Final answer:
To properly choose the pooled (or equal) variance for an independent samples t-test, the sample sizes must be equal.
Step-by-step explanation:
To properly choose the pooled (or equal) variance for μla on an independent samples t-test, sample sizes must be equal. This means that the number of observations in each group being compared should be the same. This is important because it ensures that the variability in the data is accounted for correctly.
Other criteria, such as the variances and means, do not need to be equal in order to choose the pooled variance. In fact, the whole purpose of the t-test is to compare means, so it wouldn't make sense for the means to be equal.
Therefore, the correct answer is a) Sample sizes must be equal.