Calculate and compare mean, median, mode

Questions that ask to calculate two or more of mean, median, and mode, then compare them or comment on skewness based on their relative positions.

15 questions · Standard +0.3

5.03a Continuous random variables: pdf and cdf5.03b Solve problems: using pdf5.03c Calculate mean/variance: by integration
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Edexcel S2 2008 January Q8
13 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. The continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) given by
$$f ( x ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } 2 ( x - 2 ) & 2 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Sketch \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) for all values of \(x\).
  2. Write down the mode of \(X\). Find
  3. \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\),
  4. the median of \(X\).
  5. Comment on the skewness of this distribution. Give a reason for your answer.
Edexcel S2 2005 June Q6
18 marks Standard +0.3
6. A continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) where $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} k \left( 4 x - x ^ { 3 } \right) , & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 2 \\ 0 , & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a positive integer.
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 1 } { 4 }\). Find
  2. \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\),
  3. the mode of \(X\),
  4. the median of \(X\).
  5. Comment on the skewness of the distribution.
  6. Sketch f(x).
Edexcel S2 2013 June Q4
11 marks Standard +0.3
4. The random variable \(X\) has probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) given by $$f ( x ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } k \left( 3 + 2 x - x ^ { 2 } \right) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array} \right.$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 1 } { 9 }\)
  2. Find the mode of \(X\).
  3. Use algebraic integration to find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\). By comparing your answers to parts (b) and (c),
  4. describe the skewness of \(X\), giving a reason for your answer.
AQA S2 2010 January Q8
18 marks Standard +0.3
8 The continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } \frac { 1 } { 2 } \left( x ^ { 2 } + 1 \right) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 1 \\ ( x - 2 ) ^ { 2 } & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant 2 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Sketch the graph of f.
  2. Calculate \(\mathrm { P } ( X \leqslant 1 )\).
  3. Show that \(\mathrm { E } \left( X ^ { 2 } \right) = \frac { 4 } { 5 }\).
    1. Given that \(\mathrm { E } ( X ) = \frac { 19 } { 24 }\) and that \(\operatorname { Var } ( X ) = \frac { 499 } { k }\), find the numerical value of \(k\).
    2. Find \(\mathrm { E } \left( 5 X ^ { 2 } + 24 X - 3 \right)\).
    3. Find \(\operatorname { Var } ( 12 X - 5 )\).
OCR MEI Further Statistics B AS 2018 June Q3
10 marks Standard +0.3
3 The probability density function of the continuous random variable \(X\) is given by $$\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \begin{cases} c + x & - c \leqslant x \leqslant 0 \\ c - x & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant c \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(c\) is a positive constant.
  1. (A) Sketch the graph of the probability density function.
    (B) Show that \(c = 1\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } \left( X < \frac { 1 } { 4 } \right)\).
  3. Find
OCR MEI Further Statistics B AS 2021 November Q6
11 marks Standard +0.3
6 The probability density function of the continuous random variable \(X\) is given by \(f ( x ) = \begin{cases} 2 ( 1 + a x ) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 1 , \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } , \end{cases}\) where \(a\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(a = - 1\).
  2. Find the cumulative distribution function of \(X\).
  3. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( X < 0.5 )\).
  4. Show that \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\) is greater than the median of \(X\).
Pre-U Pre-U 9795/2 2012 June Q6
12 marks Standard +0.3
6 The lengths of time, in years, that sales representatives for a certain company keep their company cars may be modelled by the distribution with probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 4 } { 27 } x ^ { 2 } ( 3 - x ) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Draw a sketch of this probability density function.
  2. Calculate the mean and the mode of \(X\).
  3. Comment briefly on the values obtained in part (ii) in relation to the sketch in part (i).
  4. Given that \(\sigma ^ { 2 } = 0.36\), find \(\mathrm { P } ( | X - \mu | < \sigma )\), where \(\mu\) and \(\sigma ^ { 2 }\) denote the mean and the variance of \(X\) respectively.
Pre-U Pre-U 9795/2 2016 Specimen Q6
12 marks Standard +0.8
6 The lengths of time, in years, that sales representatives for a certain company keep their company cars may be modelled by the distribution with probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$f ( x ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } \frac { 4 } { 27 } x ^ { 2 } ( 3 - x ) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Draw a sketch of this probability density function.
  2. Calculate the mean and the mode of \(X\).
  3. Comment briefly on the values obtained in part (ii) in relation to the sketch in part (i).
  4. Show that the lower quartile \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 }\) of \(X\) satisfies the equation \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 } { } ^ { 4 } - 4 \mathrm { Q } _ { 1 } { } ^ { 3 } + 6.75 = 0\), and use an appropriate numerical method to find the value of \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 }\) correct to 2 decimal places, showing full details of your method.
Pre-U Pre-U 9795/2 2019 Specimen Q6
2 marks Standard +0.8
6 The lengths of time, in years, that sales representatives for a certain company keep their company cars may be modelled by the distribution with probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$f ( x ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } \frac { 4 } { 27 } x ^ { 2 } ( 3 - x ) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 , \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } . \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Draw a sketch of this probability density function.
  2. Calculate the mean and the mode of \(X\).
  3. Comment briefly on the values obtained in part (b) in relation to the sketch in part (a).
  4. Show that the lower quartile \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 }\) of \(X\) satisfies the equation \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 } { } ^ { 4 } - 4 \mathrm { Q } _ { 1 } { } ^ { 3 } + 6.75 = 0\), and use an appropriate numerical method to find the value of \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 }\) correct to 2 decimal places, showing full details of your method.
Pre-U Pre-U 9795/2 2020 Specimen Q6
2 marks Standard +0.3
6 The lengths of time, in years, that sales representatives for a certain company keep their company cars may be modelled by the distribution with probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$f ( x ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } \frac { 4 } { 27 } x ^ { 2 } ( 3 - x ) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise. } \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Draw a sketch of this probability density function.
  2. Calculate the mean and the mode of \(X\).
  3. Comment briefly on the values obtained in part (b) in relation to the sketch in part (a).
  4. Show that the lower quartile \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 }\) of \(X\) satisfies the equation \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 } { } ^ { 4 } - 4 \mathrm { Q } _ { 1 } { } ^ { 3 } + 6.75 = 0\), and use an appropriate numerical method to find the value of \(\mathrm { Q } _ { 1 }\) correct to 2 decimal places, showing full details of your method.
Edexcel S2 Q7
16 marks Standard +0.3
A continuous random variable X has cumulative distribution function F(x) given by $$\text{F}(x) = \begin{cases} 0, & x < 0, \\ kx^2 + 2kx, & 0 \leq x \leq 2, \\ 8k, & x > 2. \end{cases}$$
  1. Show that \(k = \frac{1}{8}\). [1]
  2. Find the median of X. [3]
  3. Find the probability density function f(x). [3]
  4. Sketch f(x) for all values of x. [3]
  5. Write down the mode of X. [1]
  6. Find E(X). [3]
  7. Comment on the skewness of this distribution. [2]
Edexcel S2 2004 June Q7
17 marks Standard +0.3
A random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$f(x) = \begin{cases} \frac{1}{3}, & 0 \leq x \leq 1, \\ \frac{8x^3}{45}, & 1 \leq x \leq 2, \\ 0, & \text{otherwise}. \end{cases}$$
  1. Calculate the mean of \(X\). [5]
  2. Specify fully the cumulative distribution function F\((x)\). [7]
  3. Find the median of \(X\). [3]
  4. Comment on the skewness of the distribution of \(X\). [2]
Edexcel S2 2006 June Q6
16 marks Moderate -0.3
The continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function $$f(x) = \begin{cases} \frac{1+x}{k}, & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant 4, \\ 0, & \text{otherwise}. \end{cases}$$
  1. Show that \(k = \frac{21}{2}\). [3]
  2. Specify fully the cumulative distribution function of \(X\). [5]
  3. Calculate E\((X)\). [3]
  4. Find the value of the median. [3]
  5. Write down the mode. [1]
  6. Explain why the distribution is negatively skewed. [1]
Edexcel S2 Q7
18 marks Standard +0.3
A continuous random variable \(X\) has a probability density function given by $$f(x) = \frac{x^2}{312} \quad 4 \leq x \leq 10,$$ $$f(x) = 0 \quad \text{otherwise}.$$
  1. Find E\((X)\). [3 marks]
  2. Find the variance of \(X\). [4 marks]
  3. Find the cumulative distribution function F\((x)\), for all values of \(x\). [5 marks]
  4. Hence find the median value of \(X\). [3 marks]
  5. Write down the modal value of \(X\). [1 mark]
It is sometimes suggested that, for most distributions, $$2 \times (\text{median} - \text{mean}) \approx \text{mode} - \text{median}.$$
  1. Show that this result is not satisfied in this case, and suggest a reason why. [2 marks]
Edexcel S2 Q6
15 marks Standard +0.3
A random variable \(X\) has a probability density function given by $$f(x) = \frac{4x^2(3-x)}{27} \quad 0 \leq x \leq 3,$$ $$f(x) = 0 \quad \text{otherwise}.$$
  1. Find the mode of \(X\). [3 marks]
  2. Find the mean of \(X\). [3 marks]
  3. Specify completely the cumulative distribution function of \(X\). [4 marks]
  4. Deduce that the median, \(m\), of \(X\) satisfies the equation \(m^4 - 4m^3 + 13·5 = 0\), and hence show that \(1·84 < m < 1·85\). [4 marks]
  5. What do these results suggest about the skewness of the distribution? [1 mark]