CAIE A-Level Further Math AS 4.2 Inference Using Normal and T Distributions Questions

Practise selecting one-sample, paired or two-sample inference, calculating the required variance and using the correct normal or t critical value in context.

Exam points

identify the sampling design before choosing a one-sample, paired or independent statistic
calculate unbiased, pooled or difference variance with the correct degrees of freedom
compare the test statistic or interval with its critical value and conclude in context

Covered syllabus points

4.2.1—Hypothesis tests 4.2.2—A pooled estimate of a population 4.2.3—Hypothesis tests 4.2.4—Mean confidence intervals 4.2.5—Difference confidence intervals

[Maximum number: 6]

Maya is an athlete who competes in 1500 -metre races. Last summer her practice run times had mean 4.22 minutes. Over the winter she has done some intense training to try to improve her times. A random sample of 10 of her practice run times, x minutes, this summer are summarised as follows.

\sum x=42.05 \quad \sum x^{2}=176.83

Maya's new practice run times are normally distributed. She believes that on average her times have improved as a result of her training.

Test, at the 5% significance level, whether Maya's belief is supported by the data.

$\mathrm{H}_{0}: \mu=4.22 \quad \mathrm{H}_{1}: \mu<4.22$ $\bar{x}=\frac{42.05}{10}[=4.205], \quad s^{2}=\frac{1}{9}\left(176.83-\frac{42.05^{2}}{10}\right)\left[=\frac{13}{12000}=0.0010833\right]$ $t=\frac{4.205-4.22}{\sqrt{\frac{s^{2}}{10}}}$
Their 4.205, their $s^{2}$ .

t=-1.44
Condone sign.

Tabular value =1.833: ' 1.44 ' <1.833, accept $\mathrm{H}_{0}$
Compare their value with correct tabular value, signs
consistent, allow 'not significant'.

There is insufficient evidence to support Maya's belief.
Correct conclusion in context, following correct work,
level of uncertainty in language.
A0 if hypotheses wrong way round or missing.

6

[Maximum number: 8]

Scientists are studying the effects of exercise on LDL blood cholesterol levels. Over a three-month period, a large group of people exercised for 20 minutes each day. For a randomly chosen sample of 10 of these people, the LDL blood cholesterol levels were measured at the beginning and the end of the three-month period. The results, measured in suitable units, are as follows.

Table for Question 2 — CAIE A-Level Further Math AS

(a)

Test, at the 2.5% significance level, whether there is evidence that the population mean LDL blood cholesterol level has reduced by more than 2 units after the three-month period.

[ 7 ]

$\mathrm{H}_{0}: \mu_{B}-\mu_{E}=2 \quad \mathrm{H}_{1}: \mu_{B}-\mu_{E}>2$
May use $\mu_{d}$ , but must be consistent with direction of
differences found.

8 & 8 & 15 & -2 & -3 & 20 & -3 & 0 & 5 & 4
Differences, at most 2 errors.

$\sum d=52, \sum d^{2}=816, s^{2}=\frac{1}{9}\left(816-\frac{52^{2}}{10}\right)\left[=\frac{2728}{45}=60.62\right]$
Their values but must see 9 and 10 used correctly.

$t=\frac{\frac{52}{10}-2}{\sqrt{\frac{s^{2}}{10}}}$ $t=1.29967, \quad 1.30$
Tabular value =2.262. '1.30' <2.262, accept $\mathrm{H}_{0}$
Allow 'not significant'.

Insufficient evidence to suggest that cholesterol level has reduced by more
than 2.
CWO. Correct conclusion in context, following correct work, level of uncertainty in language.

A0 if hypotheses wrong way round or missing.

7

(b)

State any assumption that you have made in part (a).

[ 1 ]

[Maximum number: 6]

Shane is studying the lengths of the tails of male red kangaroos. He takes a random sample of 14 male red kangaroos and measures the length of the tail, $x \mathrm{~m}$ , for each kangaroo. He then calculates a 90% confidence interval for the population mean tail length, $\mu \mathrm{m}$ , of male red kangaroos. He assumes that the tail lengths are normally distributed and finds that $1.11 \leqslant \mu \leqslant 1.14$ .

Find the values of $\sum x$ and $\sum x^{2}$ for this sample.

$\bar{x}+1.771 \sqrt{\frac{s^{2}}{14}}=1.14$ or $\bar{x}-1.771 \sqrt{\frac{s^{2}}{14}}=1.11$
SOI
Allow incorrect t-value, not z-value.

[Add: $\left.\bar{x}=\frac{1}{2}(1.14+1.11)=1.125\right] \quad \sum x=15.75$
Does not depend on use of a t-value.

Subtract or substitute: $\sqrt{\frac{s^{2}}{14}}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{1.14-1.11}{1.771}\right)$
Allow incorrect t-value, but not a z-value.

$s^{2}=0.00100[4]$ or s=0.0316[9] $\frac{450}{448063}$ , implied by correct final answer.

$\sum x^{2}=13 s^{2}+\frac{\left(\sum x\right)^{2}}{14}$

М1

OE

$\sum x^{2}=17.7$ (3)
CWO

6

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Covered syllabus points

Question 1

Question 2

Question (a)

Question (b)

Question 3