Statistics for Data Science II · End Term · May 2026 · FN
Statistics for Data Science II · End Term · May 2026 FN
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21 / 21 published solutions
Let S be the sum of ten Bernoulli(p) observations. The estimator is (S+1)/12. At p=0.2, E(S)=2 and Var(S)=10(0.2)(0.8)=1.6. Thus its expectation is 3/12=0.25 and bias is 0.05; its variance is 1.6/144. Mean squared error equals variance plus squared bias: \[1000E[(\hat p-p)^2]=1000\left(\frac{1.6}{144}+0.05^2\right)=13.611111\ldots.\] Round to 13.61. The added constant changes bias but does not add variance.
**Answer: 13.61.**
Question 4 NAT · 3.0 marks
The number of emails received by a customer-support team per hour follows a Poisson
distribution with mean
. The numbers of emails received during 6 randomly selected hours are:
3, 6, 2, 4, 2, 3
Assume that the prior distribution for
is Gamma
. Find the posterior mean of
given the
above observation. Enter the answer correct to two decimal places.
Published solution
With shape-rate prior Gamma(2,1), the Poisson likelihood contributes a factor lambda to the power of the observed sum and an exponential rate equal to the sample size. The counts sum to 3+6+2+4+2+3=20 across six hours. The posterior is Gamma(2+20,1+6)=Gamma(22,7). Its mean is shape/rate=22/7≈3.142857, rounding to 3.14. Do not use the posterior mode (21/7=3) in place of the mean.
**Answer: 3.14.**
Question 5 NAT · 3.0 marks
A cereal company fills packets with a mean weight of 300 g. The packet weights are normally
distributed with a standard deviation of 8 g. A random sample of 16 packets is selected to test
whether the mean filling weight has increased. The test rejects the claim if the sample mean
exceeds 303.29 g. Against an alternative mean weight of 304 g, find the power of the test. Enter
the answer correct to two decimal places.
Published solution
Power is the rejection probability when the specified alternative mean 304 is true. The sample mean has standard deviation 8/sqrt(16)=2. Therefore \[P_{304}(\bar X>303.29)=P\left(Z>\frac{303.29-304}{2}\right)=P(Z>-0.355)\approx0.639.\] Using the supplied rounded table for -0.35 gives 1-0.3613=0.6387. Either rounds to 0.64. Standardise under the alternative mean, not the null 300.
**Answer: 0.64.**
Question 6 MCQ · 3.0 marks
The standard deviation of weights of 70 gram bags of white cheddar popcorn is expected to be 2.5
grams. A random sample of 20 packages showed a standard deviation of 3 grams. Is the apparent
increase in variability significant at the 0.05 level?
Yes
No
Published solution
Use the one-sided variance test under the normal-population assumption. The hypotheses are sigma=2.5 versus sigma>2.5. Under the null, \(T=(n-1)S^2/\sigma_0^2=19(3^2)/(2.5^2)=27.36\) has a chi-square distribution with 19 degrees of freedom. The supplied 95th percentile is 30.14. Since 27.36<30.14, do not reject at 5%. This means insufficient evidence for increased variability, not proof that the standard deviation equals 2.5.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** The statistic does not exceed the upper critical value.
B: **Correct:** The apparent increase is not statistically significant at the stated level.
Question 7 MSQ · 3.0 marks
Let
. Define
. Which of the
following options is/are true?
Since the
's are i.id, they have the same probability distribution and are
mutually independent.
Var
Standard deviation of
is approximately
.
Published solution
Each Xi is Poisson(4), so its mean and variance are 4. For ten independent observations, E(Xbar)=4 and Var(Xbar)=4/10=0.4; SD(Xbar)=sqrt(0.4)≈0.632. Independence also makes the sum Poisson(40), not Poisson(4). i.i.d. explicitly means identically distributed and mutually independent.
**Answer: A, C, D.**
A: **Correct:** States the meaning of i.i.d.
B: **Incorrect:** The variance of the average is 0.4, not 4.
C: **Correct:** sqrt(0.4) rounds to approximately 0.632.
D: **Correct:** Averaging preserves the common expectation 4.
E: **Incorrect:** The sum's Poisson rate is 10 times 4=40.
Question 8 MSQ · 3.0 marks
Let
be i.i.d Bernoulli
, where
is an unknown parameter.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Which of the following options is/are true?
The parameter
is a fixed unknown quantity.
Every estimator of
is unbiased.
Every estimator of
is a random variable.
The maximum likelihood estimator of
is
Published solution
In the frequentist model used by this question, p is a fixed unknown parameter. An estimator is a statistic of the random sample, so it is itself a random variable (a constant statistic is a degenerate example). Estimators need not be unbiased. For Bernoulli data the likelihood p^S(1-p)^(n-S) is maximised at p-hat=S/n=Xbar, including the natural boundary cases S=0 or n.
**Answer: A, C, D.**
A: **Correct:** Describes the frequentist interpretation of p.
B: **Incorrect:** Biased estimators such as (S+1)/(n+2) are valid counterexamples.
C: **Correct:** A statistic of random observations has a sampling distribution.
D: **Correct:** The Bernoulli maximum-likelihood estimate is the sample proportion.
Question 9 NAT · 2.0 marks
Let
be i.i.d Bernoulli
, where
is an unknown parameter.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
.
Published solution
The first 40 seeds have 0.65×40=26 successes, giving p-hat=0.65. The next batch adds 8 successes out of 10, so the combined estimate is (26+8)/(40+10)=34/50=0.68. Therefore 100(p-hat-new-p-hat)=100(0.68-0.65)=3. Combine the counts rather than giving the two unequal batches equal weight.
**Answer: 3.**
Question 10 NAT · 3.0 marks
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Find the value of
. Enter the answer correct to three decimal places.
Published solution
The observed ordered sequence H,H,T,H,T contains three heads and two tails. Its conditional likelihood is p³(1-p)²; no binomial coefficient is needed because S is this specific sequence, not the event of any three heads. Total probability is \[P(S)=0.3(0.4^3\,0.6^2)+0.7(0.6^3\,0.4^2)=0.006912+0.024192=0.031104.\] Round to three decimals: 0.031.
**Answer: 0.031.**
Question 11 NAT · 2.0 marks
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Using the posterior mode, estimate the value of
. Enter the answer correct to one decimal place.
Published solution
Multiply each candidate p's likelihood by its prior mass. For p=0.4 the unnormalised posterior weight is 0.3×0.4³×0.6²=0.006912. For p=0.6 it is 0.7×0.6³×0.4²=0.024192. The larger weight is at p=0.6, so that is the posterior mode (MAP estimate). A common normalising denominator does not change which candidate is largest.
**Answer: 0.6.**
Question 12 NAT · 3.0 marks
The probability density function of a continuous random variable
is given by:
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Let
denote the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of
. Calculate the value of
.
Enter the answer correct to three decimal places.
Published solution
The density is x on (0,1) and 2-x on [1,2). To obtain F(1.5), integrate both pieces: \[F(1.5)=\int_0^1x\,dx+\int_1^{1.5}(2-x)\,dx=0.5+0.375=0.875.\] Equivalently subtract the right triangular tail of base and height 0.5 from 1, giving 1-0.125.
**Answer: 0.875.**
Question 13 NAT · 2.0 marks
The probability density function of a continuous random variable
is given by:
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Find the value of
. Enter the answer correct to two decimal places.
Published solution
Split the interval at the density's breakpoint 1: \[P(0.5<X<1.5)=\int_{0.5}^1x\,dx+\int_1^{1.5}(2-x)\,dx=0.375+0.375=0.75.\] The distribution is continuous, so endpoints have zero probability. Both tails outside this symmetric interval each have area 0.125.
**Answer: 0.75.**
Question 14 NAT · 2.0 marks
Let the discrete random variables
and
each take values in
. Their joint PMF is given
by:
where
is an unknown constant.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Find the value of
.
Published solution
A joint PMF must sum to 1. Here \(\sum_{i=1}^3\sum_{j=1}^3(i+j)=3(1+2+3)+3(1+2+3)=36\). Consequently 36/c=1 and c=36. The nine cells have numerators 2,3,4,3,4,5,4,5,6, providing the same check.
**Answer: 36.**
Question 15 MCQ · 3.0 marks
Let the discrete random variables
and
each take values in
. Their joint PMF is given
by:
where
is an unknown constant.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Find the value of
.
Published solution
The event 1<X<=3 and 1<Y<=3 includes four cells: (2,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3). Their numerators i+j are 4,5,5,6. With normalising constant 36, probability=(4+5+5+6)/36=20/36=5/9.
**Answer: B.**
A: **Incorrect:** Does not equal the sum of the four required cell probabilities.
B: **Correct:** 5/9 is the summed event probability.
C: **Incorrect:** 7/14 equals 1/2 rather than the required 20/36.
D: **Incorrect:** 2/3 overstates the sum of the four event cells.
Question 16 NAT · 1.0 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. For X, squared deviations sum to 16+4+0+4+16=40. Thus Sx²=40/4=10, option 10. Enter the option label 10; it happens to equal the numerical variance.
**Answer: 10.**
Question 17 NAT · 1.0 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. For Y, squared deviations sum to 1+0+0+0+1=2. Thus Sy²=2/4=0.5, labelled option 4. Enter 4 rather than the variance 0.5.
**Answer: 4.**
Question 18 NAT · 0.5 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. The upper rejection threshold is 1+cR, labelled option 3. Rejecting above this threshold assigns alpha/2 to the upper tail. This is a threshold for the variance ratio, not for either sample variance alone.
**Answer: 3.**
Question 19 NAT · 0.5 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. The lower rejection threshold is 1-cL, labelled option 11. It captures unusually small Sx²/Sy² ratios in the other tail. Enter the label 11.
**Answer: 11.**
Question 20 NAT · 0.5 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. P(T>1+cR)=alpha/2=0.025. Therefore the CDF at that threshold is 1-0.025=0.975, labelled option 6. Enter 6.
**Answer: 6.**
Question 21 NAT · 0.5 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. The supplied F(4,4) 97.5th percentile is 9.605. Thus 1+cR=9.605, labelled option 13. The two-sided test needs the 97.5th percentile, not the 95th percentile.
**Answer: 13.**
Question 22 NAT · 0.5 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. The observed statistic is 10/0.5=20. This is greater than 9.605, so the missing comparison is >, labelled option 12. Enter 12.
**Answer: 12.**
Question 23 NAT · 0.5 marks
Answer the given sub-questions.
**Note:** Enter only the correct option number (e.g. 8) without any brackets or punctuation.
Enter the correct option number for
.
Published solution
The two normal samples are X=(96,98,100,102,104) and Y=(49,50,50,50,51), each of size 5. Their sample means are 100 and 50. Unbiased sample variances divide squared deviations by n-1=4. Under equal population variances, T=Sx²/Sy² follows F(4,4). The two-sided test at alpha=0.05 splits its error probability equally between two tails. The observed ratio 20 exceeds the upper critical threshold 9.605, so reject the equal-variance null hypothesis at 5%. Reject is labelled option 8. The evidence concerns population variance, not equality of sample means.
**Answer: 8.**