Statistics Exam Questions 2024/2025
Statistics Exam Questions 2024/2025
A Type I error occurs when the null hypothesis is incorrectly rejected, i.e., a false positive, while a Type II error occurs when the null hypothesis is not rejected when it is false, i.e., a false negative. The probability of a Type I error is denoted by α and is set by the significance level, while that of a Type II error is denoted by β. Balancing these probabilities is crucial for accurate statistical conclusions; reducing one typically increases the other .
The probability of having at least one flat tyre can be calculated by subtracting the probability of having zero flat tyres from 1. Given the probabilities P(T=0) = 0.80, P(T=1) = 0.1, P(T=2) = 0.07, and P(T=3) = 0.03, the probability of having at least one flat tyre is 1 - P(T=0) = 1 - 0.80 = 0.20 .
The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no effect or no difference, and it represents a default or starting assumption that any observed effect is due to sampling or experimental error . Contrarily, the alternative hypothesis proposes that there is a significant effect or a difference, challenging the validity of the null hypothesis. It is what the researcher aims to support through evidence .
Descriptive statistics involve the summarization and organization of data so it can be easily understood, typically using measures such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation . Inferential statistics, on the other hand, use a random sample of data taken from a population to describe and make inferences about the population. This includes estimating population parameters, testing hypotheses, and making predictions .
The Poisson distribution can model the number of events occurring in a fixed interval of time or space when these events happen with a known constant rate and independently of the time since the last event. It is significant for modeling count data, such as the number of defects in a production process. To find the probability of a given number of events, use the formula: P(X=k) = (λ^k * e^-λ) / k!, where λ is the average number of events, k is the number of occurrences, and e is Euler's number .
If the p-value is smaller than the significance level, it means that the observed data are significantly inconsistent with the null hypothesis. Thus, we reject the null hypothesis in favor of the alternative hypothesis, suggesting that the observed effect is statistically significant and not due to random chance .
Sample variance is calculated by taking the sum of the squared deviations from the sample mean divided by the sample size minus one: variance = Σ(x_i - mean)² / (n - 1). It provides a measure of how much the data points in a sample vary from the sample mean, indicating the degree of variability or spread in a set of data .
The Spearman rank correlation is a non-parametric measure of the strength and direction of association between two ranked variables. Its value ranges from -1 to 1. A value of 1 indicates a perfect positive association, -1 a perfect negative association, and 0 no association. It is useful for data that do not meet the assumptions of parametric tests, such as linearity or normal distribution .
The 95% confidence interval for a population mean can be calculated using the formula: mean ± (Z * (standard deviation/√n)), where Z is the Z-value corresponding to the desired level of confidence, standard deviation is the sample standard deviation, and n is the sample size. This interval signifies that there is a 95% probability that the population mean lies within this range .
To calculate the expected number of flat tyres, multiply each possible number of flat tyres by its probability and sum the results: E(T) = (0 * 0.80) + (1 * 0.10) + (2 * 0.07) + (3 * 0.03) = 0 + 0.10 + 0.14 + 0.09 = 0.33 .