CAIE S2 2003 November — Question 2 5 marks

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleS2 (Statistics 2)
Year2003
SessionNovember
Marks5
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicApproximating the Poisson to the Normal distribution
TypeSimple probability using normal approximation
DifficultyStandard +0.3 This is a straightforward application of normal approximation to Poisson (λ=4.5), requiring only identification of the appropriate approximation, continuity correction, and standard normal table lookup. The calculation is routine with no conceptual challenges beyond recognizing when to use the approximation.
Spec5.02n Sum of Poisson variables: is Poisson

2 A certain machine makes matches. One match in 10000 on average is defective. Using a suitable approximation, calculate the probability that a random sample of 45000 matches will include 2,3 or 4 defective matches.

\(\lambda = 4.5\)
AnswerMarks Guidance
\(P(X = 2, 3, 4) = e^{-4.5}\left(\frac{4.5^2}{2!} + \frac{4.5^3}{3!} + \frac{4.5^4}{4!}\right) = 0.471\)M1, B1, M1, A1, A1 For using Poisson approximation any mean; For correct mean used; For calculating P(2, 3, 4) their mean; For correct numerical expression; For correct answer
NB: Use of Normal can score B1 M1; SR: Correct Bin scores M1 A1 A1 only[5]
$\lambda = 4.5$

$P(X = 2, 3, 4) = e^{-4.5}\left(\frac{4.5^2}{2!} + \frac{4.5^3}{3!} + \frac{4.5^4}{4!}\right) = 0.471$ | M1, B1, M1, A1, A1 | For using Poisson approximation any mean; For correct mean used; For calculating P(2, 3, 4) their mean; For correct numerical expression; For correct answer

NB: Use of Normal can score B1 M1; SR: Correct Bin scores M1 A1 A1 only | [5]
2 A certain machine makes matches. One match in 10000 on average is defective. Using a suitable approximation, calculate the probability that a random sample of 45000 matches will include 2,3 or 4 defective matches.

\hfill \mbox{\textit{CAIE S2 2003 Q2 [5]}}