Week 4: Practical Questions

1. Identify whether each of the below can possibly be the values of a random
variable. If no, state why. If yes, identify whether the random variable is discrete or
continuous.

(a) English alphabet {A, . . . , Z}

(b) {Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane}
(c) {1, 2, 3}
(d) [1, 2]
(e) [1, ∞]
(f) {1.1, 2.2, [3, 4]}

2. Let X be a continuous random variable whose probability density function is

𝒙𝟑
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒
for 𝟎 < 𝒙 < 𝒄. What is the value of c to make f(x) a valid PDF?

3. The Probability density function for a continuous random variable X is given by

𝒙𝟑
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒
for 0<x<2 and 0 elsewhere. What is the cumulative distribution function of X?

4. (a) An unfairly weighted coin is flipped 12 times. If the probability of obtaining

a tail when the coin is flipped is 0.3, state the probability of obtaining exactly 5 tails.
(b) What's the probability of getting fewer than 4 tails on 8 trials, if the probability of
obtaining a tail when the coin is flipped is 0.1?

5. The Probability density function for a continuous random variable X is given by

𝒙𝟑
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒
for 0<x<2 and 0 elsewhere. What is the cumulative distribution function of X?

6. Let the random variable X denote the time a person waits for an elevator to
arrive. Suppose the longest one would need to wait for the elevator is 2 minutes, so
that the possible values of X (in minutes) are given by the interval [0,2]. A possible pdf
for X is given by
𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑓(𝑥) = 2 − 𝑥, 1 < 𝑥 ≤ 2
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
a. Plot f(x).
b. Is f(x) a valid PDF?
c. What is the probability that a person will wait less than 30 sec?

7. Rita is playing an Easter show game that gives her 3 free-throws. Below is the
probability distribution of X, the number of successful free-throws in the game Rita
plays.

X 0 1 2 3
P(X) 0.125 0.375 0.375 0.125
If the game costs $15, and she wins $10 per shot/throw she makes, what are the mean and
standard deviation of her net gain from playing the game?
8. A certain machines’ lifetime exhibits a normal distribution with mean 3500hrs
and a standard deviation of 500 hrs. What fraction of the machines will survive
beyond 4500 hrs?

9. Which of the following functions are not valid probability density functions?
Select one:
a.

b.
c.
d. a and b

10. Which of the following functions are valid probability density functions? Select
one:
a.
b.
c.
d. a and b
e. None of the above

11. If the probability density function, f(x) of a continuous random variable is

known, one may obtain the cumulative distribution function (CDF) as
. Suppose we only have been given the CDF F(x). How do you find
f(x)?
a.
b.
c.
d.

12. If the probability mass function, f(x) of a discrete random variable is known,
one may obtain the cumulative distribution function (CDF) as 𝑭(𝒙) = ∑𝒏𝒊 𝟏 𝒇(𝒙).
Suppose we only have been given the CDF F(x). How do you find f(x)?
a.
b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐹(𝑥) − 𝐹(𝑥−)
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐹(𝑥) + 𝐹(𝑥−)
d. 𝑁𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒

13. Let X be a random variable that represents the cast of a fair dice. X={1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6}. The cumulative distribution function (CDF), F(6) = ?
a. 1/6
b. 0.5
c. 1
d. None of the above.
 14. If a discrete random variable, X can assume ‘n’ values, x1, x2, x3, ….., xn, and X
has a Uniform distribution, then its probability mass function, f(x) = ?
a. n
b. n(n+1)/2
c. 1/n
d. n(n-1)/2

15. If a discrete random variable, X can assume integer values from a to b, and X
has a Uniform distribution, then its probability mass function, f(x) = ?
a. 𝑏−𝑎
b. 1
c.
d.

16. Select all the invalid pdfs below.

Select one or more:

e.

f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

17. Define a random variable to represent the outcome of ‘rolling a dice’, and
create its probability distribution table. Pictorially represent the probability
distribution function and the cumulative distribution function.

18. Create a random variable, its probability distribution table to represent number
of tails when 3 coins are tossed together. Pictorially represent the probability
distribution and the cumulative distribution for the random variable.
19. Two dice are tossed. The Random Variable is X = "The sum of the scores on the
two dice".
a. Determine X and its probability distribution and cumulative distribution function.
b. What is the probability that the sum of the scores is 5, 6, 7 or 8?
c. If P(X=x) = 1/12, what is the value of x?

20. The ATM closest to me is in a mall that opens at 9.00 am on a Saturday. I have been
observing the length of the queue at the ATM on a Saturday morning at 9.05 am for
the past 100 Saturdays. Some days, there was no queue at all. There were never more
than 3 people waiting at the ATM. I noticed no queue 27 times, a 1 person queue 41
times, 2 person queue 21 times and 3 person queue 11 times.
Create a random variable to represent the length of the queue, and its probability
distribution.
I need to draw some cash for my shopping for the next 10 Saturdays. How many times will I
see a queue of 2 persons when I arrive at the ATM at 9.05 am for the next 10 Saturdays?
How many times will I encounter a queue of more than 1 person?
How many times will I encounter a queue of less than 3 people?

21. Hugo plans to buy packs of basketball cards until he finds a card of his favorite
player, but he only has enough money to buy at most 4 packs. Suppose that each
pack has probability 0.2 of containing the card Hugo is hoping for.
Let the random variable X be the number of packs of cards Hugo buys. Here is the
probability distribution for X:
X=x 1 2 3 4
P(X=x) 0.2 0.16 0.128 ?

What is P(X>2)?

22. Given f(x)=0.048*x*(5-x), for 0≤x≤5 and 0 elsewhere. (a) Verify that f is a
probability density function. (b) What is the probability that x is greater than 4? (c)
What is the probability that x is between 1 and 3 inclusive?

23. Let x be a continuous random variable whose probability density function is

𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒𝒙𝟑 , 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏.
a. Verify f(x) is a valid probability density function.
b. What is the probability that x falls between 0.5 and 1?
c. What is P(x=0.5)?
d. What is the CDF, F(x)?

24. Let X be a continuous random variable whose probability density function is

𝒙𝟑
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒
for 𝟎 < 𝒙 < 𝒄. What is the value of c to make f(x) a valid PDF?

25. The Probability density function for a continuous random variable X is given by
𝒙𝟑
𝒇(𝒙) = for 0<x<2 and 0 elsewhere. What is the cumulative distribution function of X?
𝟒

26. Suppose the PDF of a continuous random variable X is defined as:

𝑥 + 1, −1 < 𝑥 < 0
𝑓(𝑥) = and 0 elsewhere.
1 − 𝑥, 0≤𝑥<1
Find and graph the cumulative distribution function F(x).

27. For a continuous random variable, x, the probability density function is defined
𝜼 𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 , −𝟐 < 𝒙 < 𝟏
as 𝒇(𝒙) =
𝟎 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒆
Calculate and plot the cumulative distribution function.
28. Let the random variable X denote the time a person waits for an elevator to
arrive. Suppose the longest one would need to wait for the elevator is 2 minutes, so
that the possible values of X (in minutes) are given by the interval [0,2]. A possible pdf
for X is given by
𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑓(𝑥) = 2 − 𝑥, 1 < 𝑥 ≤ 2
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
a. Plot f(x).
d. Is f(x) a valid PDF?
e. What is the probability that a person will wait less than 30 sec?