Final answer:
Since the P-value of 0.044 is less than the significance level of 0.05, we reject the null hypothesis, which indicates that the fire department likely fails to meet the 90% standard.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand involves determining whether the local fire department meets the standard of responding to emergency calls within 8 minutes 90% of the time. The null hypothesis states that the proportion of responses within 8 minutes is 90% (H₀: p = 0.9), while the alternative hypothesis suggests it is less than 90% (Hₐ: p < 0.9). Given that the P-value is 0.044 and the significance level (α) is 0.05, we compare the P-value with the significance level to make a decision.
Since the P-value is less than the significance level (0.044 < 0.05), we reject the null hypothesis. This implies that there is sufficient evidence to support the alternative hypothesis, leading to the conclusion that the proportion of responses within 8 minutes is less than 90%. Therefore, the correct answer is option b: We would reject the null hypothesis. This means that on the basis of the evidence, you can conclude that the proportion of responses within 8 minutes is less than 90%.