		A. newmed = 4.75
		B. newmed = 2.60
		C. newmed  ≠  4.75
		D. newmed < 4.75
		E. newmed  > 2.60

Answer 1