CAIE FP2 2012 June — Question 6 6 marks

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleFP2 (Further Pure Mathematics 2)
Year2012
SessionJune
Marks6
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicGeometric Distribution
TypeFind minimum n for P(X ≤ n) > threshold
DifficultyModerate -0.3 This is a straightforward application of the geometric distribution with standard formulas. Part (i) requires direct substitution into P(X=k) = (1-p)^(k-1)p, part (ii) is immediate recall that E(N)=1/p=100, and part (iii) involves solving (1-p)^n > 0.1 using logarithms—all routine procedures for this topic with no conceptual challenges or novel problem-solving required.
Spec5.02f Geometric distribution: conditions5.02g Geometric probabilities: P(X=r) = p(1-p)^(r-1)5.02h Geometric: mean 1/p and variance (1-p)/p^2

The probability that a particular type of light bulb is defective is 0.01. A large number of these bulbs are tested, one by one. Assuming independence, find the probability that the tenth bulb tested is the first to be found defective. [2] The first defective bulb is the \(N\)th to be tested. Write down the value of E\((N)\). [1] Find the least value of \(n\) such that P\((N < n)\) is greater than 0.9. [3]

Question 6:
AnswerMarks
6th
Find prob. that 10 bulb is first defective
one: (1 – 0⋅01) 9 × 0⋅01 = 0⋅00914
(allow 0⋅00913) M1 A1
State or find E(N): E(N) = 1/0⋅01 = 100 B1
Formulate condition for n: P(N ≤ n) = 1 – P(N > n)
(equality throughout loses this M1 only) = 1 – 0⋅99 n > 0⋅9, 0⋅99 n < 0⋅1 M1
Take logs (any base) to give inequality for n: n > log 0⋅1 / log 0⋅99 M1
AnswerMarks
Find nmin: n > 229⋅1, nmin = 230 A12
1
AnswerMarks Guidance
3[6]
Page 6Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus
GCE A LEVEL – May/June 20129231 21
Question 6:
6 | th
Find prob. that 10 bulb is first defective
one: (1 – 0⋅01) 9 × 0⋅01 = 0⋅00914
(allow 0⋅00913) M1 A1
State or find E(N): E(N) = 1/0⋅01 = 100 B1
Formulate condition for n: P(N ≤ n) = 1 – P(N > n)
(equality throughout loses this M1 only) = 1 – 0⋅99 n > 0⋅9, 0⋅99 n < 0⋅1 M1
Take logs (any base) to give inequality for n: n > log 0⋅1 / log 0⋅99 M1
Find nmin: n > 229⋅1, nmin = 230 A1 | 2
1
3 | [6]
Page 6 | Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version | Syllabus | Paper
GCE A LEVEL – May/June 2012 | 9231 | 21
The probability that a particular type of light bulb is defective is 0.01. A large number of these bulbs are tested, one by one. Assuming independence, find the probability that the tenth bulb tested is the first to be found defective. [2]

The first defective bulb is the $N$th to be tested. Write down the value of E$(N)$. [1]

Find the least value of $n$ such that P$(N < n)$ is greater than 0.9. [3]

\hfill \mbox{\textit{CAIE FP2 2012 Q6 [6]}}