IB Mathematics AHL 4.12 Design of valid data collection methods- Exam Style Questions- New Syllabus
Leo is investigating whether a six-sided die is fair. He rolls the die 60 times and records the observed frequencies:
Number on die | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Frequency | 8 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 12 |
Leo carries out a χ² goodness of fit test at a 5% significance level.
(a) Write down the null and alternative hypothesis [2]
(b) Write down the degrees of freedom [1]
(c) Write down the expected frequency of rolling a 1 [1]
(d) Find the p-value for the test [2]
(e) State the conclusion of the test. Give a reason for your answer [2]
▶️ Answer/Explanation
(a)
\( H_0 \): The die is fair (\( P = \frac{1}{6} \))
\( H_1 \): The die is not fair
Each number has probability \( \frac{1}{6} \) if fair
Result: \( H_0 \): Probabilities are equal, \( H_1 \): Probabilities are not equal [2]
(b)
5
\( df = k – 1 \), where \( k = 6 \) (categories)
\( df = 6 – 1 = 5 \)
Result: 5 [1]
(c)
10
Expected frequency: \( E = n \times p \)
\( n = 60 \), \( p = \frac{1}{6} \)
\( E = 60 \times \frac{1}{6} = 10 \)
Result: 10 [1]
(d)
0.287
\( \chi^2 = \sum \frac{(O – E)^2}{E} \), \( E = 10 \)
Observed: \( [8, 7, 6, 15, 12, 12] \)
For 1: \( \frac{(8 – 10)^2}{10} = 0.4 \)
For 2: \( \frac{(7 – 10)^2}{10} = 0.9 \)
For 3: \( \frac{(6 – 10)^2}{10} = 1.6 \)
For 4: \( \frac{(15 – 10)^2}{10} = 2.5 \)
For 5: \( \frac{(12 – 10)^2}{10} = 0.4 \)
For 6: \( \frac{(12 – 10)^2}{10} = 0.4 \)
\( \chi^2 = 0.4 + 0.9 + 1.6 + 2.5 + 0.4 + 0.4 = 6.2 \)
\( df = 5 \), p-value \( \approx 0.287 \)
Result: 0.287 [2]
(e)
Fail to reject \( H_0 \)
\( p = 0.287 > 0.05 \)
Insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis
Conclusion: No evidence at 5% level that die is unfair
Result: Fail to reject \( H_0 \), p-value > 0.05 [2]