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2.4.4 Mean and variance of the binomial (A-level only)

2.4.4 Mean and variance of the binomial (A-level only)

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Question 13

A botanist investigates the germination of a rare species of wildflower. It is known that, under specific laboratory conditions, each seed has a 25% probability of germinating successfully. The seeds are prepared in incubation trays, with each tray containing exactly 12 seeds.

a.

(i) Suggest a suitable distribution to model the number of seeds that germinate in a single tray. (ii) State one necessary assumption for this model to be valid.

[2]
b.

Calculate the probability that, in 2 randomly selected incubation trays, exactly 1 tray contains exactly 4 germinated seeds.

[4]
c.

Calculate the probability that a randomly selected incubation tray contains at least 5 germinated seeds.

[2]
d.

The botanist prepares a large-scale study involving 150 incubation trays.

Using a normal approximation, determine the probability that more than 20 of these trays contain at least 5 germinated seeds.

[5]
Markscheme

2.4.4 Mean and variance of the binomial (A-level only) Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Maths
  3. /2.4.4 Mean and variance of the binomial (A-level only)

67 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Maths 2.4.4 Mean and variance of the binomial (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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