Mathematics: applications and interpretation

Practice paper 1 SL Total: 80 marks

1. [Maximum mark: 5]

A school consists of 740 students divided into 5 grade levels. The numbers of students in
each grade are shown in the table below.

Grade 8 9 10 11 12
Number of students 120 125 119 195 181

The Principal of the school wishes to select a sample of 25 students. She wishes to ensure
that, as closely as possible, the proportion of the students from each grade in the sample is
the same as the proportions in the school.

(a) Calculate the number of grade 12 students who should be in the sample. [3]

The Principal selects the students for the sample by asking those who took part in a previous
survey if they would like to take part in another. She takes the first of those who reply
positively, up to the maximum needed for the sample.

(b) State which two of the sampling methods listed below best describe the method
used. [2]

Stratified Quota Convenience Systematic Simple random

2. [Maximum mark: 5]

A factory produces engraved gold disks. The cost C of the disks is directly proportional to the
cube of the radius r of the disk.

A disk with a radius of 0.8 cm costs 375 US dollars (USD).

(a) Find an equation which links C and r. [3]

(b) Find, to the nearest USD, the cost of disk that has a radius of 1.1 cm. [2]
3. [Maximum mark: 6]

The weights of apples on a tree can be modelled by a normal distribution with a mean of
85 grams and a standard deviation of 7.5 grams.

(a) Find the probability that an apple from the tree has a weight greater than 90 grams.
[2]

A sample of apples are taken from 2 trees, A and B, in different parts of the orchard.

The data is shown in the table below.

Weight of apples from 90 85 84 79 87 88 91 88

The owner of the orchard wants to know whether the mean weight of the apples from tree
A ( μ A ) is greater than the mean weight of the apples from tree B ( μ B ) so sets up the
following test:

H0: μ A = μ B and H1: μ A > μ B

(b) (i) Find the p-value for the owner’s test.

The test is performed at the 5% significance level.

(ii) State the conclusion of the test, giving a reason for your answer. [4]
4. [Maximum mark: 7]

A food scientist measures the weights of 760 potatoes taken from a single field and the
distribution of the weights is shown by the cumulative frequency curve below.

(a) Find the number of potatoes in the sample with a weight of more than 200 grams. [2]

(b) Find

(i) the median weight

(ii) the lower quartile

(iii) the upper quartile. [3]

The weight of the smallest potato in the sample is 20 grams and the weight of the largest is
400 grams.

(c) Use the scale shown below to draw a box and whisker diagram showing the
distribution of the weights of the potatoes. You may assume there are no outliers. [2]
5. [Maximum mark: 6]

The pH of a solution is given by the formula pH = − log10 C where C is the hydrogen ion
concentration in a solution, measured in moles per litre (Ml-1).

(a) Find the pH value for a solution in which the hydrogen ion concentration is 5.2 × 10−8 .
[2]

(b) (i) Write an expression for C in terms of pH.

(ii) Find the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution with pH 4.2. Give your
answer in the form a × 10 k where 1 ≤ a < 10 and k is an integer. [4]

6. [Maximum mark: 7]

The size of the population (P) of migrating birds in a particular town can be approximately
modelled by the equation P = a sin(bt ) + c, a, b, c ∈  + , where t is measured in months
from the time of the initial measurements.

In a 12 month period the maximum population is 2600 and occurs when t = 3 and the
minimum population is 800 and occurs when t = 9 .

This information is shown on the graph below.

(a) Find the value of

(i) a

(ii) b

(iii) c. [5]

(b) Find the value of t at which the population first reaches 2200. [2]
7. [Maximum mark: 7]

Consider the curve y = x 2 − 4x + 2 .

dy
(a) Find an expression for . [1]
dx

(b) Show that the normal to the curve at the point where x = 1 is 2 y − x + 3 = 0. [6]

8. [Maximum mark: 7]

The water temperature (T) in Lake Windermere is measured on the first day of eight
consecutive months (m) from January to August (months 1 to 8) and the results are shown
below. The value for May (month 5) has been accidently deleted.

Jan Feb March April May June July August

(a) Assuming the data follows a linear model for this period, find the regression line of T
on m for the remaining data. [2]

(b) Use your line to find an estimate for the for the water temperature on the first day of
May. [2]

(c) (i) Explain why your line should not be used to estimate the value of m at which
the temperature is 10.0°C.

(ii) Explain in context why your line should not be used to predict the value for
December (month 12). [2]

(d) State a more appropriate model for the water temperature in the lake over an
extended period of time. You are not expected to calculate any parameters. [1]

9. [Maximum mark: 7]

Sophia pays $200 into a bank account at the end of each month. The annual interest paid on
money in the account is 3.1% which is compounded monthly.

(a) Find the value of her investment after a period of 5 years. [3]
The average rate of inflation per year over the 5 years was 2%.

(b) Find an approximation for the real interest rate for the money invested in the
account. [2]

(c) Hence find the real value of Sophia’s investment at the end of 5 years. [2]

10. [Maximum mark: 7]

The diagram below shows part of the screen from a weather forecasting website showing
the data for town A. The percentages on the bottom row represent the likelihood of some
rain during the hour leading up to the time given. For example there is a 69% chance (a
probability of 0.69) of rain falling on any point in town A between 0900 and 1000.

Paula works at a building site in the area covered by this page of the website from 0900 to
1700. She has lunch from 1300 to 1400.

(a) Write down the probability it rains during Paula’s lunch break. [1]

In the following parts you may assume all probabilities are independent.

Paula needs to work outside between 1000 and 1300.

(b) Find the probability it will rain in each of the three hours Paula is working outside. [2]

Paula will also spend her lunchtime outside.

(c) Find the probability it will not rain while Paula is outside. [2]

(d) Find the probability it will rain at least once while Paula is outside. [2]
11. [Maximum mark: 9]

A farmer owns a triangular field ABC. The length of side [AB] is 85 m and side [AC] is 110 m.
The angle between these two sides is 55°.

(a) Find the area of the field. [3]

The farmer would like to divide the field into two equal parts by constructing a straight fence
from A to a point D on [BC].

(b) Find BD. Fully justify any assumptions you make. [6]

12. [Maximum mark: 7]

A disc is divided into 9 sectors, number 1 to 9. The angles at the centre of each of the
sectors un form an arithmetic sequence, with u1 being the largest angle.

Diagram not to scale

9
(a) Write down the value of u . i
[1]
i=1
1
It is given that u9 = u1 .
3

(b) Find the value of u1 . [4]

A game is played in which the arrow attached to the centre of the disc is spun and the
sector in which the arrow stops is noted. If the arrow stops in sector 1 the player wins 10
points, otherwise they lose 2 points.

Let X be the number of points won

(c) Find E(X). [2]