Answer: A. z = -2.57
Step-by-step explanation:
Let p be the population proportion of people polled favor the incumbent.
As per given , we have
[tex]H_0: p=0.54\\\ H_a: p<0.54[/tex]
Sample size : n= 1030
sample proportion : [tex]\hat{p}=0.50[/tex]
Test statistic for proportion : [tex]z=\dfrac{\hat{p}-p}{\sqrt{\dfrac{p(1-p)}{n}}}[/tex]
[tex]z=\dfrac{0.50-0.54}{\sqrt{\dfrac{0.54(1-0.54)}{1030}}}\\\\= \dfrac{-0.04}{\sqrt{\dfrac{0.2484}{1030}}}\\\\=\dfrac{-0.04}{0.015529488}\approx-2.57[/tex]
Hence, the test statistic is z = -2.57 .
Thus , the correct answer is A. z = -2.57 .