GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Analysis Questions linked to Task 1 [15 marks] - in a formal assessment this would be 10 marks
You were asked to convert figures in relation to bike ownership per 1000 inhabitants into two sets of index
numbers. The figures related to three European countries: United Kingdom, Netherlands and the Republic
of Ireland.
A. Why do you think you have been asked to use Index numbers rather than the original figures? [2]
B. What were the index numbers you calculated for Year 14? Please round to one decimal place [3]
United Kingdom Netherlands Republic of Ireland
Simple index
Chain index
C. Using the Republic of Ireland figures in (B), explain what the two index numbers are illustrating? [2]
Simple Index
Chain Index
D. You were also asked to construct a graph which compared the simple index numbers across the
three countries. Please a comment which you consider to be the main observation on the graph. [1]
E. Would Year 17 be considered a suitable choice for setting a base year? Please provide a reason for
your answer. [2]
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
F. You were asked to construct a graph which compared the chain index numbers across the three
countries. Please provide a comment which you consider to be the main observation [1]
G. By using the image of a spreadsheet layout below. Please state the Excel formula that would be
entered into Cell E3 and would then be subsequently copied down in order to calculate the simple
index for the UK. [2]
Formula that would be entered in E3:
H. Figures for Year 19 in the UK have been recently received i.e. 46.1 bikes per 1000 inhabitants.
Calculate both the simple and chain index for the UK in Year 19. As a reminder the base point is
Year 11. [2]
Simple Index
Chain Index
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Analysis Questions linked to Task 2 [25 marks] in a formal assessment this would be 20 marks
Prior to this examination you were asked to carry out some preparatory work which relates to the topic of
regression and correlation.
A. For the relationship between total distance travelled and the hire time please provide an
approximate copy of the scatter diagram which you were asked to create. Between 10 to 20 crosses
should be sufficient to illustrate the graph you created in Excel. Please ensure that this graph is fully
labelled. [3]
B. Please now describe what this graph is illustrating including the context of the relationship and the
correlation coefficient value you calculated (please round this figure to three decimal places). [3]
C. Now consider the graph between age and the total distance travelled. What is unusual about this
scatter diagram? What impact could this have on the correlation coefficient? [3]
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
D. Which of the two relationships is the strongest? [1]
Distance travelled and Age Distance travelled and Hire time
E. What is the linear regression equation for this strongest relationship? Present the numerical values
to two decimal places [3]
F. Use this regression line to predict the total distance travelled for someone who is either aged 37 or
the hire time has been 65 minutes. [2]
G. Please state whether this prediction an example of Interpolation or extrapolation and provide the
rationale for your decision? [3]
H. The European Cycling Barometer (2015) showed that the top 8 European countries for cycling were
in order: Denmark; Netherlands; Sweden; Finland; Germany; Belgium; Slovenia and Hungary.
The GO BIKE have carried out a survey amongst their users and asked respondents to place what
they felt were the most popular cycling country. The results, based on percentage response rate
were:
Denmark 13% Germany 3%
Netherlands 57% Belgium 13%
Sweden 6% Slovenia 1%
Finland 5% Hungary 2%
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Calculate a suitable correlation coefficient and comment on what this value indicates in respect to the level
of agreement between the two data sets. In order to assist the following grid for intermediate calculations
is provided [7]
Cycling barometer Go Ride Survey d d2
r=1- 6d2
n(n2-1)
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Questions linked to Task 3 [30 marks] in a formal assessment this would be 20 marks
Prior to this examination you were asked to carry out some preparatory work on a data set elating to
quarterly bike sales in the UK over an eight year period.
A. You were asked to apply both an additive and multiplicative model to the data, which model did
you feel was the most suitable to apply to the data set and why? [4]
B. Analysis of a time series produces a mass of intermediate calculations, for the model you have
selected as being the most appropriate, please state the figures (rounded to three decimal places)
for:
Moving average value associated with Year 3 quarter 4 [1]
Additive model seasonal average for quarter 1 before residual
adjustment [1]
C. When carrying out a forecast into the future how would TREND be calculated, ensuring you define
time appropriately? Please present the figures used to three decimal places [3]
Trend =
D. If the figures provided were monthly what would the overall seasonal averages need to add up to
for the two different time series models [2]?
Additive: Multiplicative:
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
E. For the Year 9, the following figures have now become available Please complete the table below
for the model you selected as the most suitable to represent the data set [6]
Quarter Bike sales Forecast of Trend Forecast of Season Forecast of Participants
1 383
2 393
3 405
4 415
F. Using both the graph you produced in the preparatory work and the figures above, express your
opinions and appropriate rationale in respect to the accuracy of the forecasts [3]
G. The graph below relates to data collated by GO RIDE company in Barcelona and illustrates the
number of bike hires made within the city during the month of December.
Number of bike hires made in Barcelona during De-
cember.
290
280
270
260
250
240
230
220
210
200
i n e u t i n e u t
on ed Fr Su Tu Th Sa on ed Fr Su Tu Th Sa
M W M W
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Describe what this graph illustrates in terms of…
Trend [1]
Seasonality [1]
What model
(additive or
multiplicative) is
most likely to
apply and why?
[2]
H. The following illustrates some of analysis that would have been undertaken for a MULTIPLICATIVE
MODEL on the data set for daily hires in Barcelona.
Please enter into the table below the EXCEL formulae that would be entered into the following cells [6]
Cell Formula Cell Formula
D5: H4:
E8: K2:
F2 P7:
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Analysis Questions linked to Task 4 [65 marks] in a formal assessment this would be 40 marks
Prior to this examination, you were asked to prepare a number of summary figures and graphs in respect to
a SAMPLE of 175 transactions linked to the GO RIDE bike hire scheme.
A. For each of the three locations you were asked to calculate what percentage of transactions
resulted in a pick-up fee being charged. Please now present this data in a suitable graph [5]
B. You were also asked to calculate the revenue for an individual transaction. You were then asked to
determine for each of the locations the median and interquartile range for these revenues (in
Euros). Please state what these values were? [3]
Table illustrating the Median and Interquartile Value for Revenue across the three locations
City/Location Median Interquartile range
Amsterdam
Dublin
Newcastle
C. Please provide a comment on what both sets of figures in (B) tell you in respect to the revenues
between the three cities [2]
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
D. Please present in a suitably labelled table, the figures you calculated in respect to the average
distance travelled across the three locations by gender. Please use two decimal places [4]
E. By referring to this table, what is your main observation in relation to similarities or differences
between:
Locations [1]
Gender [1]
Gender within
each location [2]
F. You were also asked to calculate standard deviations by location and gender. In general, what does
a standard deviation help you make additional observations about? [2]
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
G. Now please present in a suitably labelled table, the figures you calculated in respect to the
standard deviations for the distance travelled across the three locations by gender. Please use two
decimal places [4]
H. By referring to this table, what further observations can be made about the distances travelled by
location and gender [2]
I. The company has also received summary information in respect to the total distances travelled
within Barcelona by Females. This is presented below
Total Distance Frequency Mid-point fx Cumulative Frequency
Travelled (km)
0 up to 20 km 5
20 up to 40 km 20
40 up to 60 km 45
60 up to 80 km 30
Total 100
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Using the information provided in this table, calculate the mean distance travelled by females with
Barcelona and estimate the median distance travelled by females. [10]
Mean = fx/f
Graph grid:
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
J. How does the average distance travelled by females in Barcelona compare to the other three
locations? [2]
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
K. In the preparation work you were asked to construct frequency polygons in relation to the
distances a bike has been left from one of the housing units i.e. pick up distance for each of the
three locations. Based on your observations, which of the three locations LEAST resembles the
normal distribution? [1]
Amsterdam Dublin Newcastle
L. For each location calculate and determine the location where it is most likely to have pick-ups 20
km or more away. (Hint: use the frequency & probability table you created) [6]
Amsterdam
Dublin
Newcastle
Most likely location to be have pickups more than 20 km away and why
M. The GO RIDE company is reviewing its policy on offering free pickups within a 30km radius and
reducing this down to 20km. They have estimated the average costs for making an individual pickup
of 20km or more across the three locations and these are listed below. Complete the following
table (showing your calculations) and state (in the space below) which location has the most costs
associated with it and why [5] (Hint: use the frequency & probability table you created)
Average Pick
Number of pickups
Location up cost Estimated costs
of 20km or more
(Euros)
Amsterdam 0.75
Dublin 0.8
Newcastle 1.05
Most costly and why?
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
N. Across all three locations (sample size = 175) the average distance to a pick up point was found to
be 17.33 km and the standard deviation 7.78 km. Using these figures please calculate a 95%
confidence interval to represent the pick-up distance within the true population mean will lie? [4]
Formula: x ± 1.96 s /√ n
O. The company are also considering changing their pricing policy. For example, they may charge for
one hour blocks rather than 30 min blocks or offer a discounted rate for those hiring bikes for more
than 90 minutes. If the average time for hire is 79.35 minutes with a standard deviation of 18.85
minutes, calculate the probabilities for the following scenarios.
Formula: z=(X−μ)/σ
A bike is hired for
more than 90
minutes [3]
A bike is hired
between one hour
and 90 minutes [4]
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
P. What is minimum hire time for the top 5% of the distribution. Remembering the average time for
hire is 79.35 minutes with a standard deviation of 18.85 minutes [4]
Formula: z=(X−μ)/σ
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
Analysis Questions linked to Task 5 [15 marks] - in a formal assessment this would be 10 marks
As part of the preparatory work linked to this analysis you were asked to formulate and solve a linear
programming question to assist in the distribution of the GO RIDE bike units across Newcastle City Centre.
Four locations were being considered: Central Railway Station (C), Monument Metro Station (M),
Newcastle Quayside (Q) and Northumbria University’s City Campus East (U).
A. By using the letters in brackets to represent each of these locations please write down an equation
(algebraic) to represent how revenue is calculated [2]
B. By using the letters in brackets to represent each of these locations please write down an equation
(algebraic) to represent the budget available for setting up the bikes [2]
C. For the Quayside (Q), please write down two equations that would be used in the linear
programming model to represent the Minimum and Maximum number of bikes which could be
hosted at this location [2]
D. How many bikes should be distributed across each of the four locations in order to maximise
revenue? [2]
Central, C Monument, M Quayside, Q University, U
What is the maximum revenue generated? [1]
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GO RIDE CASE STUDY
E. Following consultation with the sensitivity report, what does the shadow price that is linked to
costs of distributing the bikes across the four locations indicate? Please include in your answer an
explanation of what the allowable increase and decrease illustrates. [3]
F. The GO RIDE team could potentially allocate a further 2 staff to transportation and set-up each day.
Is this something that you would recommend to the company? In your response please provide a
justification for your answer [2]
G. By how much would the revenue from the University need to decrease by before the current
solution would change? [1]
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