Answer:
b) The null hypothesis should be rejected.
Explanation:
The null hypothesis is that the mean shear strength of spot welds is at least
3.1 MPa
H0: u ≥3.1 MPa against the claim Ha: u< 3.1 MPa
The alternate hypothesis is that the mean shear strength of spot welds is less than 3.1 MPa.
This is one tailed test
The critical region Z(0.05) < ± 1.645
The Sample mean= x`= 3.07
The number of welds= n= 15
Standard Deviation= s= 0.069
Applying z test
z= x`-u/s/√n
z= 3.07-3.1/0.069/√15
z= -0.03/0.0178
z= -1.68
As the calculated z= -1.68 falls in the critical region Z(0.05) < ± 1.645 the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternate hypothesis is accepted that the mean shear strength of spot welds is less than 3.1 MPa