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2.5.10 Correlation as closeness to a straight line (A-level only)

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Question 36

An engineering firm is testing a new solar panel design. They investigated the relationship between the energy conversion efficiency, EEE (%), and the average operating temperature, TTT (°C), for a sample of 8 test units. They also recorded a subjective durability rating, RRR, for each unit, where 1 indicates the most durable and 8 indicates the least durable.

UnitEfficiency EEE (%)Durability Rating RRR
U1U_1U1​21.47
U2U_2U2​26.82
U3U_3U3​24.35
U4U_4U4​28.51
U5U_5U5​25.14
U6U_6U6​20.28
U7U_7U7​27.23
U8U_8U8​22.96

The following summary statistics were calculated for temperature and efficiency:

STT=244.5,SEE=48.2,STE=−92.4 S_{TT} = 244.5, \quad S_{EE} = 48.2, \quad S_{TE} = -92.4 STT​=244.5,SEE​=48.2,STE​=−92.4
a.

Calculate the product moment correlation coefficient (PMCC) between energy conversion efficiency and operating temperature.

[3]
b.

Use your value from part (a) to test, at the 1% significance level, whether there is evidence of a negative correlation between efficiency and temperature. State your hypotheses clearly.

[4]
c.

State a required assumption regarding the variables for the test in part (b) to be valid.

[1]
d.

Calculate the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between efficiency and durability rating.

[4]
e.

Using a 5% level of significance and a two-tailed test, determine whether there is evidence of a correlation between efficiency and durability rating.

[3]

2.5.10 Correlation as closeness to a straight line (A-level only) Questions

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