Cambridge A Level Mathematics 9709 — 2017 Feb/March Paper 7 · Variant 2
9709/72/F/M/17 · 5 questions · 50 marks · ≈56 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper12 pages












Mark scheme7 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.







Questions as text
Q1 · In a survey, 36 out of 120 randomly selected voters in Hungton said that if there were an…
1 In a survey, 36 out of 120 randomly selected voters in Hungton said that if there were an election next week they would vote for the Alpha party. Calculate an approximate 90% confidence interval for the proportion of voters in Hungton who would vote for the Alpha party. [4] ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: Question Answer Marks Guidance 1 Var(Ps) = 0.3(1120− 0.3) (= 0.00175) M1 Attempt correct values in correct formula 0.3 ± z "0.00175" M1 must be a z-value, not a prob z = 1.645 B1 CI = 0.231 to 0.369 (3 sf) A1 Total: 4
Q2 · Karim has noted the lifespans, in weeks, of a large random sample of certain insects
2 Karim has noted the lifespans, in weeks, of a large random sample of certain insects. He carries out a test, at the 1% significance level, for the population mean, -. Karim’s null hypothesis is - = 6.4. (i) Given that Karim’s test is two-tail, state the alternative hypothesis. [1] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ Karim finds that the value of the test statistic is z = 2.43. (ii) Explain what conclusion he should draw. [2] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ (iii) Explain briefly when a one-tail test is appropriate, rather than a two-tail test. [1] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 2(i) (H1): µ ≠ 6.4 B1 Total: 1 2(ii) comp 2.43 with a z-value M1 oe valid comparison z = 2.576 AND No evidence that µ is not 6.4 A1 Allow “Accept µ = 6.4” or do not reject µ = 6.4 Must mention µ, not just “H0” or “H1” Total: 2 2(iii) Testing for an increase in µ, or for a B1 Any equiv statement decrease in µ, rather than a change Total: 1
Q4 · At a doctors’ surgery, the number of missed appointments per day has a Poisson…
4 At a doctors’ surgery, the number of missed appointments per day has a Poisson distribution. In the past the mean number of missed appointments per day has been 0.9. Following some publicity, the manager carries out a hypothesis test to determine whether this mean has decreased. If there are fewer than 3 missed appointments in a randomly chosen 5-day period, she will conclude that the mean has decreased. (i) Find the probability of a Type I error. [3] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ (ii) State what is meant by a Type I error in this context. [1] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ (iii) Find the probability of a Type II error if the mean number of missed appointments per day is 0.2. [3] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 4(i) (λ =) 4.5 B1 e–4.5(1 + 4.5 + 4.52!2 ) M1 Allow any λ. Allow one end error = 0.174 A1 Total: 3 4(ii) Accept reduction in mean no. of B1 or Mean is 0.9 (or 4.5) but < 3 missed missed appts although untrue appts. In context Total: 1 4(iii) P(X ⩾ 3) M1 Attempted = 1 – e–1(1 + 1 + 212! ) M1 Allow any λ except 4.5 or 0.9, Allow one end error = 0.0803 (3 sfs) A1 Total: 3
Q6 · The masses, in kilograms, of cartons of sugar and cartons of flour have the distributions…
6 The masses, in kilograms, of cartons of sugar and cartons of flour have the distributions N 78.8, 12.62 and N 62.0, 10.02 respectively. (i) The standard load for a certain crane is 8 cartons of sugar and 3 cartons of flour. The maximum load that can be carried safely by the crane is 900 kg. Stating a necessary assumption, find the percentage of standard loads that will exceed the maximum safe load. 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(ii) Find the probability that a randomly chosen carton of sugar has a smaller mass than a randomly chosen carton of flour. 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Mark scheme: 6(i) Assume cartons are random sample(s) B1 or masses of cartons are independent of each other oe E(T) = 816.4 B1 Both Var(T) = 1570.08 z = 900 − "816.4" (= 2.110) M1 "1570.08" 1 – Φ(“2.110”) M1 = 0.0174 = 1.74% (3 sfs) A1 % only (accept 1.7% if 0.0174 seen) Total: 5 6(ii) P(F – S > 0) stated or implied M1 P(S – F < 0) 62.0 – 78.8 (= –16.8) B1 78.8 – 62.0 (= 16.8) & 10.02 + 12.62 (= 258.76) & 12.62 + 10.02 (= 258.76) z = 0 −− (" 16.8") (= 1.044) M1 z = 0"258.76"− "16.8" (= –1.044) "258.76" 1 – Φ(“1.044”) M1 Φ(“–1.044”) = 1 – Φ(“1.044”) (= 1 – 0.8517) A1 = 0.148 (3 sfs) Total: 5
Q7 · The number of planes arriving at an airport every hour during daytime is modelled by the…
7 The number of planes arriving at an airport every hour during daytime is modelled by the random variable X with distribution Po 5.2 . (i) State two assumptions required for the Poisson model to be valid in this context. [2] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ (ii) (a) Find the probability that the number of planes arriving in a 15-minute period is greater than 1 and less than 4, [3] ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ (b) Find the probability that more than 3 planes will arrive in a 40-minute period. 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(iii) The airport has enough staffto deal with a maximum of 60 planes landing during a 10-hour day. Use a suitable approximation to find the probability that, on a randomly chosen 10-hour day, staffwill be able to deal with all the planes that land. 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Mark scheme: 7(i) Planes arrive at constant mean rate B1 Planes arrive at random B1 or Planes arrive independently Must be in context Total: 2 7(ii)(a) (λ =) 5.2 ÷ 4 M1 e–1.3( 1.32 2 + 1.33!3 ) M1 Allow any λ , allow one end error = 0.330 (3 sfs) A1 Accept 0.33 Total: 3 7(ii)(b) 1– e–3.467×(1+3.467 + 3.4672! 2 + 3.4673! 3 ) M1 Allow any λ except 5.2 or 1.3, allow one end error = 0.456 (3 sfs) A1 Total: 2 7(iii) N(52, 52) stated or implied B1 60.5 − 52 (= 1.179) M1 ft their mean and var. 52 Allow wrong or no cc or no √ Φ(“1.179”) M1 = 0.881 (3 sf) A1 Total: 4
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 5 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2017 Feb/March, Paper 7 · Variant 2. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.