Final answer:
The statement in the question is True. The steel company wants to determine whether the breaking strength of metal rods made with different alloys is the same.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement in the question is a) True. The steel company wants to determine whether the breaking strength of metal rods made with different alloys is the same. If the company believes that the rods are identical other than the different alloy used, it means they believe that the other factors that can affect breaking strength, such as the size, shape, and manufacturing process of the rods, are the same for all alloys. Therefore, they are testing the hypothesis that the breaking strength of the rods is independent of the alloy used.