CAIE S2 2020 November — Question 3 6 marks

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleS2 (Statistics 2)
Year2020
SessionNovember
Marks6
PaperDownload PDF ↗
TopicLinear combinations of normal random variables
TypeDirect comparison with scalar multiple (different variables)
DifficultyStandard +0.8 This question requires students to construct a new random variable (F - 0.5M) from two independent normal distributions, find its mean and variance using linear combination properties, then calculate a probability. While the mechanics are standard S2 content, the algebraic setup (rearranging F < 0.5M to F - 0.5M < 0) and handling the coefficient 0.5 in the variance calculation adds moderate complexity beyond routine linear combination questions.
Spec5.04b Linear combinations: of normal distributions

3 The masses, in kilograms, of female and male animals of a certain species have the distributions \(\mathrm { N } \left( 102,27 ^ { 2 } \right)\) and \(\mathrm { N } \left( 170,55 ^ { 2 } \right)\) respectively. Find the probability that a randomly chosen female has a mass that is less than half the mass of a randomly chosen male. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{fb305858-2d96-4a5d-b1a9-a965c248fb8d-06_76_1659_484_244}

3 The masses, in kilograms, of female and male animals of a certain species have the distributions $\mathrm { N } \left( 102,27 ^ { 2 } \right)$ and $\mathrm { N } \left( 170,55 ^ { 2 } \right)$ respectively.

Find the probability that a randomly chosen female has a mass that is less than half the mass of a randomly chosen male.\\
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{fb305858-2d96-4a5d-b1a9-a965c248fb8d-06_76_1659_484_244}\\

\hfill \mbox{\textit{CAIE S2 2020 Q3 [6]}}
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