If a sample of size 18 has a linear correlation coefficient

If a sample of size 18 has a linear correlation coefficient of -0.64 is there significant reason to conclude that the linear correlation coefficient of the population is negative? Use = 0.01.

Which of the following is correct?

Reject the null hypothesis, there is not significant evidence of a negative linear correlation

Reject the null hypothesis, there is significant evidence of a negative linear correlation.   

Fail to reject the null hypothesis, there is not significant evidence of a negative linear correlation.

Fail to reject the null hypothesis, there is significant evidence of a negative linear correlation.

Solution

As

t = r sqrt[(n - 2)/(1 - r^2)]

Solving for t,

t = -3.3317

As df = n - 2 = 16, then the p value for this two tailed test is

p = 0.004227274 < 0.01.

Thus, we REJECT THE NULL HYPOTHESIS, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE OF NEGATIVE LINEAR CORRELATION. [ANSWER, OPTION 2]