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S1 Help (GCE- A Levels)

Hi I'm not too sure how to work out the variance on this question. I tried doing it but come out with a negative number.

https://1a388b28f5ce9318f837a64962fc3ceab9c61da8.googledrive.com/host/0B1ZiqBksUHNYU2s1SVY1VDN2Q0U/January%202014%20(IAL)%20QP%20-%20S1%20Edexcel.pdf

It's question 2 on this link.

In terms of what I done I did this:
(77+(2^2 x 82)+(2^2 x 87)+(4^2 x 92)..../15 )- mean^2 (which I believe to be 92.3
Reply 1
Original post by Xphoenix
Hi I'm not too sure how to work out the variance on this question. I tried doing it but come out with a negative number.

https://1a388b28f5ce9318f837a64962fc3ceab9c61da8.googledrive.com/host/0B1ZiqBksUHNYU2s1SVY1VDN2Q0U/January%202014%20(IAL)%20QP%20-%20S1%20Edexcel.pdf

It's question 2 on this link.

In terms of what I done I did this:
(77+(2^2 x 82)+(2^2 x 87)+(4^2 x 92)..../15 )- mean^2 (which I believe to be 92.3


It should be [(1 x 77^2) + (2 x 82^2) +.... etc] - mean^2

In other words the 'x' terms needs to be squared
Reply 2
Original post by RoseGatz
It should be [(1 x 77^2) + (2 x 82^2) +.... etc] - mean^2

In other words the 'x' terms needs to be squared


Thanks! Just done it and looked at the mark scheme however I still have a different answer. I got 71.04333333

my sum of all terms is 128855. Then I divided by number of terms (15) to get 8590.3333
then Ans- (92.3^2)

Any clue to where I may have gone wrong?
Reply 3
Original post by Xphoenix
Thanks! Just done it and looked at the mark scheme however I still have a different answer. I got 71.04333333

my sum of all terms is 128855. Then I divided by number of terms (15) to get 8590.3333
then Ans- (92.3^2)

Any clue to where I may have gone wrong?


It's because you've used the rounded version of the mean i.e 92.3, if you use the original/full value of the mean where the 3 is recurring, you'll get the right answer.

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