S2 Sampling Distribution Questions

[June 2012] 6. A bag contains a large number of balls.

65% are numbered 1

35% are numbered 2

A random sample of 3 balls is taken from the bag.

Find the sampling distribution for the range of the numbers on the 3 selected balls. (6)

[June 2011] 1. A factory produces components. Each component has a unique identity number and it
is assumed that 2% of the components are faulty. On a particular day, a quality control manager
wishes to take a random sample of 50 components.

(a) Identify a sampling frame. (1)

The statistic F represents the number of faulty components in the random sample of size 50.

(b) Specify the sampling distribution of F. (2)

[June 2010] 1. Explain what you understand by

(a) a population, (1)

(b) a statistic. (1)

A researcher took a sample of 100 voters from a certain town and asked them who they would vote
for in an election. The proportion who said they would vote for Dr Smith was 35%.

(c) State the population and the statistic in this case. (2)
(d) Explain what you understand by the sampling distribution of this statistic. (1)

[Jan 2010] 7. A bag contains a large number of coins. It contains only 1p and 2p coins in the ratio 1:3.

(a) Find the mean μ and the variance σ 2 of the values of this population of coins. (3)

A random sample of size 3 is taken from the bag.

(b) List all the possible samples. (2)

(c) Find the sampling distribution of the mean value of the samples. (6)

[June 2009] 3. A random sample X1, X2, ... Xn is taken from a population with unknown mean μ and
unknown variance σ 2. A statistic Y is based on this sample.

(a) Explain what you understand by the statistic Y. (2)

(b) Explain what you understand by the sampling distribution of Y. (1)
(c) State, giving a reason which of the following is not a statistic based on this sample.

( )
n 2
n
( X i −X )2 X i−μ n
∑ n ∑ σ ∑ Xi2
(i) i = 1 (ii) i =1 (iii) i =1
(2)
[June 2007] 4. A bag contains a large number of coins:

75% are 10p coins,

25% are 5p coins.

A random sample of 3 coins is drawn from the bag.

Find the sampling distribution for the median of the values of the 3 selected coins. (7)
 S2 Sampling Distribution Questions

[June 2012] 6. A bag contains a large number of balls.

65% are numbered 1

35% are numbered 2

A random sample of 3 balls is taken from the bag.

Find the sampling distribution for the range of the numbers on the 3 selected balls. (6)

[June 2011] 1. A factory produces components. Each component has a unique identity number and it
is assumed that 2% of the components are faulty. On a particular day, a quality control manager
wishes to take a random sample of 50 components.

(a) Identify a sampling frame. (1)

The statistic F represents the number of faulty components in the random sample of size 50.

(b) Specify the sampling distribution of F. (2)

[June 2010] 1. Explain what you understand by

(a) a population, (1)

(b) a statistic. (1)

A researcher took a sample of 100 voters from a certain town and asked them who they would vote
for in an election. The proportion who said they would vote for Dr Smith was 35%.

(c) State the population and the statistic in this case. (2)
(d) Explain what you understand by the sampling distribution of this statistic. (1)

[Jan 2010] 7. A bag contains a large number of coins. It contains only 1p and 2p coins in the ratio 1:3.

(a) Find the mean μ and the variance σ 2 of the values of this population of coins. (3)

A random sample of size 3 is taken from the bag.

(b) List all the possible samples. (2)

(c) Find the sampling distribution of the mean value of the samples. (6)

[June 2009] 3. A random sample X1, X2, ... Xn is taken from a population with unknown mean μ and
unknown variance σ 2. A statistic Y is based on this sample.

(a) Explain what you understand by the statistic Y. (2)

(b) Explain what you understand by the sampling distribution of Y. (1)
(c) State, giving a reason which of the following is not a statistic based on this sample.

( )
n 2
n
( X i −X )2 X i−μ n
∑ n ∑ σ ∑ Xi2
(i) i = 1 (ii) i = 1 (iii) i =1
(2)
[June 2007] 4. A bag contains a large number of coins:

75% are 10p coins,

25% are 5p coins.

A random sample of 3 coins is drawn from the bag.

Find the sampling distribution for the median of the values of the 3 selected coins. (7)
Answers

June 2011

June 2010
Jan 2010

June 2009

June 2007