Pre-U Pre-U 9795/2 2013 November — Question 1

Exam BoardPre-U
ModulePre-U 9795/2 (Pre-U Further Mathematics Paper 2)
Year2013
SessionNovember
TopicContinuous Probability Distributions and Random Variables
TypeFind mode of distribution
DifficultyModerate -0.3 This is a straightforward probability density function question requiring integration to find k (using standard sine integral) and identifying the mode from a sketch. The integration is routine, and the mode is simply the maximum of the sine function. Slightly easier than average due to standard techniques and no complex problem-solving required.
Spec5.03a Continuous random variables: pdf and cdf5.03b Solve problems: using pdf

1 The lifetime, \(T\) years, of a mortgage may be modelled by the random variable \(T\) with probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( t )\), where $$\mathrm { f } ( t ) = \begin{cases} k \sin \left( \frac { 3 } { 32 } t \right) & 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 8 \pi \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 3 } { 32 } ( 2 - \sqrt { 2 } )\).
  2. Sketch the graph of \(\mathrm { f } ( t )\) and state the mode.

1 The lifetime, $T$ years, of a mortgage may be modelled by the random variable $T$ with probability density function $\mathrm { f } ( t )$, where

$$\mathrm { f } ( t ) = \begin{cases} k \sin \left( \frac { 3 } { 32 } t \right) & 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 8 \pi \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$

(i) Show that $k = \frac { 3 } { 32 } ( 2 - \sqrt { 2 } )$.\\
(ii) Sketch the graph of $\mathrm { f } ( t )$ and state the mode.

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