Edexcel S2 2012 January — Question 2 7 marks

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleS2 (Statistics 2)
Year2012
SessionJanuary
Marks7
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicHypothesis test of binomial distributions
TypeOne-tailed hypothesis test (upper tail, H₁: p > p₀)
DifficultyModerate -0.3 This is a straightforward one-tailed binomial hypothesis test with clearly stated context. Students must identify H₀: p=0.5, H₁: p>0.5, find P(X≥21) under B(30,0.5), and compare to 5%. The setup is standard S2 material with no conceptual tricks, though it requires careful probability calculation and correct interpretation of the one-tailed test.
Spec2.05b Hypothesis test for binomial proportion2.05c Significance levels: one-tail and two-tail

2. David claims that the weather forecasts produced by local radio are no better than those achieved by tossing a fair coin and predicting rain if a head is obtained or no rain if a tail is obtained. He records the weather for 30 randomly selected days. The local radio forecast is correct on 21 of these days. Test David's claim at the \(5 \%\) level of significance. State your hypotheses clearly.

Question 2:
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMark Guidance
\(H_0: p = 0.5\)B1
\(H_1: p > 0.5\)B1 SC: If both hypotheses correct but different letter to \(p\) used: B1B0. If no letter used: B0B0
\(X \sim B(30, 0.5)\)M1 Using correct Binomial
\(P(X \geq 21) = 1 - P(X \leq 20)\) or \(P(X \leq 19) = 0.9506\) or \(P(X \geq 20) = 0.0494\)M1 One tail: writing or using \(1 - P(X \leq 20)\)
\(= 1 - 0.9786 = 0.0214\)A1 CR \(X \geq 20\)
So significant / reject \(H_0\) / In Critical RegionM1 dep Dependent on 2nd M1
Evidence to suggest David's claim is incorrect or weather forecast produced by local radio is better than those achieved by tossing/flipping a coinA1 Correct contextualised statement. Do not allow non-contextual conflicting statements e.g. "significant" and "accept \(H_0\)"
# Question 2:

| Answer/Working | Mark | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| $H_0: p = 0.5$ | B1 | |
| $H_1: p > 0.5$ | B1 | SC: If both hypotheses correct but different letter to $p$ used: B1B0. If no letter used: B0B0 |
| $X \sim B(30, 0.5)$ | M1 | Using correct Binomial |
| $P(X \geq 21) = 1 - P(X \leq 20)$ or $P(X \leq 19) = 0.9506$ or $P(X \geq 20) = 0.0494$ | M1 | One tail: writing or using $1 - P(X \leq 20)$ |
| $= 1 - 0.9786 = 0.0214$ | A1 | CR $X \geq 20$ |
| So significant / reject $H_0$ / In Critical Region | M1 dep | Dependent on 2nd M1 |
| Evidence to suggest **David's claim is incorrect** or weather **forecast** produced by local **radio** is better than those achieved by **tossing/flipping a coin** | A1 | Correct contextualised statement. Do not allow non-contextual conflicting statements e.g. "significant" and "accept $H_0$" |

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2. David claims that the weather forecasts produced by local radio are no better than those achieved by tossing a fair coin and predicting rain if a head is obtained or no rain if a tail is obtained. He records the weather for 30 randomly selected days. The local radio forecast is correct on 21 of these days.

Test David's claim at the $5 \%$ level of significance.

State your hypotheses clearly.\\

\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel S2 2012 Q2 [7]}}