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Let us suppose that two independent random samples of sizes n1n_1 and n2n_2 has been drawn from the same normal population then degree of freedom of statistic t-distribution is:

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 2

Two independent random samples of sizes n1n_1 and n2n_2 have been drawn from the same normal population.

The total number of observations is n1+n2n_1 + n_2.


When comparing two samples using a t-test, we estimate two parameters from the data:

  • The mean of the first sample
  • The mean of the second sample

Each estimated parameter reduces the degrees of freedom by 1.


Since we estimate 2 parameters (two sample means), we lose 2 degrees of freedom.

Degrees of freedom =(n1+n2)−2= (n_1 + n_2) - 2

=n1+n2−2= n_1 + n_2 - 2


When a mean is calculated from a sample, one degree of freedom is used. For example, if 5 numbers must average to 10, once 4 numbers are known, the 5th is automatically determined.

Since two means are calculated (one for each sample), 2 degrees of freedom are lost.


Therefore, the degrees of freedom for the t-statistic is n1+n2−2n_1 + n_2 - 2.

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