INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS OF NIGERIA

PE I: DATA MANAGEMENT & QUALITY ASSURANCE

Instructions: Section A: Answer ALL questions in this section. Short answers are expected to the
questions in this section. Total marks allotted to the section are 40.

Section B: Answer any three questions. Total marks allotted to the section are 60.

Submit the question paper with your answer booklet.

Section A (40 marks)

ANSWER AL QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION. EACH QUESTION CARRIES 2 MARKS

1. 1. Carry out the following arithmetic operations (a.) 12, 342.2 + 0.1893(b.) 55.6- 2.386

2. 2. State two absolute facts about the mean of a set of data

3. 3. Distinguish between sample mean and population mean. What are the symbols used for the
two means

4. 4. Define the term variation as is used in data management. What are the means of measuring
variation in analytical studies?

5. 5. Distinguish by using examples, the difference between accuracy and precision

6. 6. True or False ‘’the mean can be any positive or negative number, but the standard deviation
must be a positive value”

7. 7. Explain the difference between normal distribution curve and the t-distribution curve using
the central limit theorem as your basis of the explanation

8. 8. State the three situations where student t test is used for statistical inference

9. 9. Explain the meaning of the term Confidence Interval as used in statistics. Illustrate your
answer your answer with the equation for estimating symmetric and asymmetric confidence
intervals; explain every term in the equation.

10. 10. In Control charts, explain the concept of action, warning limits as well as out of specification
limits.

11. Describe the two main classes of errors that can affect accuracy or precision of a measured
quantity explaining two differences.
12. Methane is the principal component of natural gas. How many moles of methane are
present in 4.83g of methane?
 a. 0.3 moles
b. 0.30moles
c. 0.301 moles
d. 0.3010 moles
13. One of the reactions that occurs in a blast furnace, where iron ore is converted to cast iron is
Fe2O3 + 3CO 2Fe + 3CO2
Suppose that 1.64 X103 kg of iron was obtained from 2.62 X 103 kg sample of Fe2O3. What is
the percentage purity of the original sample?
a. 60%
b. 80%
c. 62.6%
d. 100%
14. In acceptance sampling, Type 1 error refers to:
a. The risk of rejecting a good lot of material
b. The risk of accepting a bad lot of material
c. The risk of accepting a good material
d. The risk of bias in sampling procedure

15. In acceptance sampling, Type 2 error refers to:

a. The risk of accepting a bad lot of material
b. The risk of rejecting a good material
c. The risk of introducing bias into sampling procedure
d. The risk of cross contamination of products
16. What is the main objective of acceptance sampling in analytical sciences
a. To keep the risks of Type 1 and typ2 errors to the minimum
b. To maximize the risk of both type 1 and type 2 errors
c. To completely eliminate both types of error
d. To eliminate bias in the measurement.

17. Control charts are used to measure and monitor the following types of error

a. Determinate errors
b. Indeterminate errors
c. Analyst error
d. equipment background error.
18. The area under the curve of a normal distribution given by the following formula X ± 1ϭ is
a. 95%
b.99.7%
c. 68%
d. 63.5%
19. The quality assurance system of the analytical laboratory can be defined as:
a. All the measures and procedures used in the chemical and microbiological laboratory.

b. The totality of all the systems and processes designed to produce correct and consistent
laboratory results.
 c. All measures put in place to ensure that analysts are able to discharge their responsibilities
to the best of their ability

d. The complexity and sophistication of analytical equipment available for use in the
laboratory.

20. The t- distribution is useful only for drawing statistical inference based on the following:

a. Data containing 1 and 25 data points of attributes

b. Data with not more than 30 data points of variables

c. Data with more than 50 data points

d. Replicate analysis.

SECTION B

ANSWER 3 QUESTIONS FROM THIS SECTION. EACH QUESTION IS 20MARKS

1. What is Quality Assurance System? Describe the minimum systems that must be in place in the
laboratory to ensure high quality and reliable results are generated in the laboratory

2. Clinical analysis of blood sample of an athlete for the quantification of a particular performance
enhancing drug gave the following results: 98.3%, 99.5%, 99.1%, 101.2%, 101.7%, 98.2%, 99.4%, 100.5%
and 102.0% (specification is 95%-105%). Explain step by step the actions you will take in ascertaining
whether the athlete is guilty or not guilty of doping.

3. What is Statistical Quality Control? Describe a step by step process for the construction of control
chart for historical analysis of trend data for the purpose of recommending a tighter or looser
specification.

4. Explain he principle of Acceptance sampling as used in statistical quality control.

5. What is experimental error? Describe the various ways of expressing the magnitude. How can the
analyst minimize the error?