ECZ 2016 · GCE Paper 2 · Question 8 — Statistics

Answer the whole of this question on a sheet of graph paper. A farmer had 260 potatoes in a sack. The masses, in grams, of the potatoes are given in the table below. Mass x grams100 < x ≤ 150150 < x ≤ 200200 < x ≤ 250250 < x ≤ 300300 < x ≤ 350350 < x ≤ 400No. of Potatoes15457580405

(a) Calculate an estimate of the mean mass of the potatoes.[3]

Verified working — step 1

Midpoints x: 125, 175, 225, 275, 325, 375 with f: 15, 45, 75, 80, 40, 5.

(b(i)) Copy and complete the cumulative frequency table below. Mass x grams≤ 100≤ 150≤ 200≤ 250≤ 300≤ 350≤ 400Cumulative frequency01560260[1]

Verified working — step 1

Add each class frequency to the running total.

(b(ii)) Using a horizontal scale of 2 cm to represent 50 grams for masses between 0 and 400 grams and a vertical scale of 2 cm to represent 25 potatoes, draw a smooth cumulative frequency curve.[3]

Verified working — step 1

Scale: horizontal 2 cm to 50 g (0 to 400), vertical 2 cm to 25 potatoes.

(b(iii)) Use your graph to find

(b(iii)(a)) the median,[1]

Verified working — step 1

The median sits at N2 = 2602 = 130.

(b(iii)(b)) the interquartile range.[2]

Verified working — step 1

Quartiles sit at N4 = 65 and 3N4 = 195.

(c) A potato is picked at random from the sack. What is the probability that it has a mass greater than 250 grams?[2]

Verified working — step 1

From the table, 135 potatoes have mass 250 g or less.

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Original examination question © Examinations Council of Zambia. Worked solution and commentary © G12 Titan — not to be reproduced without permission.

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