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MEAN AND SD PAST AQA EXAM QUESTIONS – Please complete all qus.

Q1.
Given that ∑x = 364, ∑x2 = 19412, n = 10, find σ, the standard deviation of X.

Circle your answer.

24.8 44.1 616.2 1941.2

(Total 1 mark)

Q2.
The heights, x cm, of the 10 girls in an athletics team are such that

Σx = 1550 and Σx2 = 241 250

(a) Find the mean and variance of x.

(3)

(b) One girl, who is 173 cm tall, drops out of the team. Calculate the mean and variance of
the heights of the remaining nine members of the team.
(5)(Total 8 marks)

Q3.
A survey of 100 customers’ waiting times in a post office shows the following results.

Time in minutes 0–1 1–2 2–3 3–6 6–

Frequency 38 32 24 6 0

Calculate estimates of the mean and standard deviation of the waiting times.
(Total 6 marks)

Q4.
A chef prepares 10 meals using portions of meat bought in a shop.

The masses, x grams, of the 10 portions of meat are such that

Σx = 2000 and Σx2 = 409 000.

(a) Find the mean and standard deviation of these masses.

(4)

(b) Deduce the mean and standard deviation of the costs of the portions of meat, given that
the meat costs 2 pence per gram.
(2)

(c) Each meal costs £1 in addition to the cost of the meat. Write down the mean and
standard deviation of the total cost of a meal.
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q5.
The time, x seconds, spent by each of a random sample of 100 customers at an automatic teller
machine (ATM) is recorded. The times are summarised in the table.

Time (seconds) Number of customers

20 < x ≤ 30 2

30 < x ≤ 40 7

40 < x ≤ 60 18

60 < x ≤ 80 27

80 < x ≤ 100 23

100 < x ≤ 120 13

120 < x ≤ 150 7

150 < x ≤ 180 3

Total 100

Calculate estimates for the mean and standard deviation of the time spent at the ATM by a
customer.
(Total 4 marks)

Q6.
Katrina receives e-mail messages. The table below shows, for a random sample of 40
weekdays, the number of e-mail messages received by Katrina.

Number of e-mail
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
messages

Number of weekdays 2 3 5 6 11 7 3 2 1

Calculate estimates for the mean and the standard deviation of the number of e-mail messages
received per weekday by Katrina.
(Total 3 marks)

Q7.
A random sample of ten CO2 emissions was selected from the Large Data Set.

The emissions in grams per kilogram were:

13 45 45 0 49 77 49 49 49 78

(a) Find the standard deviation of the sample.

(1)

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 (b) An environmentalist calculated the average CO2 emissions for cars in the Large Data Set
registered in 2002 and in 2016.

The averages are listed below.

Year of registration 2002 2016

Average CO2 emission 171.2 120.4

The environmentalist claims that the average CO2 emissions for 2002 and 2016 combined
is 145.8

Determine whether this claim is correct.

Fully justify your answer.

(2)
(Total 3 marks)

Q9.
An analysis was carried out using the Large Data Set to compare the CO2 emissions (in g/km)
from 2002 and 2016.

The summary statistics for the CO2 emissions, X, for all cars registered as owned by either
females or males is given in the table below.

2002 2016

Σx 207 901 142 103

Sample size 1215 1144

(a) Find the reduction in the mean of the CO2 emissions in 2016 compared to the mean of the
CO2 emissions in 2002.
(2)

(b) It is claimed that the move to more electric and gas/petrol powered cars has caused the
reduction in the mean CO2 emissions found in part (a).

Using your knowledge of the Large Data Set, state whether you agree with this claim.

Give a reason for your answer.

(1)

(c) There are 3827 data values in the Large Data Set.

It is claimed that the data in the table above must have been summarised incorrectly.

(i) Explain why this claim is being made.

(1)

(ii) State whether this claim is correct.

Give a reason for your answer.

(1)
(Total 5 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.

Marking Instructions AO Marks Typical Solution

Circles correct answer AO1.1b B1 24.8

Total 1 mark

Q2.
(a) Mean x is 155

var... = 100

(b) mean height is 153 cm

.var.. ≈ 72 cm2
Accept AWRT 71

Q3.

mean 1.54 (minutes)

Est SD 1.08 (minutes)

(3sf needed) NMS 3/3; allow AWRT 1.07 or 1.08

Q4.
(a) Mean mass is 200 grams
Condone absence of units in (a)

Variance is 900 g2
PI; allow 900 given as answer

A1

SD is 30 grams
ft wrong variance

A1F

(b) Mean cost is £4

ft wrong value in (a)

SD is 60p

(c) Mean of total cost is £5

SD is 60p

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Q5.

Mean ( ) = 80.2 to 80.3

Standard Deviation (sn, sn–1) = 30.9 to 31.2

MPs (x): 25, 35, 50, 70, 90, 110, 135, 165

Mean ( ) =

Q6.
Mean = 3.75

Standard deviation = 1.84 to 1.87

Q7.

Marking Instructions AO Marks Typical Solution

(a) States (AWRT) 22.9 1.1a B1 22.9

Condone (AWRT) 24.1
Subtotal 1

(b) Explains or shows how 2.4 E1 (171.2 + 120.4) ÷ 2 =

145.8 is generated from 145.8
the two separate means
or However, the sample size
Explains that we do not for 2016 is larger so the
know that the sample claim is incorrect
sizes are the same for the
two years.
Explains that the sample 2.4 E1
size for 2016 is larger than
2002

Subtotal 2

Question Total 3

Q9.

Marking Instructions AO Marks Typical Solution

(a) Obtains either 171 or 124 (AWRT) 1.1a M1 Mean2002 = 171

Subtracts means to obtain correct 1.1b A1 Mean2016 = 124

difference (AWRT)
Or Reduction = 171 – 124 = 47

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 Expresses as a 27% reduction
(AWRT)

(b) Disagrees with the statement and
refers to the small number (1 of
each) of these types of car in the
data set for 2016 not being able to
cause such a fall in the mean (OE)
2.4 E1 Disagree with the statement as
there are very few cars of these
types in the LDS in 2016, so they
alone cannot have caused this
reduction in the mean emissions

(c) Shows that the total sample size is 2.4 E1 The claim is being made because
(i) 2359 and indicates this is different
to the total size of the LDS (3827). 1215 + 1144 = 2359 ≠ 3827
Implied by mention of 1468
missing/extra
or
Total sample size is less than 3827

(ii) Gives an indication that the LDS 2.4 E1 The claim is incorrect because the
also has other categories LDS also has a ‘Company’ car
category

Total 5 marks

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