We test for a hypothesized difference between two population means: H0: ?1 = ?2. The population standard deviations are unknown but assumed equal. The number of observations in the first sample is 15, and 12 in the second sample. How many degrees of freedom are associated with the critical value? 24 25 26 27 Solution df = n1 + n2 - 2 = 15 + 12 - 2 = 25.