For Exercises assume that all variables are normally distributed, that the samples are independent, that the population variances are equal, and that the samples are simple random samples, one from each of the populations. Also, for each exercise, perform the following steps.

a. State the hypotheses and identify the claim.
b. Find the critical value.
c. Compute the test value.
d. Make the decision.
e. Summarize the results, and explain where the differences in the means are.
Use the traditional method of hypothesis testing unless otherwise specified.

Kiplinger’s listed the top 100 public colleges based on many factors. From that list, here is the average debt at graduation for various schools in four selected states. At α = 0.05, can it be concluded that the average debt at graduation differs for these four states?

New York 14,734 16,000 14,347 14,392 12,500 Virginia 14,524 15,176 12,665 12,591 18,385 California 13,171 14,431 14,689 13,788 15,297 Pennsylvania 18,105 17,051 16,103 22,400 17,976