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CAIE A-Level Mathematics 6.2.1 Linear Combinations of Random Variables

Practise finding the distribution of aX + bY from independent normal or Poisson variables, transforming means linearly and adding variance contributions with squared coefficients.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Mathematics 9709
Level
A2

Exam points

  • calculate E(aX + bY) as aE(X) + bE(Y), retaining the sign of each coefficient
  • calculate variance as a²Var(X) + b²Var(Y) for independent variables, even for differences
  • state the resulting normal or Poisson model before standardising the required sum or comparison

6.2.1—Normal distribution question 1

[Maximum number: 3]

The number, X, of books received at a charity shop has a constant mean of 5.1 per day.

Find the probability that the total number of books and DVDs that are received at the shop in 1 day is more than 3 .

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