Statistics 2025 Paper II 50 marks Solve

Paper II — Q4

(a) Solve the game whose payoff matrix is -1 & -2 & 8 7 & 5 & -1 6 & 0 & 12 (15 marks) (b) Use the penalty (Big M) method…

(a)

Solve the game whose payoff matrix is

-1 & -2 & 8 7 & 5 & -1 6 & 0 & 12

15 marks

(b)

Use the penalty (Big M) method to solve the following linear programming problem :

Minimize Z = 5x₁ + 3x₂

subject to the constraints

2x₁ + 4x₂ ≤ 12 2x₁ + 2x₂ = 10 5x₁ + 2x₂ ≥ 10 x₁, x₂ ≥ 0

15 marks

(c)
(i)

Distinguish between a nonconforming unit and a nonconformity. State the appropriate conditions for constructing a control chart for nonconformities and derive the control limits for a control chart based on the average number of nonconformities per inspection unit. (2+8=10 marks)

(ii)

Describe the operating procedure of unit-by-unit sequential sampling plan by attributes. What is the unique feature of a sequential sampling plan? 5 marks

(iii)

The time to failure for an electronic component used in a flat panel display unit is satisfactorily modelled by a Weibull distribution with the shape parameter β = ½ and the scale parameter θ = 5000 hours. Find the mean time to failure and the fraction of component that is expected to survive beyond 20000 hours. (2+3=5 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)

उस खेल को हल कीजिए, जिसका भुगतान आव्यूह है

-1 & -2 & 8 7 & 5 & -1 6 & 0 & 12

(15 अंक)

(b)

पेनाल्टी (बिग M) विधि का उपयोग करके निम्नलिखित रैखिक प्रोग्रामन समस्या को हल कीजिए :

न्यूनतमीकरण कीजिए, Z = 5x₁ + 3x₂

निम्न प्रतिबंधों के अंतर्गत

2x₁ + 4x₂ ≤ 12 2x₁ + 2x₂ = 10 5x₁ + 2x₂ ≥ 10 x₁, x₂ ≥ 0

(15 अंक)

(c)
(i)

गैर-अनुकूल इकाई तथा गैर-अनुकूलता के बीच अंतर बताइए। गैर-अनुकूलताओं के लिए एक नियंत्रण संचित्र (चार्ट) के निर्माण हेतु उपयुक्त शर्तों को बताइए तथा प्रति निरीक्षण इकाई में गैर-अनुकूलताओं की औसत संख्या पर आधारित नियंत्रण संचित्र के लिए नियंत्रण सीमाओं को न्यूनतम कीजिए। (2+8=10 अंक)

(ii)

गुणों के आधार पर इकाई-दर-इकाई अनुक्रमिक प्रतिचयन आयोजना की संचालन प्रक्रिया का वर्णन कीजिए। एक अनुक्रमिक प्रतिचयन आयोजना की अद्वितीय विशेषता क्या है? (5 अंक)

(iii)

एक फ्लैट पैनल डिस्प्ले यूनिट में उपयोग किए गए एक इलेक्ट्रॉनिक घटक की विफलता का समय संतोषजनक तरीके से एक वेबुल बंटन द्वारा मॉडल किया गया, जिसका आकृति प्राचल β = ½ और मापक्रम प्राचल θ = 5000 घंटे हैं। विफलता का माध्य समय तथा घटक का अंश, जो 20000 घंटों से अधिक जीवित रहने की आशा रखता है, प्राप्त कीजिए। (2+3=5 अंक)

Q4 of the 2025 UPSC Mains Statistics Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2025 Statistics paper

Model answer

Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the expected length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.

(a)

Let the row player be the maximizer. Row minima are −2, −1, 0, so maximin = 0. Column maxima are 7, 5, 12, so minimax = 5. No saddle point.

Column 2 dominates column 1 because −2 < −1, 5 < 7, 0 < 6. Row 3 dominates row 1 because 6 > −1, 0 > −2, 12 > 8. The reduced game is

R2: 5, −1 R3: 0, 12

Let row player use R2 with probability p and R3 with probability 1−p. Equating payoffs against column 2 and column 3:

5p = −p + 12(1−p) 5p = 12 − 13p 18p = 12 p = 2/3.

Thus row strategy = (0, 2/3, 1/3), and value v = 5(2/3) = 10/3.

Let column player use column 2 with probability q and column 3 with probability 1−q. Equating payoffs against rows 2 and 3:

5q − 1(1−q) = 0q + 12(1−q) 6q − 1 = 12 − 12q 18q = 13 q = 13/18.

Thus column strategy = (0, 13/18, 5/18). Value v = 10/3.

Final: optimal strategies (0, 2/3, 1/3) and (0, 13/18, 5/18); value = 10/3.

(b)

Use Big M method. For minimization, penalise artificial variables by +M. Add slack s₁, surplus s₂ and artificials a₁, a₂:

2x₁ + 4x₂ + s₁ = 12 2x₁ + 2x₂ + a₁ = 10 5x₁ + 2x₂ − s₂ + a₂ = 10

Minimize Z = 5x₁ + 3x₂ + M a₁ + M a₂, M very large.

Initial basis: s₁ = 12, a₁ = 10, a₂ = 10. With M large, x₁ enters; minimum ratio min(12/2, 10/2, 10/5) = 2, so a₂ leaves. After pivot:

(16/5)x₂ + s₁ + (2/5)s₂ − (2/5)a₂ = 8 (6/5)x₂ + (2/5)s₂ + a₁ − (2/5)a₂ = 6 x₁ + (2/5)x₂ − (1/5)s₂ + (1/5)a₂ = 2

Next x₂ enters; minimum ratio is 8/(16/5) = 5/2, so s₁ leaves. After pivot:

x₂ + (5/16)s₁ + (1/8)s₂ − (1/8)a₂ = 5/2 −(3/8)s₁ + (1/4)s₂ + a₁ − (1/4)a₂ = 3 x₁ − (1/8)s₁ − (1/4)s₂ + (1/4)a₂ = 1

Next s₂ enters; minimum ratio is 3/(1/4) = 12, so a₁ leaves. Final tableau:

x₂ + (1/2)s₁ − (1/2)a₁ = 1 s₂ − (3/2)s₁ + 4a₁ − a₂ = 12 x₁ − (1/2)s₁ + a₁ = 4

Optimality check: expressing Z in the non-basic variables gives Z = 23 + s₁ + (M − 7/2)a₁ + M a₂, so no non-basic variable can lower Z. At optimum, artificials and non-basic variables are zero: x₁ = 4, x₂ = 1, s₂ = 12. Check constraints:

2(4) + 4(1) = 12, 2(4) + 2(1) = 10, 5(4) + 2(1) = 22 ≥ 10.

Objective: Z = 5(4) + 3(1) = 23.

Final: x₁ = 4, x₂ = 1, minimum Z = 23.

(c)

(i) A nonconforming unit is an entire unit that fails to satisfy one or more specified requirements. A nonconformity is a single departure from a specified requirement; one nonconforming unit may contain several nonconformities.

For a control chart for nonconformities, assume the number of nonconformities in an inspection unit follows a Poisson distribution, nonconformities occur independently, the opportunity for nonconformities is constant, and the inspection unit is fixed or its sample size is known. If c is the number of nonconformities in a sample of n inspection units, then c ~ Poisson(nλ). The average number per unit is u = c/n, with E(u) = λ and Var(u) = λ/n. Estimating λ by ū, the three-sigma limits are:

UCL = ū + 3√(ū/n), CL = ū, LCL = ū − 3√(ū/n), taking LCL = 0 if negative.

If n = 1, this reduces to the c-chart: UCL = c̄ + 3√c̄, CL = c̄, LCL = c̄ − 3√c̄, with LCL = 0 if negative.

(ii) In a unit-by-unit sequential sampling plan by attributes, inspect units one by one and classify each as conforming or nonconforming. Let p₁ be AQL, p₂ be LTPD, with p₂ > p₁; let α and β be producer’s and consumer’s risks. After m units, let D_m be the cumulative number of nonconforming units. Define

den = ln[p₂(1−p₁)/(p₁(1−p₂))], s = ln[(1−p₁)/(1−p₂)] / den, h₁ = ln[(1−α)/β] / den, h₂ = ln[(1−β)/α] / den.

Accept if D_m ≤ s m − h₁. Reject if D_m ≥ s m + h₂. Continue sampling if s m − h₁ < D_m < s m + h₂.

Its unique feature is that the sample size is not fixed in advance; it is a random variable determined by the observations. It often requires fewer units on average than a comparable fixed-sample plan for the same α and β.

(iii) For a Weibull distribution with shape β and scale θ,

Mean = θ Γ(1 + 1/β).

Given β = 1/2, θ = 5000 hours:

Mean = 5000 Γ(1 + 2) = 5000 Γ(3) = 5000 × 2 = 10000 hours.

Survival function:

S(t) = exp[−(t/θ)^β].

For t = 20000 hours:

S(20000) = exp[−(20000/5000)^(1/2)] = exp[−4^(1/2)] = exp(−2) = e⁻² ≈ 0.1353.

Final: mean time to failure = 10000 hours; fraction surviving beyond 20000 hours = e⁻² ≈ 0.1353, i.e. 13.53%.

How this answer will be evaluated

What earns full marks: Complete method with correct formulas, clear steps, and proper interpretation.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. (a) Solve the 3x3 game to find optimal strategies and value. 15 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Check for saddle point in payoff matrix
    • Apply dominance principle to reduce matrix size
    • Solve reduced game for mixed strategy probabilities
    • Calculate final value of the game

    Loses marks

    • Skipping dominance check before solving
    • Arithmetic errors in probability calculation

    Earns more

    • Correct identification of dominated rows/columns
    • Clear algebraic steps for probability calculation

    Extra mark

    • Verification of solution using expected payoff
  2. (b) Solve the LPP using the Big M penalty method. 15 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Convert constraints to standard form with slack/surplus/artificial variables
    • Formulate objective function with Big M penalty terms
    • Construct initial simplex tableau correctly
    • Perform iterations to reach optimal solution

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect sign for M in minimization objective
    • Failure to remove artificial variables from basis

    Earns more

    • Correct handling of equality constraint (artificial variable)
    • Clear presentation of simplex tableaus

    Extra mark

    • Verification of optimality (no non-basic variable can reduce Z; all reduced costs non-negative for minimisation)
  3. (c)(i) Distinguish nonconforming unit vs nonconformity and derive c-chart limits. 10 marks

    derive— given → assumptions → stepwise derivation → result → check

    Must cover

    • Define nonconforming unit (pass/fail) vs nonconformity (count)
    • State conditions for c-chart (constant area, independent events)
    • Derive control limits using Poisson distribution
    • Show formula for UCL and LCL based on average c-bar

    Loses marks

    • Confusing p-chart (proportion) with c-chart (count)
    • Missing derivation steps for control limits

    Earns more

    • Mention of 3-sigma limits
    • Explanation of why Poisson is appropriate

    Extra mark

    • Example of inspection unit definition
  4. (c)(ii) Explain unit-by-unit sequential sampling plan and its unique feature. 5 marks

    describe— define → structure or process in order → labelled diagram → significance

    Must cover

    • Describe step-by-step sampling procedure (accept/reject/continue)
    • Define decision boundaries (acceptance/rejection lines)
    • Identify unique feature (variable sample size)
    • Mention operating characteristic (OC) curve context

    Loses marks

    • Describing fixed sample size plan instead
    • Failing to mention variable sample size feature

    Earns more

    • Reference to Wald's SPRT theory
    • Clear distinction from fixed sample size plans

    Extra mark

    • Diagram of sequential sampling boundaries
  5. (c)(iii) Calculate MTTF and survival fraction for Weibull distribution. 5 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • State Weibull PDF/CDF with given parameters (beta=0.5, theta=5000)
    • Calculate Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) using Gamma function
    • Calculate survival probability S(t) at t=20000 hours
    • Substitute values correctly into formulas

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect formula for Weibull mean
    • Calculation error in exponential term

    Earns more

    • Correct use of Gamma(1+1/beta) for mean
    • Clear substitution steps for survival calculation

    Extra mark

    • Interpretation of survival fraction in context
What "Solve" is asking you to do

Choose the method, then carry it through to a final answer. Identifying what kind of problem this is and why that method applies is the first thing marked; a correct figure arrived at invisibly earns almost nothing.

Structure that answers it

Given data and what is required → method chosen, with the reason it applies → set-up (equation, circuit, free body, trial balance) → working, step by step → answer with units and any condition of validity

Where marks are lost

Doing the middle steps mentally and writing only the result. In mathematics papers, a further loss comes from giving a decimal where the exact value in surds or fractions was wanted, or from skipping the justification a part explicitly asks for.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

Evaluate my answer →

More from Statistics 2025 Paper II

Write this answer and get it marked in about 20 seconds

Free account: 5 AI evaluations a month, marked against the rubric above.

Start free

Already have an account? Log in