Using the z-distribution, as we are working with a proportion, it is found that there is evidence that the proportion has decreased.
At the null hypothesis, it is tested if the proportion is still the same, of 27/100 = 0.27, hence:
[tex]H_0: p = 0.27[/tex]
At the alternative hypothesis, it is tested if the proportion has decreased, hence:
[tex]H_1: p < 0.27[/tex].
The test statistic is given by:
[tex]z = \frac{\overline{p} - p}{\sqrt{\frac{p(1-p)}{n}}}[/tex]
In which:
In this problem, the parameters are as follows:
[tex]n = 175, \overline{p} = \frac{30}{175} = 0.1714[/tex]
Hence, the value of the test statistic is given by:
[tex]z = \frac{\overline{p} - p}{\sqrt{\frac{p(1-p)}{n}}}[/tex]
[tex]z = \frac{0.1714 - 0.27}{\sqrt{\frac{0.27(0.73)}{175}}}[/tex]
z = -2.94.
Considering a left-tailed test, as we are testing if the propoortion is less than a value, the critical value is of [tex]z^{\ast} = -1.645[/tex].
Since the test statistic is less than the critical value for the left-tailed test, it is found that there is evidence that the proportion has decreased.
More can be learned about the z-distribution at https://brainly.com/question/26454209