Edexcel S2 2003 January — Question 1 6 marks

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleS2 (Statistics 2)
Year2003
SessionJanuary
Marks6
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicContinuous Uniform Random Variables
TypeMeasurement error modeling
DifficultyModerate -0.8 This is a straightforward application of the continuous uniform distribution with minimal problem-solving required. Part (a) tests basic understanding that rounding errors follow U(-0.5, 0.5), part (b) is a simple probability calculation (0.4/1 = 0.4), and part (c) applies independence by squaring. The question requires only recall of the standard measurement error model and basic probability calculations, making it easier than average for A-level.
Spec5.03a Continuous random variables: pdf and cdf

  1. An engineer measures, to the nearest cm , the lengths of metal rods.
    1. Suggest a suitable model to represent the difference between the true lengths and the measured lengths.
    2. Find the probability that for a randomly chosen rod the measured length will be within 0.2 cm of the true length.
    Two rods are chosen at random.
  2. Find the probability that for both rods the measured lengths will be within 0.2 cm of their true lengths.

\begin{enumerate}
  \item An engineer measures, to the nearest cm , the lengths of metal rods.\\
(a) Suggest a suitable model to represent the difference between the true lengths and the measured lengths.\\
(b) Find the probability that for a randomly chosen rod the measured length will be within 0.2 cm of the true length.
\end{enumerate}

Two rods are chosen at random.\\
(c) Find the probability that for both rods the measured lengths will be within 0.2 cm of their true lengths.\\

\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel S2 2003 Q1 [6]}}