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A-LevelMathematicsProbability and statistics9709/62 · May/June 2025 · Q54 Marks

The amount of time, in minutes, spent by a customer on one visit to a certain shop is modelled by the random variable X ~ N(μ, σ²). In the past, the values of μ and σ were 10.5 and 3.8 respectively. The shop has recently moved to a new location, and the manager hopes that the new value of μ will be greater than 10.5. He takes a random sample of 10 customers and notes the time they each spend in the shop. He then calculates the sample mean ̄x for these 10 times. Using a hypothesis test at the 5% significance level, the manager finds that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that the new value of μ is greater than 10.5. Stating a necessary assumption, find the smallest possible value of ̄x.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [B1] sd (σ) remains at 3.8, or is unchanged Or Var unchanged.
  2. [M1] Any z (M0 if not a z value) Must have sqrt(10).
  3. [B1] z = 1.645
  4. [A1] [Smallest value of] x = 12.5 (3 sf) ISW after 12.476... or 12.5 seen. Accept x>12.476 or x>12.5 as final answer.

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About this question

Topic
Probability and statistics, A-Level Mathematics (syllabus 9709). Structured question, 4 marks.
Source
A-Level Mathematics, May/June 2025 Paper 6 Variant 2, question 5.

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