SPS SPS SM Statistics 2024 September — Question 2 4 marks

Exam BoardSPS
ModuleSPS SM Statistics (SPS SM Statistics)
Year2024
SessionSeptember
Marks4
TopicConditional Probability
TypeFinding unknown probability from total probability
DifficultyModerate -0.8 This is a straightforward conditional probability problem using the law of total probability. Part (a) requires basic algebraic manipulation with percentages (setting up 0.1×0.09 + 0.3×0.03 + 0.6×p = 0.06 and solving for p). Part (b) tests understanding of independence by comparing P(B) with P(B|faulty), which is routine bookwork. The question involves only standard techniques with no problem-solving insight required, making it easier than average but not trivial since it requires careful setup.
Spec2.03a Mutually exclusive and independent events2.03c Conditional probability: using diagrams/tables2.03d Calculate conditional probability: from first principles

A factory buys 10\% of its components from supplier \(A\), 30\% from supplier \(B\) and the rest from supplier \(C\). It is known that 6\% of the components it buys are faulty. Of the components bought from supplier \(A\), 9\% are faulty and of the components bought from supplier \(B\), 3\% are faulty.
  1. Find the percentage of components bought from supplier \(C\) that are faulty. [3]
A component is selected at random.
  1. Explain why the event "the component was bought from supplier \(B\)" is not statistically independent from the event "the component is faulty". [1]

A factory buys 10\% of its components from supplier $A$, 30\% from supplier $B$ and the rest from supplier $C$. It is known that 6\% of the components it buys are faulty.

Of the components bought from supplier $A$, 9\% are faulty and of the components bought from supplier $B$, 3\% are faulty.

\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Find the percentage of components bought from supplier $C$ that are faulty. [3]
\end{enumerate}

A component is selected at random.

\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\setcounter{enumi}{1}
\item Explain why the event "the component was bought from supplier $B$" is not statistically independent from the event "the component is faulty". [1]
\end{enumerate}

\hfill \mbox{\textit{SPS SPS SM Statistics 2024 Q2 [4]}}