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UnivariateZTest Method

Performs a z-test to test whether the given sample is compatible with the given normal reference population.

Namespace:  Meta.Numerics.Statistics
Assembly:  Meta.Numerics (in Meta.Numerics.dll) Version: 4.1.4
Syntax
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public static TestResult ZTest(
	this IReadOnlyCollection<double> sample,
	double referenceMean,
	double referenceStandardDeviation
)

Parameters

sample
Type: System.Collections.GenericIReadOnlyCollectionDouble
The sample.
referenceMean
Type: SystemDouble
The mean of the reference population.
referenceStandardDeviation
Type: SystemDouble
The standard deviation of the reference population.

Return Value

Type: TestResult
A test result indicating whether the sample mean is compatible with that of the given reference population.

Usage Note

In Visual Basic and C#, you can call this method as an instance method on any object of type IReadOnlyCollectionDouble. When you use instance method syntax to call this method, omit the first parameter. For more information, see Extension Methods (Visual Basic) or Extension Methods (C# Programming Guide).
Exceptions
ExceptionCondition
ArgumentNullExceptionsample is .
InsufficientDataExceptionCount is zero.
Remarks

A z-test determines whether the sample is compatible with a normal population with known mean and standard deviation. In most cases, Student's t-test (StudentTTest(IReadOnlyCollectionDouble, Double)), which does not assume a known population standard deviation, is more appropriate.

Examples

Suppose a standardized test exists, for which it is known that the mean score is 100 and the standard deviation is 15 across the entire population. The test is administered to a small sample of a subpopulation, who obtain a mean sample score of 95. You can use the z-test to determine how likely it is that the subpopulation mean really is lower than the population mean, that is that their slightly lower mean score in your sample is not merely a fluke.

See Also