PMT
Pearson Edexcel Level 3
GCE Mathematics
Advanced Subsidiary
Paper 2A: Statistics
Specimen paper Paper Reference(s)
Time: 35 minutes 8MA0/02A
You must have:
Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables, calculator
Candidates may use any calculator permitted by Pearson regulations. Calculators must
not have the facility for algebraic manipulation, differentiation and integration, or have
retrievable mathematical formulae stored in them.
Instructions
Use black ink or ball-point pen.
If pencil is used for diagrams/sketches/graphs it must be dark (HB or B).
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name, centre number and candidate
number.
Answer all the questions in Section A.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided – there may be more space than you need.
You should show sufficient working to make your methods clear. Answers without
working may not gain full credit.
Inexact answers should be given to three significant figures unless otherwise stated.
Information
A booklet ‘Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables’ is provided.
There are 4 questions in this section. The total mark for Part A of this paper is 30.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets – use this as a guide as to how much
time to spend on each question.
Advice
Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
If you change your mind about an answer, cross it out and put your new answer and any
working underneath.
1
, PMT
SECTION A: STATISTICS
Answer ALL questions.
1. A company manager is investigating the time taken, t minutes, to complete an aptitude test.
The human resources manager produced the table below of coded times, x minutes, for a
random sample of 30 applicants.
Coded time Coded time midpoint
Frequency (f )
(x minutes) (y minutes)
0≤x<5 3 2.5
5 ≤ x < 10 15 7.5
10 ≤ x < 15 2 12.5
15 ≤ x < 25 9 20
25 ≤ x < 35 1 30
(You may use fy = 355 and f y 2 = 5675)
(a) Use linear interpolation to estimate the median of the coded times.
(2)
(b) Estimate the standard deviation of the coded times.
(2)
The company manager is told by the human resources manager that he subtracted 15 from each
of the times and then divided by 2, to calculate the coded times.
(c) Calculate an estimate for the median and the standard deviation of t.
(3)
The following year, the company has 25 positions available. The company manager decides
not to offer a position to any applicant who takes 35 minutes or more to complete the aptitude
test.
The company has 60 applicants.
(d) Comment on whether or not the company manager’s decision will result in the company
being able to fill the 25 positions available from these 60 applicants. Give a reason for your
answer.
(2)
(Total for Question 1 is 9 marks)
___________________________________________________________________________
2
Pearson Edexcel Level 3
GCE Mathematics
Advanced Subsidiary
Paper 2A: Statistics
Specimen paper Paper Reference(s)
Time: 35 minutes 8MA0/02A
You must have:
Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables, calculator
Candidates may use any calculator permitted by Pearson regulations. Calculators must
not have the facility for algebraic manipulation, differentiation and integration, or have
retrievable mathematical formulae stored in them.
Instructions
Use black ink or ball-point pen.
If pencil is used for diagrams/sketches/graphs it must be dark (HB or B).
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name, centre number and candidate
number.
Answer all the questions in Section A.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided – there may be more space than you need.
You should show sufficient working to make your methods clear. Answers without
working may not gain full credit.
Inexact answers should be given to three significant figures unless otherwise stated.
Information
A booklet ‘Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables’ is provided.
There are 4 questions in this section. The total mark for Part A of this paper is 30.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets – use this as a guide as to how much
time to spend on each question.
Advice
Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
If you change your mind about an answer, cross it out and put your new answer and any
working underneath.
1
, PMT
SECTION A: STATISTICS
Answer ALL questions.
1. A company manager is investigating the time taken, t minutes, to complete an aptitude test.
The human resources manager produced the table below of coded times, x minutes, for a
random sample of 30 applicants.
Coded time Coded time midpoint
Frequency (f )
(x minutes) (y minutes)
0≤x<5 3 2.5
5 ≤ x < 10 15 7.5
10 ≤ x < 15 2 12.5
15 ≤ x < 25 9 20
25 ≤ x < 35 1 30
(You may use fy = 355 and f y 2 = 5675)
(a) Use linear interpolation to estimate the median of the coded times.
(2)
(b) Estimate the standard deviation of the coded times.
(2)
The company manager is told by the human resources manager that he subtracted 15 from each
of the times and then divided by 2, to calculate the coded times.
(c) Calculate an estimate for the median and the standard deviation of t.
(3)
The following year, the company has 25 positions available. The company manager decides
not to offer a position to any applicant who takes 35 minutes or more to complete the aptitude
test.
The company has 60 applicants.
(d) Comment on whether or not the company manager’s decision will result in the company
being able to fill the 25 positions available from these 60 applicants. Give a reason for your
answer.
(2)
(Total for Question 1 is 9 marks)
___________________________________________________________________________
2
