STA2EA1/University of Johannesburg Distribution Theory Part 2 2026

Tutorial 1
Exercise 1

A contractor is required by a county planning department to submit one, two, three, four, or five forms
(depending on the nature of the project) in applying for a building permit. Let Y = the number of forms
required of the next applicant. The probability that 𝑦 forms are required is known to be
proportional to 𝑦, that is, 𝑝(𝑦) = 𝑘𝑦 for 𝑦 = 1, … , 5.
a) Determine the value of the constant k. [Hint: use Condition 2 of a Legitimate Probability Distribution]
b) Compute the probability that at most three forms are required.
c) Compute the probability that between two and four forms (inclusive) are required.
𝑦2
d) Could 𝑝(𝑦) = 50 for 𝑦 = 1, … ,5 be the pmf of Y? Justify your answer.

Exercise 2

A piece of electronic equipment contains six computer chips, two of which are defective. Three chips are selected at
random, removed from the equipment, and inspected. Let X denote the number of defectives observed.

a) State the support set of X.

b) Provide a reason why X qualifies as a discrete random variable.
c) Find the probability distribution for X.
d) Express the probability distribution of X graphically as a probability histogram and tabularly.
e) Determine the least probable value of X, and provide a reason for your answer.

Exercise 3

Many manufacturers have quality control programs that include inspection of incoming materials for defects. Suppose a
computer manufacturer receives circuit boards in batches of five. Two boards are selected from each batch for inspection.
We can represent the possible outcomes of the selection process as pairs. For example, the pair (1, 2) represents selecting
boards 1 and 2 for inspection.

a) List the ten different possible outcomes.

b) Suppose that boards 1 and 2 are the only defective boards in a batch. Two boards are to be chosen at random. Define X
to be the number of defective boards observed among those inspected. Find the probability distribution of X.
c) Let 𝐹(𝑥) denote the cumulative distribution function (cdf) of X. For what values of X is 𝐹(𝑥) defined?
d) Calculcualte and interpret 𝐹(0), 𝐹(1), and 𝐹(2) within this context.
e) Obtain and express 𝐹(𝑥) in a graphical and functional form.

Exercise 4

The following presents the results of a survey conducted on the types of exercise undertaken by a group of 100
individuals. The survey reveals that 65 engage in running, 48 swim, 60 cycle, 40 participate in both running and
swimming, 30 swim and cycle, 35 engage in both running and cycling, and 25 participate in all three activities.

Let N denote the number of different types of exercise (run, swim, cycle) performed by the selected person.

a) List all the possible values that N may assume.

b) Illustrate this information using a fully labeled Venn diagram.
c) Find the probability mass function (pmf) of N.
d) For what values of 𝑛 is the probability mass function of N valid?
e) Determine the mode of N.

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STA2EA1/University of Johannesburg Distribution Theory Part 2 2026

Exercise 5

A random variable X has the following probability mass function (pmf):

𝑝(−2) = 0.1, 𝑝(−1) = 0.4, 𝑝(0) = 0.25, 𝑝(1) = 0.2, 𝑝(2) = 0.05.

Let Y denote a new random variable defined by Y = X 2 + 4.

a) Demonstrate that X satisfies the two conditions of a legitimate probability mass function (pmf).
b) Using proper notation, state the support set of Y.
c) Determine the probability distribution of Y.
d) Calculate ℙ(Y ≠ 0).
e) Suppose Y is prevented from taking on a zero, determine the probability that Y now takes on the value 2?

Exercise 6

Suppose that a probability distribution for a discrete random variable X is given by:

𝑟|𝑥| for 𝑥 = −3, −1, 1, 3

ℙ(X = 𝑥) = {
0 Otherwise

Furthermore, let Y = 2X 2 − 3X − 7 be a function of a random variable X.

a) Find the value(s) of the constant 𝑟.

b) Calculate P(X 2 ≥ 0.44).
c) Derive the probability distribution of Y.

Exercise 7

The discrete random variable X has an associated probability function 𝑝(𝑥) and a cumulative distribution function 𝐹(𝑥),
as detailed in the table below. Furthermore, suppose that two independent observations, X1 and X 2, are taken from the
distribution of X.

𝑥 1 2 3 4 5
𝑝(𝑥) 0.10 𝑎 0.28 𝑐 0.24
𝐹(𝑥) 0.10 0.26 𝑏 0.76 𝑑

a) By inspection (without performing any calculations), record the value of 𝑑.

b) State one reason why X qualifies as a "non-negative" random variable.
c) Find the values of 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐.
d) Calculate the probability that X1 and X 2 are both odd.
e) Given that X1 and X 2 are both odd. Find the probability that the sum of X1 and X 2 is 6.

Exercise 8

Consider a nonnegative discrete random variable X such that ℙ(X > 𝑛) = 𝑎𝑛 for all 𝑛 ∈ ℕ ∪ {0}, for some 𝑎 ∈ (0, 1).
Furthermore, suppose that 𝐹(𝑥) denotes the cumulative distribution function (cdf) of X.

a) Express 𝐹(𝑥) in terms of the unknown constant 𝑎.

b) Hence or otherwise calculate 𝐹(0).
c) Find ℙ({X > 𝑛 + 𝑚}|{X > 𝑛}) for some 𝑛, 𝑚 ∈ ℕ.
d) Derive the probability distribution of X.
e) Suppose 𝑎 = 1/3 . Find the values of the cdf and pmf at 4/5 and 3/2 respectively.

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STA2EA1/University of Johannesburg Distribution Theory Part 2 2026

Exercise 9

Consider a discrete nonnegative random variable N that takes only the values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, with its probability mass
function (pmf) defined by the following relation.

𝑝(0) = 𝑝(1) = 𝑝(2) = 𝑟 and 𝑝(3) = 𝑝(4) = 𝑝(5) = 𝑠

𝐹(2)
Moreover, suppose that 𝐹(𝑛) denotes the cumulative distribution function (cdf) of N, that and = 3.
𝐹(1)

a) By inspection (without performing any calculations), record the value of 𝑝(0.5).

b) Determine the value(s) of 𝑟 and 𝑠.
c) Determine the probability that the sum of two independent observations from this distribution is at most 7.
d) Illustrate the cumulative distribution function of N graphically as a step function.
e) Express the probability distribution of N in a tabular format.

Exercise 10

A mail-order computer enterprise operates six telephone lines. Let X represent the number of lines in use at a specified
time. Suppose the probability mass function (pmf) of X is as provided in the accompanying table.

𝑥 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
𝑝(𝑥) 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.20 0.06 0.04

Calculate the probability of each of the following events (Showing all intermediate steps and reasons):

a) {at most three lines are in use}

b) {fewer than three lines are in use}
c) {at least three lines are in use}
d) {between two and five lines, strictly, are in use}
e) {between two and five lines, inclusive, are in use}
f) {between two and four lines, inclusive, are not in use}
g) {at least four lines are not in use}
h) In the exercises above, were the curly braces necessary? What do they symbolize?

Exercise 11

Let X be a discrete real-valued random variable that denotes the outcome of a fair die roll with probability mass function
(pmf) given by

1
ℙ(X = 𝑥) = {6 for 𝑥 = 1, 2,3, 4,5, 6
0 Otherwise

a) Identify the special discrete distribution that X follows.

b) Verify that ℙ(X = 𝑥) gives a legitimate probability mass function.
c) Let Y = (X − 3)2 . Find the probability mass function of Y.
d) Obtain the cumulative distribution function of X.

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STA2EA1/University of Johannesburg Distribution Theory Part 2 2026

Exercise 12
Suppose that X denotes a discrete random variable with possible values {0, 1, 2, . . . }, where the probability mass function is defined by:

𝑚
ℙ(X = 𝑥) =
𝑟!

where 𝑚 denotes a non-negative constant.

a) Show that 𝑚 = 𝑒 −1 .
b) Calculate ℙ(X > 1).
b) Find ℙ({X = c}|{X > 0}).

You may attempt the following exercises in your prescribed textbook (ignore all others):

Chapter 3.1: 2, 4, 6 & Chapter 3.2: 11, 12 (interesting!), 19, 27.

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