Final answer:
The expected frequency (E) value in a one-way Chi-square test can be either a whole number or a decimal. It is computed based on the sample data sizes and marginal totals and can result in non-integer values when rounded to the necessary precision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expected frequency (E) value in a one-way Chi-square test can be described as the theoretical frequency estimated for a cell in a contingency table, under the null hypothesis that the variables are independent. According to the choices provided:
- B) It can be a whole number or a decimal - This is the accurate description of the expected frequency (E) value in a Chi-square test. Expected frequencies are computed based on the sample data sizes and marginal totals, and can result in whole numbers or decimals, especially when you round to two decimal places as suggested in the test instructions.
- A) It is always a whole number - This is not accurate because expected frequencies can be non-integer values.
- C) It can be a positive or negative value - This is not accurate as expected frequencies cannot be negative; they are based on counts.
- D) It is always a value equal to or greater than 40 - This is not accurate since the expected frequency can be any positive value, not necessarily 40 or more.
When calculating expected frequencies, it is important to round them to the required decimal places as stated in the hypothesis test problem instructions.