To determine the organic material in a dried lake bed the percent carbon by mass is measured at two different locations. In order to compare the means of the two different locations, it must first be determined whether the standard deviations of the two locations are different. For each location, calculate the standard deviation.
Location 1 (% C) Location 2 (% C)
1 70.40 70.10
2 70.30 70.90
3 70.30 70.20
4 70.40 70.70
5 70.30 70.40
Location 1 Location 2
Number Number
0.055 0.34
a. What is the calculated F value for comparing the standard deviations?
b. Are the two standard deviations for the locations significantly different at the 95% confidence level?
c. What is the calculated t value used to compare the means of these two location?