AQA S2 2013 January — Question 2 12 marks

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleS2 (Statistics 2)
Year2013
SessionJanuary
Marks12
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicChi-squared test of independence
TypeCell combining required
DifficultyModerate -0.3 This is a standard chi-squared test of independence with straightforward application of the test procedure. The main challenge is recognizing that expected frequencies are too small (requiring column combination), but this is a routine check in S2. The interpretation in part (b) requires only basic observation of the data rather than complex statistical reasoning.
Spec5.06a Chi-squared: contingency tables

2 A large estate agency would like all the properties that it handles to be sold within three months. A manager wants to know whether the type of property affects the time taken to sell it. The data for a random sample of properties sold are tabulated below.
\multirow{2}{*}{}Type of property
FlatTerracedSemidetachedDetachedTotal
Sold within three months434281884
Sold in more than three months9188641
Total13523624125
  1. Conduct a \(\chi ^ { 2 }\)-test, at the \(10 \%\) level of significance, to determine whether there is an association between the type of property and the time taken to sell it. Explain why it is necessary to combine two columns before carrying out this test.
  2. The manager plans to spend extra money on advertising for one type of property in an attempt to increase the number sold within three months. Explain why the manager might choose:
    1. terraced properties;
    2. flats.
      (2 marks)

2 A large estate agency would like all the properties that it handles to be sold within three months. A manager wants to know whether the type of property affects the time taken to sell it. The data for a random sample of properties sold are tabulated below.

\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline
\multirow{2}{*}{} & \multicolumn{4}{|c|}{Type of property} &  \\
\hline
 & Flat & Terraced & Semidetached & Detached & Total \\
\hline
Sold within three months & 4 & 34 & 28 & 18 & 84 \\
\hline
Sold in more than three months & 9 & 18 & 8 & 6 & 41 \\
\hline
Total & 13 & 52 & 36 & 24 & 125 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{center}
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Conduct a $\chi ^ { 2 }$-test, at the $10 \%$ level of significance, to determine whether there is an association between the type of property and the time taken to sell it. Explain why it is necessary to combine two columns before carrying out this test.
\item The manager plans to spend extra money on advertising for one type of property in an attempt to increase the number sold within three months. Explain why the manager might choose:
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\roman*)]
\item terraced properties;
\item flats.\\
(2 marks)
\end{enumerate}\end{enumerate}

\hfill \mbox{\textit{AQA S2 2013 Q2 [12]}}