# 11.3 F-tests for Equality of Two Variances

Learning Objectives

• To understand what F-distributions are.
• To understand how to use an F-test to judge whether two population variances are equal.

### F-Distributions

Another important and useful family of distributions in statistics is the family of F-distributions. Each member of the F-distribution family is specified by a pair of parameters called degrees of freedom and denoted df1 and df2. Figure $$\PageIndex{1}$$ shows several F-distributions for different pairs of degrees of freedom. An F random variable is a random variable that assumes only positive values and follows an F-distribution.

Figure $$\PageIndex{1}$$: Many F-Distributions

The parameter df1 is often referred to as the numerator degrees of freedom and the parameter df2 as the denominator degrees of freedom. It is important to keep in mind that they are not interchangeable. For example, the F-distribution with degrees of freedom df1=3 and df2=8 is a different distribution from the F-distribution with degrees of freedom df1=8 and df2=3.

Definition

The value of the F random variable F with degrees of freedom df1 and df2 that cuts off a right tail of area c is denoted Fc and is called a critical value. See Figure $$\PageIndex{2}$$.

Figure $$\PageIndex{2}$$ Fc Illustrated

Tables containing the values of Fc are given in Chapter 11. Each of the tables is for a fixed collection of values of c, either 0.900, 0.950, 0.975, 0.990, and 0.995 (yielding what are called “lower” critical values), or 0.005, 0.010, 0.025, 0.050, and 0.100 (yielding what are called “upper” critical values). In each table critical values are given for various pairs (df1,df2). We illustrate the use of the tables with several examples.

Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$

Suppose F is an F random variable with degrees of freedom df1=5 and df2=4. Use the tables to find

1. F0.10
2. F0.95

Solution:

1. The column headings of all the tables contain df1=5. Look for the table for which 0.10 is one of the entries on the extreme left (a table of upper critical values) and that has a row heading df2=4 in the left margin of the table. A portion of the relevant table is provided. The entry in the intersection of the column with heading df1=5 and the row with the headings 0.10 and df2=4, which is shaded in the table provided, is the answer, F0.10=4.05.

F Tail Area df1 1 2  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  5  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
df2
0.005 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  22.5  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.01 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  15.5  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.025 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  9.36  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.05 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  6.26  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.10 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  4.05  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

Look for the table for which 0.95 is one of the entries on the extreme left (a table of lower critical values) and that has a row heading df2=4 in the left margin of the table. A portion of the relevant table is provided. The entry in the intersection of the column with heading df1=5 and the row with the headings 0.95 and df2=4, which is shaded in the table provided, is the answer, F0.95=0.19.

F Tail Area df1 1 2  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  5  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
df2
0.90 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.28  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.95 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.19  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.975 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.14  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.99 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.09  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.995 4  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅   ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.06  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

Example $$\PageIndex{2}$$

Suppose F is an F random variable with degrees of freedom df1=2 and df2=20. Let α=0.05. Use the tables to find

• Fα/2
• F1−α
• F1−α/2

Solution

The column headings of all the tables contain df1=2. Look for the table for which α=0.05 is one of the entries on the extreme left (a table of upper critical values) and that has a row heading df2=20 in the left margin of the table. A portion of the relevant table is provided. The shaded entry, in the intersection of the column with heading df1=2 and the row with the headings 0.05 and df2=20 is the answer, F0.05=3.49.

F Tail Area df1 1 2  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
df2
0.005 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  6.99  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.01 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  5.85  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.025 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  4.46  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.05 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  3.49  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.10 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  2.59  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
• Look for the table for which α/2=0.025 is one of the entries on the extreme left (a table of upper critical values) and that has a row heading df2=20 in the left margin of the table. A portion of the relevant table is provided. The shaded entry, in the intersection of the column with heading df1=2 and the row with the headings 0.025 and df2=20 is the answer, F0.025=4.46.

F Tail Area df1 1 2  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
df2
0.005 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  6.99  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.01 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  5.85  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.025 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  4.46  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.05 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  3.49  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.10 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  2.59  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
• Look for the table for which 1−α=0.95 is one of the entries on the extreme left (a table of lower critical values) and that has a row heading df2=20 in the left margin of the table. A portion of the relevant table is provided. The shaded entry, in the intersection of the column with heading df1=2 and the row with the headings 0.95 and df2=20 is the answer, F0.95=0.05.

F Tail Area df1 1 2  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
df2
0.90 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.11  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.95 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.05  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.975 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.03  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.99 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.01  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.995 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.01  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
• Look for the table for which 1−α/2=0.975 is one of the entries on the extreme left (a table of lower critical values) and that has a row heading df2=20 in the left margin of the table. A portion of the relevant table is provided. The shaded entry, in the intersection of the column with heading df1=2 and the row with the headings 0.975 and df2=20 is the answer, F0.975=0.03.

F Tail Area df1 1 2  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
df2
0.90 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.11  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.95 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.05  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.975 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.03  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.99 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.01  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
0.995 20  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅  0.01  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

A fact that sometimes allows us to find a critical value from a table that we could not read otherwise is:

If Fu(r,s) denotes the value of the F-distribution with degrees of freedom df1=r and df2=s that cuts off a right tail of area u, then

Fc(k,ℓ)=1F1−c(ℓ,k)

Example $$\PageIndex{3}$$

Use the tables to find

F0.01 for an F random variable with df1=13 and df2=8

F0.975 for an F random variable with df1=40 and df2=10

Solution:

There is no table with df1=13, but there is one with df1=8. Thus we use the fact that

F0.01(13,8)=1F0.99(8,13)

Using the relevant table we find that F0.99(8,13)=0.18, hence F0.01(13,8)=0.18−1=5.556.

There is no table with df1=40, but there is one with df1=10. Thus we use the fact that

F0.975(40,10)=1F0.025(10,40)

Using the relevant table we find that F0.025(10,40)=3.31, hence F0.975(40,10)=3.31−1=0.302.

### F-Tests for Equality of Two Variances

In Chapter 9 we saw how to test hypotheses about the difference between two population means μ1 and μ2. In some practical situations the difference between the population standard deviations σ1 and σ2 is also of interest. Standard deviation measures the variability of a random variable. For example, if the random variable measures the size of a machined part in a manufacturing process, the size of standard deviation is one indicator of product quality. A smaller standard deviation among items produced in the manufacturing process is desirable since it indicates consistency in product quality.

For theoretical reasons it is easier to compare the squares of the population standard deviations, the population variances σ21 and σ22. This is not a problem, since σ1=σ2 precisely when σ21=σ22, σ1<σ2 precisely when σ21<σ22, and σ1>σ2 precisely when σ21>σ22.

The null hypothesis always has the form H0:σ21=σ22. The three forms of the alternative hypothesis, with the terminology for each case, are:

Form of Ha Terminology
Ha:σ21>σ22 Right-tailed
Ha:σ21<σ22 Left-tailed
Ha:σ21≠σ22 Two-tailed

Just as when we test hypotheses concerning two population means, we take a random sample from each population, of sizes n1 and n2, and compute the sample standard deviations s1 and s2. In this context the samples are always independent. The populations themselves must be normally distributed.

### Test Statistic for Hypothesis Tests Concerning the Difference Between Two Population Variances

F=s21s22

If the two populations are normally distributed and if H0:σ21=σ22 is true then under independent sampling F approximately follows an F-distribution with degrees of freedom df1=n1−1 and df2=n2−1.

A test based on the test statistic F is called an F-test.

A most important point is that while the rejection region for a right-tailed test is exactly as in every other situation that we have encountered, because of the asymmetry in the F-distribution the critical value for a left-tailed test and the lower critical value for a two-tailed test have the special forms shown in the following table:

Terminology Alternative Hypothesis Rejection Region
Right-tailed Ha:σ21>σ22 F≥Fα
Left-tailed Ha:σ21<σ22 F≤F1−α
Two-tailed Ha:σ21≠σ22 F≤F1−α/2 or F≥Fα/2

Figure $$\PageIndex{3}$$ illustrates these rejection regions.

Figure $$\PageIndex{3}$$ Rejection Regions: (a) Right-Tailed; (b) Left-Tailed; (c) Two-Tailed

The test is performed using the usual five-step procedure described at the end of Section 8.1.

Example $$\PageIndex{4}$$

One of the quality measures of blood glucose meter strips is the consistency of the test results on the same sample of blood. The consistency is measured by the variance of the readings in repeated testing. Suppose two types of strips, A and B, are compared for their respective consistencies. We arbitrarily label the population of Type A strips Population 1 and the population of Type B strips Population 2. Suppose 15 Type A strips were tested with blood drops from a well-shaken vial and 20 Type B strips were tested with the blood from the same vial. The results are summarized in Table 11.16. Assume the glucose readings using Type A strips follow a normal distribution with variance σ21 and those using Type B strips follow a normal distribution with variance with σ22. Test, at the 10% level of significance, whether the data provide sufficient evidence to conclude that the consistencies of the two types of strips are different.

Table 11.16 Two Types of Test Strips
Strip Type Sample Size Sample Variance
A n1=16 s21=2.09
B n2=21 s22=1.10

Solution:

Step 1. The test of hypotheses is

H0 vs.Ha::σ21=σ22σ21≠σ22@α=0.10

Step 2. The distribution is the F-distribution with degrees of freedom df1=16−1=15 and df2=21−1=20.

Step 3. The test is two-tailed. The left or lower critical value is F1−α/2=F0.95=0.43. The right or upper critical value is Fα/2=F0.05=2.20. Thus the rejection region is [0,−0.43]∪[2.20,∞), as illustrated in Figure $$\PageIndex{4}$$.

Figure $$\PageIndex{4}$$ Rejection Region and Test Statistic for Note 11.27 "Example 6"

Step 4. The value of the test statistic is

$F=s21s22=2.091.10=1.90$

Step 5. As shown in Figure $$\PageIndex{4}$$, the test statistic 1.90 does not lie in the rejection region, so the decision is not to reject H0. The data do not provide sufficient evidence, at the 10% level of significance, to conclude that there is a difference in the consistency, as measured by the variance, of the two types of test strips.

Example $$\PageIndex{5}$$

In the context of Note 11.27 "Example 6", suppose Type A test strips are the current market leader and Type B test strips are a newly improved version of Type A. Test, at the 10% level of significance, whether the data given in Table 11.16 provide sufficient evidence to conclude that Type B test strips have better consistency (lower variance) than Type A test strips.

Solution:

Step 1. The test of hypotheses is now

H0 vs.Ha::σ21=σ22σ21>σ22@α=0.10

Step 2. The distribution is the F-distribution with degrees of freedom df1=16−1=15 and df2=21−1=20.

Step 3. The value of the test statistic is

F=s21s22=2.091.10=1.90

Step 4. The test is right-tailed. The single critical value is Fα=F0.10=1.84. Thus the rejection region is [1.84,∞), as illustrated in Figure $$\PageIndex{5}$$.

Figure $$\PageIndex{5}$$ Rejection Region and Test Statistic for Note 11.28 "Example 7"
• Step 5. As shown in Figure $$\PageIndex{5}$$, the test statistic 1.90 lies in the rejection region, so the decision is to reject H0. The data provide sufficient evidence, at the 10% level of significance, to conclude that Type B test strips have better consistency (lower variance) than Type A test strips do.

### Key Takeaways

1. Critical values of an F-distribution with degrees of freedom df1 and df2 are found in tables in Chapter 12.
2. An F-test can be used to evaluate the hypothesis of two identical normal population variances.