Step 1 :Identify the null and alternative hypotheses. The null hypothesis (H0) is that the population mean is equal to 7.00, and the alternative hypothesis (H1) is that the population mean is less than 7.00.
Step 2 :Calculate the test statistic using the formula for a one-sample t-test: \(t = (\bar{x} - \mu) / (s / \sqrt{n})\), where \(\bar{x}\) is the sample mean, \(\mu\) is the population mean under the null hypothesis, \(s\) is the sample standard deviation, and \(n\) is the sample size.
Step 3 :Substitute the given values into the formula: \(\bar{x} = 6.59\), \(\mu = 7.00\), \(s = 2.05\), and \(n = 185\).
Step 4 :Calculate the test statistic: \(t = -2.72\). This value is negative, indicating that the sample mean is less than the population mean under the null hypothesis. This is consistent with the alternative hypothesis that the population mean is less than 7.00.
Step 5 :To make a final conclusion, compare the test statistic with the critical value or calculate the P-value.
Step 6 :Final Answer: The test statistic is approximately \(\boxed{-2.72}\).