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The Normal Distribution

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Question 53

An industrial engineer is evaluating the tensile strength of two specific grades of composite fiber braids, Grade X and Grade Y. Random samples are extracted from production and their strengths, s N/mm2s\text{ N/mm}^2s N/mm2, are recorded. The findings are summarized in the table below.

Number in sampleSample mean sˉ\bar{s}sˉ∑s2\sum s^2∑s2
Grade X1285.587834.0
Grade Y1592.2127625.4

You may assume that the samples are drawn from independent normal distributions with a common population variance.

The engineer claims that the mean tensile strength of Grade Y fiber is 5 N/mm2\text{N/mm}^2N/mm2 greater than the mean tensile strength of Grade X fiber.

a.

Test the engineer's claim at the 5% level of significance.

[5]
b.

Given that the true population variance for both grades is actually 10 (N/mm2)210\text{ (N/mm}^2)^210 (N/mm2)2,

(i) show that when samples of size 12 and 15 are used with a 5% level of significance, the engineer's claim is accepted if 2.60<SˉY−SˉX<7.402.60 < \bar{S}_Y - \bar{S}_X < 7.402.60<SˉY​−SˉX​<7.40.

[3]
c.

(ii) Hence find the probability of a Type II error for this test if, in fact, the true mean tensile strength of Grade Y is 8 N/mm2\text{N/mm}^2N/mm2 greater than the mean tensile strength of Grade X.

[3]

The Normal Distribution Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Maths
  3. /The Normal Distribution

Practise Edexcel A Level Maths The Normal Distribution with exam-style questions for A Level Maths. 439 questions, matched to the Edexcel A Level Maths (9MA0) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.

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