A group of 21 adults volunteered for a fitness study to examine whether an aerobics program can lower the resting heart rate of an average adult. Test the hypothesis that individuals participating in an aerobics program have lower resting heart rates than the national average. Let =0.05.

a) What is the outcome variable? Is this outcome variable considered to be continuous or dichotomous?

b) Set up the appropriate null and alternative hypotheses. Assume that the average resting heart rate of adults in the U.S. is 73.0 beats/minute.

c) Select the appropriate test statistic. Should a z or t test statistic be used for this hypothesis test? Explain reasoning and/or show work.

d) Write out the decision rule for this hypothesis test. Make sure to include the appropriate z or t critical value.

e) After nine months, the mean resting heart rate for the participants in the aerobics fitness program was 69.4 beats/minute with a standard deviation of 6.2. Use this information to calculate the appropriate test statistic. Show work.

f) Make a decision using the decision rule in (d) and the calculated test statistic in (e). Write out an appropriate conclusion.