Medicare spending per patient in different U.S. metropolitan areas may differ. Based on the sample data below, answer the questions that follow to determine whether the average spending in the northern region significantly less than the average spending in the southern region at the 1 percent level.
Medicare Spending per Patient (adjusted for age, sex, and race)
Statistic Northern Region Southern Region
Sample mean $3,123 $8,456
Sample standard deviation $1,546 $3,678
Sample size 14 patients 16 patients