CAIE A-Level Biology A2 Mathematical and Statistical Skills Questions

Practise the calculations, graph interpretation and statistical decisions required across CAIE A-Level Biology investigations.

Covered syllabus points

AS and A Level mathematical requirements A Level only mathematical and statistical requirements A Level formula reference and statistics notes

[Maximum number: 1]

In 2014, scientists published a phylogenetic (evolutionary) tree diagram showing how and when different groups of insects developed from ancestral groups.

To construct the diagram, the scientists compared nucleotide and amino acid sequence data for 1478 genes from each of 103 different insect species. The 103 species represented all 32 orders of the class Insecta.

The data were used to arrange the species in related groups according to their degree of molecular similarity and to track how sequences changed over time.

For this study, new software for processing large quantities of data was developed.

Calculate the total number of sequences that were compared, considering both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences for each gene.

$(1478 \times 103 \times 2=) 304468 ;$

[Maximum number: 2]

Fig. 6.1 is a diagram of mitochondrion.

Fig. 6.1

Assume that the mitochondrion in Fig. 6.1 is a cylinder.

Calculate the surface area of this mitochondrion.
Use the formula: Surface area of cylinder $=2 \pi r^{2}+2 \pi r h$
Show your working.

\text{surface area = }\underline{\hspace{4cm}}\,\mu\mathrm{m}^{2}

b(ii)

$\left(2 \times \pi \times 0.36^{2}\right)+(2 \times \pi \times 0.36 \times 5.25)$

or

$2 \pi \times 0.36(0.36+5.25) ;$

12.7

or

12.68

or

12.69 ;

Marking guidance:

accept 3.14 or $\pi$ in workings

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Covered syllabus points

Question 1

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