Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-probability-statistics-and-options-i-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2010/o/1/a/solution

Each before-and-after observation belongs to the same individual, so pairing removes individual baseline variation and allows dependence within a person's two readings. Under the stated independent normal model for the differences,
The independence of the normal sample mean and sample variance theorem gives independence of and , and
Also is standard normal. Dividing it by the square root of the independent variable gives
Its law contains neither unknown parameter, providing the pivotal quantity for a paired t-test.

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