Skip to content

Course home

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

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

EasyMediumHard
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899
Question 37
a.

Identify two conditions under which it would be more appropriate to use Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient rather than the product moment correlation coefficient (PMCC) to analyze the relationship between two variables.

[2]
b.

A conservationist monitors the density of a rare orchid species, DDD (plants per m2m^2m2), and the local soil pH, ppp, across n=10n=10n=10 distinct plots in a meadow.

The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for the recorded data was found to be rs=0.655r_s = 0.655rs​=0.655.

Investigate, at the 5% level of significance, whether there is statistical evidence of any correlation between the density of orchids and soil pH. Explicitly state your null and alternative hypotheses and the critical value used.

[4]
c.

The product moment correlation coefficient (PMCC) for the same dataset was calculated as r=0.515r = 0.515r=0.515.

Determine, at the 5% level of significance, if there is evidence of a positive correlation between orchid density and soil pH. State your hypotheses clearly and include the relevant critical value.

[4]
Markscheme

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

  1. A Level
  2. /Maths
  3. /2.5.10 Correlation as closeness to a straight line (A-level only)

107 exam-style questions on OCR (MEI) A Level Maths 2.5.10 Correlation as closeness to a straight line (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

Question bank