SCHOOL OF ADVANCED SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

BMAT202L- Probability and Statistics

Practice Problem Set – V

Faculty: Dr. [Link], School of Advanced Sciences

Binomial Distribution:

1. The mean and variance of a binomial distribution are 4 and 3 respectively.

Find (i) 𝑃(𝑋 = 0) , (ii) (𝑋 = 1) , and (iii) 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2).
3 1
[Hint: 𝑞 = , 𝑝 = , 𝑛 = 16]
4 4
[Answer: (i) 0.01, (ii) 0.053, (iii) 0.93]
2. Four coins were tossed simultaneously. What is the probability of getting (i)
3 heads, (ii) at least 3 heads, and (iii) at most 3 heads?
1 1
[Hint: 𝑃(ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑) = , 𝑃(𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙) = , 𝑛 = 4]
2 2
[Answer: (i) 1/4, (ii) 5/16, (iii) 15/16]
3. Sixteen coins are thrown simultaneously. Find the probability of getting at
least 7 heads.
1 1
[Hint: 𝑛 = 16, 𝑝 = , 𝑞 = , 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 7)]
2 2
[Answer: 0.773]
4. A die is thrown 8 times. What is the probability that 3 will show (i) Exactly
2 times, (ii) at least 2 times, and (iii) at most once.
1 5
[Hint: 𝑛 = 8, 𝑝 = , 𝑞 = , 𝑃(𝑋 = 2), 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2), 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 1)]
6 6
[Answer: (i) 0.26, (ii) 0.396, (iii) 0.604]
5. If 6 dice are thrown simultaneously 720 times, getting 3 or 5 is considered
as a success. Find the number of times at least 3 dice to show 3 or 5.
1 2
[Hint: 𝑝 = , 𝑞 = , 𝑛 = 6, 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 3)]
3 3
[Answer: (i) 0.323, 720 throws the number of times to get 3 or 5 at least in 3
dice=233(approx.)]
6. Out of 800 families with 4 children each, how many families would be
expected to have
 (i) 2 boys and 2 girls, (ii) at least one boy, (iii) no girl, (iv) at most two girls?
Assume equal probability for boys and girls?
1 1
[Hint: 𝑛 = 4, 𝑝 = , 𝑞 = , 𝑃 = (𝑋 = 2), 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 1), 𝑃(𝑋 = 4), 𝑃(𝑋 = 4) +
2 2
𝑃(𝑋 = 3) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 2).]
[Answer: (i) 300, (ii) 750, (iii) 50, (iv) 550]
7. A and B play a game in which their chance of winning is in the ratio 3: 2.
Find A’s chances of winning at least 3 games out of 5 games played?
3 2
[Hint: 𝑝 = , 𝑞 = , 𝑛 = 5]
5 5
[Answer: 0.6823]
8. 10 coins are tossed 1024 times and the following frequencies are observed.
Compare these frequencies with expected frequencies.
[Link] heads 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Frequencies 2 10 38 106 188 257 226 128 59 7 3
1 1
[Hint: 𝑛 = 10, 𝑝 = , 𝑞 = ]
2 2
Answer:
[Link] heads 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Frequencies 2 10 38 106 188 257 226 128 59 7 3
Expected 1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1
Frequencies

Poisson distribution:

1. The atoms of a radioactive element are randomly disintegrating. If every

gram of this element, on average, emits 3.9 alpha particles per second, what
is the probability that during the next second the number of alpha particles
emitted from 1g is (i) at most 6, (ii) at least 2, and (iii) at least 3 and at most
6?
[Hint: 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 = 𝜆 = 3.9]
[Answer: (i) 0.899, (ii) 0.901, (iii) 0.646]
2. If it is known from past experience that in a certain plant, there are on
average 4 industrial accidents, find the probability that in a given year there
will be less than 4 accidents.
[Hint: 𝜆 = 4, 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 3)]
[Answer: 0.4335]
3. If 𝑋 and 𝑌 are independent Poisson Variables such that 𝑃(𝑋 = 1), 𝑃(𝑋 =
2), and (𝑃(𝑌 = 2) = 𝑃(𝑌 = 3)) , find the Variance of (𝑋 − 2𝑌).
[Hint: 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋) = 2, 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑌) = 3]
[Answer: Random variable 𝑋 𝑖𝑠 𝜆 = 2, Random variable 𝑌 𝑖𝑠 𝜆 = 3]
 4. If 𝑋 is a Poisson variate such that 𝑃(𝑋 = 1) = 3/16 and 𝑃(𝑋 = 2) = 1/5,
find 𝑃(𝑋 = 0) and 𝑃(𝑋 = 3).
[Hint: 𝜆 = 4/3]
[Answer: (i) 0.2637, (ii) 0.1047]
5. It is known that the prob., of an item produced by a certain machine will be
defective is 0.05. if the produced items are sent to the market in packets of
20, find the number of packets containing at least, exactly, and at most 2
defective items in a consignment of 1000 packets using Poisson distribution.
[Hint: 𝜆 = 1, 𝑝 = 0.05, 𝑛 = 20]
[Answer: (i) 264 nearly, (ii) 184 nearly, (iii) 920 nearly]
6. The number of monthly breakdowns of a computer is a r.v having a Poisson
distribution with mean equal to 1.8. Find the prob., that this computer will
function for a month.
a) without breakdown
b) with atleast one breakdown.
[Hint: 𝜆 = 1.8, 𝑃(𝑋 = 0), 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 1)]
[Answer: (i) 0.2975, (ii) 0.8347]
7. Fit a Poisson distribution for the following distribution:
𝑥 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
𝑓 142 156 69 27 5 1 400

∑ 𝑓𝑥
[Hint: 𝜆 = ∑𝑓
]
Answer:
𝑥 0 1 2 3 4 5
𝑓 147 147 74 25 6 1

Exponential Distribution:
1. The time (in hours) required to repair a machine is exponentially distributed
1
with parameter 𝜆 = .
2
a) What is the probability that the repair time exceeds 2ℎ?
b) What is the conditional probability that a repair takes at 11ℎ given
that its duration exceeds 8ℎ?
[Hint: (a) P(X > k) = 𝑒 −𝜆𝑘 (b) 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 11/ 𝑋 > 8) = 𝑃(𝑋 > 3)]
[Answer: (a) 𝑒 −1 (b) 𝑒 −1.5 ]
 2. Suppose the duration 𝑋 minutes of long distance calls from your home,
−𝑥
1
𝑒 5
follows exponential law with p.d.f 𝑓(𝑥) = { 5 , 𝑥>0
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Find (𝑖) 𝑃(𝑋 > 5), (𝑖𝑖) 𝑃(3 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 6), (iii) mean of 𝑋 and variance of 𝑋.
1 1
[Hint : Mean = , Variance = ]
𝜆 𝜆2
3 6
[Answer: (i) 𝑒 −1 (ii) 𝑒 −5 − 𝑒 −5 (iii) Mean =5 & Variance=25.]
3. The daily consumption of milk in excess of 20,000 gallons is approximately
exponentially distributed with mean = 3000. The city has a daily stock of
35,000 gallons. What is the probability that of 2 days selected at random,
the stock is insufficient for both days.
1
[Hint: Mean = = 3000, 𝑃(𝑌 > 35000) = 𝑃(𝑋 + 20000 > 35000)]
𝜆
−5
[Answer: 𝑒
Therefore, the probability that of 2 days selected at random, the stock is
insufficient for both days = 𝑒 −5 . 𝑒 −5 = 𝑒 −10 .]
4. The mileage which cars owners get with certain kind of radial tyre is a RV
having an exponential distribution with mean 4,000𝑘𝑚. Find the
probabilities that one of these tyros will last
(a) atleast 2,000𝑘𝑚 (b) atmost 3,000𝑘𝑚.
1
[Hint: 𝜆 = ]
4000

[Answer: (a) 𝑒 −0.5 (b) 0.5276]

5. If 𝑋 is a R.V. which follows an exponential distribution with parameter 𝜆

with
𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 1) = 𝑃(𝑋 > 1), find Var(X)
1
[Hint: 𝑃(𝑋 > 1) = , P(X > k) = 𝑒 −𝜆𝑘 , 𝜆 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 2]
2
1
[Answer: 𝑟(𝑥) = ]
(𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 2)2

Normal distribution:
1. The savings bank account of a customer showed an average balance of
𝑅𝑠. 150 and a S. D of 𝑅𝑠. 50. Assuming that the account balances are
normally distributed.
 i. What percentage of account is over 𝑅𝑠. 200?
ii. What percentage of account is between 𝑅𝑠. 120 and 𝑅𝑠. 170?
iii. What Percentage of account is less than 𝑅𝑠. 75

[Hint: (𝑖) 𝑧 = 1 (𝑖𝑖) 𝑧 = − 0.5 & 𝑧 = 0.4 (𝑖𝑖𝑖) 𝑧 = −1.5]

[Answer: (𝑖)15.87 (𝑖𝑖)38.11 (𝑖𝑖𝑖)6.68]

2. Assume that mean height of soldiers to be 68.22 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 with a variance of

10.8 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠. How many soldiers in a regiment of 1000 would you expect to
be over 6 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 tall?
𝑋−68.22
[Hint: 𝑧 = , 𝑋 = 72, 𝑧 = 1.1503]
3.286

[Answer: 125 soldires.]

3. Assuming that the diameters of 1000 brass plugs taken consecutively from a
machine form a normal distribution with mean 0.7515𝑐𝑚 and standard
deviation 0.0020𝑐𝑚, how many of the plugs are likely to be rejected if the
approved diameter is 0.752 ± 0.004𝑐𝑚.

[Hint: 𝑧1 = −1.75 & 𝑧2 = 2.25]

[Answer: 947.7]

4. If 𝑋 is normal variate with mean 1 and variance 4. Y is another normal

variate independent of 𝑋 with mean 2 and variance 3. What is the
distribution of 𝑋 + 2𝑌.

[Hint: Mean of (𝑋 + 2𝑌) = 5, 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋 + 2𝑌)= 16]

[Answer: 16]

5. If 𝑋 is a normal variate with mean 2 𝑆. 𝐷. 3 , describe the distribution of 𝑌 =

1 3
𝑋 − 1. Also find 𝑃(𝑌 ≥ ).
2 2
9 2𝑌
[Hint: 𝐸(𝑦) = 0, 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑦) = , 𝑧= ]
4 3
[Answer: 0.1587]
 6. In a test on 2000 electric bulbs, it was found that the life of a particular
make, was normally distributed with an average life of 2040 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 and
𝑆. 𝐷. of 60 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠. Estimate the number of bulbs likely to burn for
i. more than 2150 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠,
ii. less than 1950 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 and
iii. more than 1920 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 and less than 2160 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠.

[Hint: (𝑖) 𝑧 = 1.833, (𝑖𝑖) 𝑧 = −1.5 (𝑖𝑖𝑖) 𝑧 = −2 & 𝑧 = 2]

[Answer: (𝑖) 67(𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥) (𝑖𝑖) 134(𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥) (𝑖𝑖𝑖) 1909(𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥)]

Gamma distribution:
1. The lifetime (in hours) of a certain piece of equipment is a continuous
random variable having range 0 < 𝑥 < ∞ and the PDF is

𝑥𝑒 −𝑘𝑥 , 0<𝑥<∞
𝑓(𝑥) = {
0, 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Determine the constant 𝑘 and evaluate the probability that the lifetime
exceeds 2 hours.
∞
[Hint: Use PDF ∫−∞ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 1 to find 𝑘]
[Answer: 0.4060]
2. The daily consumption of milk in a city in excess of 20000 gallons is
approximately distributed as a gamma variate with parameters 𝑘 = 2 and
𝜆 = 1/10000. The city has a daily stock of 3000 gallons. What is the
probability that stock is insufficient on particular days?
[Hint: Use gamma distribution with PDF has 𝑌 = 𝑋 − 2000.]
[Answer: 2/e]

Weibull distribution:
1. The lifetime of a component measured in hours follows Weibull distribution
with parameters 𝛼 = 0.2 and 𝛽 = 0.5. Find the mean lifetime of the
component.
 1
− 1
[Hint: Use Weibull distribution mean, 𝐸(𝑋) = 𝛼 𝛽 Γ (1 + )]
𝛽
[Answer: 50 hours]
2. Find the probability of failure-free performance of roller-bearings over a
period of 104 ℎ if the life expectancy of the bearings is defined by Weibull
distribution with parameter 𝛼 = 10−7 and 𝛽 = 1.5.
[Hint: 𝑃(failure-free performance over a period 𝑡)= 𝑃[the component does
not fail in (0, 𝑡)]= 𝑃(𝑇 ≥ 𝑡), where 𝑇 is the life expectancy or time to
failure of the component]
[Answer: 0.9048]
3. If the life 𝑋 (in years) of a certain type of car has a Webull distribution with
the parameter 𝛽 = 2. Find the value of the parameter 𝛼, given the
probability that the of the car exceeds 5 years is 𝑒 −0.25 . For these values of 𝛼
and 𝛽, find the mean and variance of 𝑋.
𝛽
[Hint: Use density function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝛼𝛽𝑥 𝛽−1 𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 , 𝑥 > 0]

[Answer: 𝛼 = 1/100, Variance of 𝑋 is 21.46]