Final answer:
The correct null hypothesis for comparing the average course ratings given by a professor's students to three different courses would be that there is no difference between the mean ratings of the courses, expressed as H0: μ1 = μ2 = μ3.
Step-by-step explanation:
When analyzing the course ratings provided by students, the null hypothesis is a statement about the population parameter that suggests no effect or no difference. In the context of course evaluations, if we are investigating whether there is any difference in the average ratings of the three courses taught by the professor, the null hypothesis would typically assume that there is no difference in the mean ratings of the three courses.
Thus, the null hypothesis (often denoted as H0) for this scenario would be:
H0: μ1 = μ2 = μ3
Where μ1, μ2, and μ3 are the mean course ratings for course 1, course 2, and course 3, respectively.