A town council wants to survey residents about its new bus service. One proposed questionnaire item is:
“Do you agree that the excellent new buses should run more often?”
Identify two problems with this questionnaire item.
Write a precise, unbiased and structured replacement for this item.
The council also asks residents to state their annual household income. Suggest why responses to this item should be collected anonymously.
0
A fitness application records the weekly exercise time of its users. A researcher intends to use these data to estimate the weekly exercise time of all adults in a country.
Explain one reason why these data may not be appropriate for the intended population.
State two additional variables that could help the researcher investigate whether the application users are representative of the population.
Suggest an improved method of collecting data for the intended estimate.
0
For a chi-square goodness-of-fit test, journey times are placed into five adjacent categories. The expected frequencies are , , , and , in increasing order of journey time. One parameter of the proposed distribution was estimated from the sample.
State why the categories cannot be used in their present form.
Suggest a suitable change to the categorisation and justify your answer.
Determine the number of degrees of freedom for the test after making this change.
0
A psychologist gives the same stress questionnaire to employees on two occasions, three weeks apart. The correlation coefficient between the two sets of scores is .
State the name of this method of testing reliability.
Determine, with a reason, what the value of suggests about the reliability of the questionnaire.
Explain why this result does not establish that the questionnaire is valid.
Outline how criterion-related validity could be investigated for this questionnaire.
0
A school creates two equivalent forms of a mathematics test. The correlation between students' scores on the two forms is . However, all questions on both forms assess algebraic manipulation, although the course also includes functions, geometry and statistics.
State the reliability method used.
State what the correlation suggests about the reliability of the test.
Evaluate the content validity of the test.
Suggest one modification that would improve the content validity.
0
The mass, in grams, of a packet produced by a machine is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation . A random sample of packets is selected. Let denote the sample mean mass.
State the distribution of .
Calculate .
Explain why the normal distribution used in part (a) is exact rather than an approximation.
0
A non-normal population has mean and standard deviation . Two simulations repeatedly select independent random samples and record the sample mean. Simulation A uses samples of size , while simulation B uses samples of size .
Compare the expected centres of the two simulated sampling distributions.
Calculate the standard deviation of the sample means in each simulation.
State which simulation should produce a sampling distribution that is closer to normal.
0
The time taken to complete a task is normally distributed with known population standard deviation minutes. A random sample of workers has a mean completion time of minutes.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean completion time.
Interpret this interval in context.
0
The dissolved oxygen concentration in a lake is assumed to be normally distributed. For a random sample of water samples, the mean concentration is and the sample standard deviation is .
State why a -distribution should be used to calculate a confidence interval for the population mean.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean dissolved oxygen concentration.
biologist claims that the population mean concentration is . State what the interval suggests about this claim.
0
A researcher repeatedly takes random samples of the same size from a population and calculates a confidence interval for the population mean from each sample.
Explain the repeated-sampling meaning of the confidence level.
The researcher constructs such intervals. Find the expected number that contain the true population mean.
State how the width of the intervals would change if the confidence level were increased while the sample size and observed standard deviation remained fixed.
0
The masses, in kilograms, of six independently selected food containers are denoted by . Each mass is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation . The total shipping mass is
where kg is the mass of the shipping box.
Determine the mean and variance of .
Calculate the probability that the total shipping mass exceeds kg.
0
The daily amount spent by a visitor at a market is strongly right-skewed, with mean € and standard deviation €. A random sample of visitors is selected and is their mean daily expenditure.
Explain why a normal model may be used for the distribution of .
State an approximate distribution for .
Calculate .
0
The lifetime of a type of battery is normally distributed with mean hours and standard deviation hours. A random sample of batteries is selected.
Explain why the sample mean lifetime is normally distributed for every positive integer value of .
Find the minimum value of such that the probability that the sample mean is within hours of is at least .
0
The standard deviation of the diameter of components produced by a factory is known to be mm. A random sample will be used to calculate a confidence interval for the population mean diameter.
Find the minimum sample size required for the width of the confidence interval to be less than mm.
State, with a reason, how the required sample size would change if a confidence interval of the same maximum width were used.
0
A random sample of observations is taken from a normal population with known standard deviation . A confidence interval for the population mean is
Determine the sample mean.
Determine the margin of error.
Hence determine .
Using the same sample data, calculate a confidence interval for the population mean.
0
Two independent random samples of customer ratings are taken for brands A and B. The ratings for each brand are assumed to come from a normal population.
For brand A, , and .
For brand B, , and .
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean rating of brand A.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean rating of brand B.
Using these intervals, comment on the claim that brand A has a higher population mean rating than brand B.
0
A university investigates student satisfaction with its online library. The proposed questionnaire includes the item: “How much do you agree that the convenient and excellent online library has improved your studies?” Responses are recorded on a scale from 1 to 5. A random sample of 36 students gives a mean response of 3.42 and a sample standard deviation of 0.88.
Consider the design of the questionnaire.
Identify two problems with the proposed item.
Write a precise, unbiased and structured replacement item that measures frequency of use.
The researchers assume that satisfaction scores in the population are normally distributed.
State the reliability method in which the same questionnaire is given to the same students on two occasions, and explain why a high correlation would not establish validity.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean satisfaction score and interpret it in context.
0
A researcher models the number of hours of screen use per week. For a chi-square goodness-of-fit test, the expected frequencies in six adjacent categories, from lowest to highest screen use, are , , , , and . Two parameters of the model were estimated from the sample. In a separate study, weekly screen use has mean hours and standard deviation hours, and its distribution is strongly right-skewed. An independent random sample of 64 people is selected from this population.
Screen use category [h/week] | Expected frequency |
|---|---|
2.4 | |
4.6 | |
8.2 | |
14.8 | |
20.0 | |
10.0 |
Consider the chi-square goodness-of-fit test.
Explain why the original categorisation is unsuitable and suggest an appropriate revision.
Hence determine the number of degrees of freedom for the revised test.
An independent random sample of 64 people is selected from the separate study.
State an approximate distribution for the sample mean weekly screen use, giving its parameters, and justify the approximation.
Calculate the probability that the sample mean is between and hours.
0
A gift hamper contains three independently selected bags of coffee and two independently selected boxes of tea. The mass , in grams, of a coffee bag is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation . The mass , in grams, of a tea box is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation . The empty hamper has mass grams. Let be the total mass of a completed hamper.
Consider the distribution of .
Find the mean and variance of .
Explain why is normally distributed and calculate .
random sample of 25 completed hampers, whose masses are independent, is selected, and is the mean of their masses.
State the distribution of the sample mean mass .
Calculate the value of such that .
0
The amount paid for an individual home-insurance claim is strongly right-skewed, with population mean €240 and population standard deviation €300. Claim amounts are independent. An insurer studies the mean amount paid for a random sample of 100 claims.
random sample of 100 claims is selected.
State an approximate distribution for the sample mean claim amount and justify your answer.
Calculate the probability that the sample mean exceeds €300.
The insurer wants the sample mean to be close to the population mean.
Show that the condition leads to .
Hence determine the minimum sample size and comment on whether use of the central limit theorem is reasonable.
0
The temperature at which a type of sensor activates is assumed to be normally distributed. For a random sample of 15 sensors, the mean activation temperature is and the sample standard deviation is . The population standard deviation is unknown.
Consider a confidence interval for the population mean activation temperature.
Explain why a -distribution with 14 degrees of freedom should be used.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean.
Temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit are related to temperatures in degrees Celsius by .
Hence write the confidence interval for the population mean activation temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
Calculate a confidence interval in degrees Celsius and explain why it is wider than the interval from part (a)(ii).
0
A streaming platform asks 400 active subscribers to estimate the number of hours of television watched per week. The sample mean is hours. For active subscribers, the population standard deviation is known to be hours. A researcher wants to use the results to estimate mean weekly television viewing for all adults in the country.
Consider the suitability of the collected data.
Give two reasons why the data may not be valid for the researcher's intended population.
Suggest two relevant variables that could be collected to assess how representative the sample is.
For this part, treat the 400 active subscribers as a random, independent sample from the population of active subscribers.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean viewing time of active subscribers.
Explain why the narrow interval does not justify applying the estimate to all adults.
0
A computer repeatedly selects independent random samples of the same size from a population with fixed mean . For each sample it constructs an confidence interval for . A total of 250 intervals are constructed, of which 207 contain .

Consider the number of intervals that contain .
Find the expected number of intervals that contain and the expected number that do not.
Model the number containing by . Calculate .
For a new set of 250 intervals, the simulation is repeated using confidence intervals constructed by the same method as before.
State the expected number, out of 250, that will fail to contain , and explain why the actual number need not equal this value.
Explain how the widths of the new intervals compare with those of the original intervals, assuming the same sample data are used.
0
The time spent on three independent stages of a delivery process is represented by , and , measured in minutes. The distributions are , and . A fixed administration time of 5 minutes is added. The total delivery time is .
Consider the total time for one delivery.
Determine the distribution of .
Calculate the probability that a delivery takes less than 50 minutes.
random sample of 16 independent deliveries is selected. Let denote the mean total delivery time for these deliveries.
State the distribution of .
Calculate .
0
A national energy agency estimates monthly household electricity consumption. A simple random sample of households was contacted. Of these, 100 households completed the survey, with mean consumption . These completed responses may be subject to non-response bias. From previous national records, the population standard deviation is known to be . Only of households contacted completed the survey, and urban households had a higher response rate than rural households.
Use the responding households to estimate the population mean.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean monthly consumption.
Explain two reasons why the interval may not give a valid estimate for all households, despite being based on a random initial sample.
The agency plans a new survey using the same known population standard deviation.
Find the minimum number of completed responses required for a confidence interval to have margin of error at most .
Suggest a sampling modification that would address the unequal urban and rural response rates, and explain its benefit.
0
A filling machine dispenses coffee into jars. The mass dispensed is normally distributed with unknown mean and known standard deviation . A random sample of jars has mean mass .
State the distribution of the sample mean in terms of .
Calculate a confidence interval for .
Interpret the interval from part (a)(ii) in context.
The manufacturer wants a confidence interval with margin of error at most . Determine the minimum required sample size.
0
An archaeologist measures the depths, in centimetres, of a particular layer at randomly selected locations. The depths are assumed to come from a normal population. The sample has mean and standard deviation .
Explain why a -distribution with degrees of freedom is appropriate.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean depth.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean depth.
previous study reported a population mean depth of . Compare the two intervals and comment on this reported value.
0
A school wants to estimate the mean number of hours of sleep obtained by its senior students on a school night. It sends a questionnaire only to students attending an optional early-morning study club. One item asks, “How many hours of healthy sleep do you normally get?” A total of students respond, with mean hours and sample standard deviation hours. Assume the sleep times in the intended population are normally distributed.
Identify one sampling problem and explain how it may affect validity.
Write a more precise and unbiased questionnaire item for measuring sleep duration.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean sleep time, treating the responses as a random sample.
Explain why the narrow interval in part (b) does not resolve the validity problem identified in part (a)(i).
0
The time between successive calls to a help centre has a strongly right-skewed distribution with mean minutes and standard deviation minutes. A simulation repeatedly selects independent samples and records their means. Three simulations use sample sizes , and . Their sampling distributions are labelled , and , but the labels do not state the sample sizes.

State the expected centre of each sampling distribution.
Calculate the standard error for each sample size.
Match the three sample sizes to histograms , and . Justify your answer using both shape and spread.
Explain why the simulation provides evidence for the central limit theorem but cannot prove it.
0
A company develops a wrist device to measure blood glucose concentration. For volunteers, the difference
is assumed normally distributed, and the observed differences are assumed to form an independent random sample from the target population. The sample mean difference is and the sample standard deviation is . In a separate test, repeated readings from the wrist device have correlation .
State what the correlation of suggests about the device.
Explain why this correlation does not establish criterion-related validity.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean difference.
Hence evaluate the criterion-related validity of the device.
0
A music-streaming company uses responses posted through its application to estimate the daily listening time of all people aged to in a country. Its questionnaire asks, “How many minutes do you spend enjoying our excellent music service each day?” For respondents, the mean is minutes. The population standard deviation of reported listening time is taken to be minutes.
Identify two threats to the validity of the estimate.
Write a precise and unbiased replacement question.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean reported listening time, assuming the respondents form a random sample.
Assess whether the interval supports an estimate for all people aged to in the country.
0
Two independent greenhouses use different lighting systems. Plant heights are assumed normally distributed in each greenhouse. For system , , and . For system , , and .
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean height under system .
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean height under system .
Using the intervals, comment on the claim that system produces taller plants on average.
The researcher wants to halve the approximate margin of error for each system without changing the confidence level or anticipated variability. Estimate how each sample size should change.
0
The duration of a sea turtle's nesting visit is strongly right-skewed. Historical research indicates that the population standard deviation is minutes, but the current population mean is unknown. A random sample of current visits has mean duration minutes.
Explain why an approximately normal model may be used for the sample mean.
State the standard error of the sample mean.
Calculate a confidence interval for the current population mean nesting duration.
Determine the minimum sample size required for a confidence interval to have total width at most minutes.
0
The concentration of a chemical in bottles of cleaning solution has known population standard deviation . A random sample of 64 bottles has mean concentration .
Use the sample to estimate the population mean concentration.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean concentration.
Interpret the interval in context.
The manufacturer plans a new random sample, using the same known population standard deviation.
Find the minimum sample size required for a confidence interval to have margin of error at most .
Another interval based on the original sample is . Determine its confidence level.
0
A language school designs two forms, A and B, of a vocabulary test. Both forms are completed by the same 10 students. The correlation between the two sets of scores is . Let be a student's score on form A minus the student's score on form B. The differences are assumed to come from a normal population and have sample mean and sample standard deviation .
Consider the reliability and validity of the tests.
Name the reliability method and interpret the value .
Explain how content validity of the forms could be investigated.
The school investigates whether the forms have the same population mean score.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean difference .
Using the correlation and the confidence interval, evaluate the claim that the forms are equivalent.
0
The breaking strength of a type of climbing cord is assumed to be normally distributed. A random sample of 20 cords has mean breaking strength and sample standard deviation . An engineer constructs the confidence interval for the population mean.
Determine the confidence level of the engineer's interval.
Find the margin of error and the implied positive critical value.
Hence determine the confidence level.
The engineer instead requires a confidence interval based on the same sample.
Calculate the confidence interval.
Explain why this interval is wider than the engineer's original interval.
0
A finite population contains 120 measurements from a non-normal distribution with mean 70 and standard deviation 16. A simulation selects independent random samples with replacement and records the sample mean. Simulation A uses samples of size 16, while simulation B uses samples of size 64.

Compare the two sampling distributions.
State the expected centre and calculate the standard error for each simulation.
For Simulation B, calculate the approximate probability that the sample mean is between 68 and 73.
Separately from the simulations, a researcher considers all unordered samples of size 8 drawn without replacement from the 120 distinguishable population elements.
Determine the number of distinct samples of size 8.
Explain why running a large but finite number of simulations cannot prove the central limit theorem.
0
Two independent farms grow the same variety of tomato using different fertilizers. Tomato masses at each farm are assumed to be normally distributed. Farm A samples 16 tomatoes and obtains and . Farm B samples 20 tomatoes and obtains and .
Calculate separate confidence intervals for the two population means.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean mass at Farm A.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean mass at Farm B.
The fertilizer supplier claims that Farm A's fertilizer produces tomatoes with a higher population mean mass.
Using the intervals, comment on the supplier's claim that the fertilizer used at Farm A produces tomatoes with a higher population mean mass than the fertilizer used at Farm B.
Explain one limitation of using overlap of the two intervals as a formal comparison of the population means.
0
A physiotherapist records the time, in seconds, taken by each of 12 patients to complete a mobility task before and after a treatment. For each patient, the reduction in completion time is calculated as the time before treatment minus the time after treatment. The reductions are assumed to come from a normal population. Assume that the 12 patient reductions form an independent random sample from this population. They have sample mean seconds and sample standard deviation seconds.
Estimate the population mean reduction.
Explain why the analysis should use the paired reductions rather than treating the before and after measurements as independent samples.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean reduction.
The physiotherapist also considers a confidence interval.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean reduction.
Compare the conclusions suggested by the and intervals about whether the treatment reduces mean completion time.
0
The amount paid for an individual household insurance claim is strongly right-skewed, with mean euros and standard deviation euros. Independent claims are selected at random. Let be the mean amount paid for a sample of claims.
Explain why a normal model may be used for .
State an approximate distribution for .
Calculate the probability that the sample mean exceeds euros.
Determine the minimum sample size required so that .
0
A gift package contains three independently selected packets of tea and two independently selected packets of biscuits. The mass , in grams, of a tea packet is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation . The mass , in grams, of a biscuit packet is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation . The box has a fixed mass of grams. The total mass is
Determine .
Determine and state the distribution of .
For a random sample of complete packages, calculate the probability that their mean total mass is less than grams.
In practice, packets filled during the same production period may be positively correlated. Explain how this would affect the probability calculated in part (b).
0
A biologist tests whether seed-germination times follow a proposed distribution. Six adjacent time categories have observed frequencies , , , , and , and expected frequencies , , , , and , respectively. Two parameters of the proposed distribution were estimated from the sample.
Adjacent category | Observed frequency | Expected frequency |
|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | 2.6 |
2 | 5 | 4.9 |
3 | 11 | 9.5 |
4 | 12 | 14.0 |
5 | 20 | 22.0 |
6 | 18 | 17.0 |
Explain why the categories cannot be used in their present form and state a suitable modification.
Determine the number of degrees of freedom after this modification.
Using the revised categories, calculate the chi-square test statistic and the corresponding -value.
At the significance level, interpret the result and state one disadvantage of combining categories.
0
A random sample of measurements is taken from a normal population with unknown mean and standard deviation. A confidence interval for the population mean is
Determine the sample mean and margin of error.
Hence estimate the sample standard deviation.
Using the same sample statistics, calculate a confidence interval for the population mean.
Using as a planning value, determine the minimum sample size required for a -interval to have margin of error at most .
0
An island has marked ecological plots. A researcher studies samples of distinct plots selected without replacement. Each sample is chosen by simple random sampling, so each of the unordered samples is equally likely. She proposes listing every possible unordered sample to obtain the exact sampling distribution of the sample mean. A colleague instead proposes generating random samples by computer.
Determine the number of distinct unordered samples of plots.
State one advantage of listing all samples rather than simulating samples.
The population mean of the eight plot measurements is . Determine the expected value of the sample mean and explain why it has this value.
The simulated distribution appears approximately symmetric. Evaluate the claim that this verifies the central limit theorem for all populations.
0
The output, in kilograms, from a machine during one production cycle is normally distributed. Under setting , the output has mean and standard deviation . Under setting , it has mean and standard deviation . Independent samples of cycles under and cycles under are taken. Let
Determine and .
State the distribution of .
Calculate the probability that the observed sample mean under setting exceeds that under setting .
Equal sample sizes are now to be used for both settings. Determine the minimum such that .
0
A university calculates an admissions index from an aptitude score and an interview score using
For the applicant population, and . Initially, assume that and are independent.
Determine .
Determine and state the distribution of .
random sample of applicants from a later cohort has mean admissions index . Assuming the population standard deviation remains , calculate a confidence interval for the later cohort's population mean index.
Suppose that and are actually positively correlated. Explain how this affects the interval in part (b), assuming the same sample mean.
0
A researcher repeatedly selects independent random samples of size from a normal population with mean and known standard deviation . For each sample, a confidence interval for is calculated. A set of intervals is produced.
Sample | Lower | Upper |
|---|---|---|
1 | -5.6 | 4.2 |
2 | -3.8 | 6.0 |
3 | -7.2 | 2.6 |
4 | -2.1 | 7.7 |
5 | -8.5 | 1.3 |
6 | -4.5 | 5.3 |
7 | -3.0 | 6.8 |
8 | -6.4 | 3.4 |
9 | -1.5 | 8.3 |
10 | -6.9 | 2.9 |
11 | -4.0 | 5.8 |
12 | -2.7 | 7.1 |
13 | -9.0 | 0.8 |
14 | -1.9 | 7.9 |
15 | -5.0 | 4.8 |
16 | -3.3 | 6.5 |
17 | -5.9 | 3.9 |
18 | -2.3 | 7.5 |
19 | -7.9 | 1.9 |
20 | -4.1 | 5.7 |
21 | 0.2 | 10.0 |
22 | -9.4 | 0.4 |
23 | -1.1 | 8.7 |
24 | -7.7 | 2.1 |
25 | -3.6 | 6.2 |
26 | -5.2 | 4.6 |
27 | -2.0 | 7.8 |
28 | -6.7 | 3.1 |
29 | -4.4 | 5.4 |
30 | -10.1 | -0.3 |
31 | -9.7 | 0.1 |
32 | -1.8 | 8.0 |
33 | -7.0 | 2.8 |
34 | -3.9 | 5.9 |
35 | -5.5 | 4.3 |
36 | -2.5 | 7.3 |
37 | -8.3 | 1.5 |
38 | -4.7 | 5.1 |
39 | -5.0 | 4.8 |
40 | 0.4 | 10.2 |
State the expected number of the intervals that contain .
Calculate the probability that at least of the intervals contain , assuming the intervals are generated independently.
Determine the margin of error of each interval.
The researcher wants to halve the margin of error. Determine the required sample size and explain why it is incorrect to say that a particular calculated interval has a probability of containing .
0
An ecologist studies the number of insects caught in traps. For a chi-square goodness-of-fit test, the expected frequencies in six adjacent count categories are , , , , and . One parameter of the proposed model was estimated from the observed data. The ecologist also measures insect mass. A random sample of 24 insects from a normal population has mean mass and sample standard deviation .
Section | Item | Value |
|---|---|---|
Chi-square GOF | Category 1 expected frequency | 3.8 |
Chi-square GOF | Category 2 expected frequency | 7.2 |
Chi-square GOF | Category 3 expected frequency | 14.0 |
Chi-square GOF | Category 4 expected frequency | 19.0 |
Chi-square GOF | Category 5 expected frequency | 11.0 |
Chi-square GOF | Category 6 expected frequency | 5.0 |
Chi-square GOF | Estimated parameters, m | 1 |
Mass sample | Sample size, n | 24 |
Mass sample | Sample mean mass [mg] | 7.4 |
Mass sample | Sample standard deviation [mg] | 1.8 |
Mass sample | Population model | Normal |
Consider the categorisation for the chi-square goodness-of-fit test.
Suggest a suitable revision to the categories and justify it.
Hence determine the number of degrees of freedom for the revised test.
The ecologist estimates the population mean insect mass.
Calculate a confidence interval for the population mean mass.
pesticide label claims that the population mean insect mass in the area is less than . Evaluate this claim using the interval, and explain one limitation of the conclusion.
0