Chapter 10, Problem AP3.15CPT

To determine

The fertilizer of the gardener has the mean claim that Mrs Woods’s fertilizer caused her tomatoes to be Havier.

1. Yes, because a different fertilizer was used on each garden.
2. Yes, because random samples were taken from each garden.
3. Yes, because the $p-$ value is so small.
4. No, because the conditions of the soil in the two garden is a potential confounding variable.
5. No, because $15<30.$

Answer to Problem AP3.15CPT

The correct option is (d)No, because the conditions of the soil in the two garden is a potential confounding variable.

Explanation of Solution

The 2 variables are confounded when their effects on a response variable cannot be distinguished from each other.

So in this case, note that the soil conditions were not taken into account, while the soil conditions could affect the weight of the tomatoes. Thus soil conditions is a possible confounding variable.

Conclusion:

Hence, the correct option is (d)No, because the conditions of the soil in the two garden is a potential confounding variable.