Edexcel S3 2018 June — Question 7 15 marks

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleS3 (Statistics 3)
Year2018
SessionJune
Marks15
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicLinear combinations of normal random variables
TypeMultiple stage process probability
DifficultyStandard +0.8 This S3 question requires understanding of linear combinations of normal variables and working with sample means. Part (i) involves standard applications (sum and difference of normals), but part (ii) requires expressing X₁ - X̄ as a linear combination, finding its variance (involving covariance terms), and solving backwards from a probability—this multi-step reasoning with dependent variables elevates it above routine exercises.
Spec2.04e Normal distribution: as model N(mu, sigma^2)5.04b Linear combinations: of normal distributions

7.(i)As part of a recruitment exercise candidates are required to complete three separate tasks.The times taken,\(A , B\) and \(C\) ,in minutes,for candidates to complete the three tasks are such that $$A \sim \mathrm {~N} \left( 21,2 ^ { 2 } \right) , B \sim \mathrm {~N} \left( 32,7 ^ { 2 } \right) \text { and } C \sim \mathrm {~N} \left( 45,9 ^ { 2 } \right)$$ The time taken by an individual candidate to complete each task is assumed to be independent of the time taken to complete each of the other tasks. A candidate is selected at random.
  1. Find the probability that the candidate takes a total time of more than 90 minutes to complete all three tasks.
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( A > B )\) (ii)A simple random sample,\(X _ { 1 } , X _ { 2 } , X _ { 3 } , X _ { 4 }\) ,is taken from a normal population with mean \(\mu\) and standard deviation \(\sigma\) Given that $$\bar { X } = \frac { X _ { 1 } + X _ { 2 } + X _ { 3 } + X _ { 4 } } { 4 }$$ and that $$\mathrm { P } \left( X _ { 1 } > \bar { X } + k \sigma \right) = 0.1$$ where \(k\) is a constant,
    find the value of \(k\) ,giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
    END

7.(i)As part of a recruitment exercise candidates are required to complete three separate tasks.The times taken,$A , B$ and $C$ ,in minutes,for candidates to complete the three tasks are such that

$$A \sim \mathrm {~N} \left( 21,2 ^ { 2 } \right) , B \sim \mathrm {~N} \left( 32,7 ^ { 2 } \right) \text { and } C \sim \mathrm {~N} \left( 45,9 ^ { 2 } \right)$$

The time taken by an individual candidate to complete each task is assumed to be independent of the time taken to complete each of the other tasks.

A candidate is selected at random.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Find the probability that the candidate takes a total time of more than 90 minutes to complete all three tasks.
\item Find $\mathrm { P } ( A > B )$\\
(ii)A simple random sample,$X _ { 1 } , X _ { 2 } , X _ { 3 } , X _ { 4 }$ ,is taken from a normal population with mean $\mu$ and standard deviation $\sigma$

Given that

$$\bar { X } = \frac { X _ { 1 } + X _ { 2 } + X _ { 3 } + X _ { 4 } } { 4 }$$

and that

$$\mathrm { P } \left( X _ { 1 } > \bar { X } + k \sigma \right) = 0.1$$

where $k$ is a constant,\\
find the value of $k$ ,giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel S3 2018 Q7 [15]}}