Edexcel S1 2009 June — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleS1 (Statistics 1)
Year2009
SessionJune
TopicNormal Distribution
TypeExpected frequency with unknown parameter

8. The lifetimes of bulbs used in a lamp are normally distributed. A company \(X\) sells bulbs with a mean lifetime of 850 hours and a standard deviation of 50 hours.
  1. Find the probability of a bulb, from company \(X\), having a lifetime of less than 830 hours.
  2. In a box of 500 bulbs, from company \(X\), find the expected number having a lifetime of less than 830 hours. A rival company \(Y\) sells bulbs with a mean lifetime of 860 hours and \(20 \%\) of these bulbs have a lifetime of less than 818 hours.
  3. Find the standard deviation of the lifetimes of bulbs from company \(Y\). Both companies sell the bulbs for the same price.
  4. State which company you would recommend. Give reasons for your answer.