Medicare spending per patient in different U. S. metropolitan areas may differ. Based on the sample data below, answer the questions that follow to determine whether the average spending in the northern region is significantly less than the average spending in the southern region at the 1 percent level.

Statistic:

Sample Mean

Sample Standard Deviation

sample size

Northern Region

$3,123

$1,546

14 patients

southern region

$8456

$3,678

16 patients (a-1) choose the appropriate hypotheses. assume Un is the average spending in the northern region and Us is the average spending in the southern region.

(a-2) specify the decision rule.

(b) find the statistics tcalc assuming unequal variances.

(c-1) state your conclusion

(c-2) is this a strong conclusion