Exercise
1. A random variable X has the following probability distribution.𝑃(𝑋 = 1) = 0.1
𝑃(𝑋 = 2) = 0.2, 𝑃(𝑋 = 3) = 0.3, 𝑃(𝑋 = 4) = [Link] that the distribution is a
probability distribution hence determine;
(i) The expected value and variance of X
(ii) 𝑃(𝑋 = 2⁄𝑋 ≥ 2).
2. A discrete random variable X takes integer values between 0 and 5 inclusive
with probabilities given by
2𝑥+1
; 𝑥 = 0,1,2,3
20
11−2𝑥
𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥) = 𝑥 = 4,5
20
0 ; otherwise
Find the expectation and variance of X.
3. The number of times a machine breaks every month is a discrete random
variable X with the probability distribution
𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥) = 𝑘(0.25)𝑥 ; 𝑥 = 0,1,2,3, …
0 ; otherwise
Where k is a constant.
Determine the probability that the machine will break down not more than
two times a month.
4. An examination question has two parts A and B. the probability of a student
2
getting part A correct is 3. If she gets part A correct, the probability that she
3 1
gets part B correct is 4, otherwise it is 6. There are three marks for correct
solution of part A, two marks for part B and a bonus mark if both parts are
correct. Calculate the expected value and variance of the student’s total
mark for the question.
5. A discrete random variable X has a probability distribution shown below.
𝑥 1 2 5 10
𝑓(𝑥) 0.5 P 0.12 q
Given that E(X) = 2.5, find;
(i) The values of p and q.
(ii) 𝐸(𝑋 − 1)2
(iii) 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋 − 1)2 .
6. A random variable X has a probability distribution
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(𝑥 )
𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥) = ; 𝑥 = 0,1,2,3,4.
𝑘
0 ; otherwise
(i) Find the value of the constant k.
(ii) 𝐸(5𝑋 − 7)
(iii) 𝑉𝑎𝑟(−2𝑋 + 5).
7. A news paper vender buys 12 copies of a sports magazine every week.
The probability distribution for the number of copies sold in a week is given
in the table below.
Number of 9 10 11 12
copies sold
probability 0.2 0.35 0.30 0.15
(a) Estimate the;
(i) Expected number of copies that she sells in a week.
(ii) Variance of the number of copies sold in a week.
(b) The vendor buys the magazine at shs.1200 and sells it at shs.1500. any
copies not sold are destroyed. Construct a probability distribution table
for the vendor’s weekly profit from the sales. Hence calculate her weekly
profit.
8. A bag A contains 3 red balls and 6white balls.A second bag B contains 5 red
balls and 4 white balls. A ball is chosen at random from bad A and placed
in bag B. A ball is then chosen at random from bag B and placed in bag A.
if X is the random variable number of red balls in bag A after these
operation, find the probability distribution of X, hence the expected value of
X.
9. The probability distribution of a random variable X is given by
𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥) = 𝑘(𝑛 − 𝑥) ; 𝑥 = 1,2,3, … , 𝑛
0 ; otherwise
1
Show that the mean of X is 3 (𝑛 + 1) and that the variance is
1
(𝑛 + 1)(𝑛 − 2).
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10. A die is biased such that the probability of a number appearing on the
top face when its tossed is proportional to the number.
(a) Find the probability that an odd or prime number will appear.
(b) If the die is tossed twice, find the probability distribution function for
the sum of the two numbers that appear on the top face. What is the
most likely sum and the variance of the sum?