Probability Distribution
Statistical Distribution : Probability Distribution - Edexcel Past Exam Questions
1. The random variable X has probability function
P(X = x) = kx, x = 1, 2, ..., 5.
1
(a) Show that k = . (2)
15
Find
(b) P(X < 4), (2)
Jan 05 Q4(edited)
2. The random variable X has probability function
kx, x 1, 2, 3,
P(X = x) =
k ( x 1), x 4, 5,
where k is a constant.
(a) Find the value of k. (2)
June 05 Q5(edited)
3. The random variable X has probability function
(2 x 1)
P( X x) x 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
36
(a) Construct a table giving the probability distribution of X. (3)
Find
(b) P(2 X 5) (2)
Jan 07 Q3(edited)
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Probability Distribution
4. The random variable X has probability distribution
x 1 3 5 7 9
P(X = x) 0.2 0.3 0.2 q 0.15
Find
(a) the value of q, (1)
(b) P(4 < X 7). (2)
June 07 Q7(edited)
5. Tetrahedral dice have four faces. Two fair tetrahedral dice, one red and one blue, have faces
numbered 0, 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The dice are rolled and the numbers face down on the
two dice are recorded. The random variable R is the score on the red die and the random
variable B is the score on the blue die.
(a) Find P(R = 3 and B = 0). (2)
The random variable T is R multiplied by B.
(b) Complete the diagram below to represent the sample space that shows all the possible
values of T.
2 2
1 0
R 0 1 2 3
Sample space diagram of T (3)
Jan 08 Q7(edited)
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Probability Distribution
6. The discrete random variable X has probability function
a(3 x) x 0, 1, 2
P(X = x) =
b x3
(a) Find P(X = 2) and copy and complete the table below.
x 0 1 2 3
P(X=x) 3a 2a b
(1)
Given that b = 0.4
(b) find the value of a (2)
Find
(c) P(0.5 < X < 3), (2)
June 09 Q6(edited)
7. The probability function of a discrete random variable X is given by
p(x) = kx2, x = 1, 2, 3.
where k is a positive constant.
1
(a) Show that k = . (2)
14
Find
(b) P(X 2), (2)
Jan 10 Q5 (edited)
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Probability Distribution
8. The discrete random variable X has probability distribution given by
x –1 0 1 2 3
1 1 1
P(X = x) 5 a 10 a 5
where a is a constant.
(a) Find the value of a. (2)
The random variable Y = 6 − 2X.
(b) Calculate P(X Y). (3)
June 10 Q3(edited)
9. The discrete random variable X has the probability distribution
x 1 2 3 4
P(X = x) k 2k 3k 4k
(a) Show that k = 0.1 (1)
Two independent observations X1 and X2 are made of X.
(b) Show that P(X1 + X2 = 4) = 0.1 (2)
(c) Complete the probability distribution table for X1 + X2. (2)
y 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P(X1 + X2 = y) 0.01 0.04 0.10 0.25 0.24
(d) Find P(1.5 < X1 + X2 3.5) (2)
Jan 11 Q6
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Probability Distribution
10. The discrete random variable Y has the probability distribution
y 1 2 3 4
P(Y = y) 0.1 0.4 0.3 c
where c is a constant.
(a) Find the value of c. (1)
(b) Find P(3Y + 2 8). (2)
June 11 Q3(edited)
11. A spinner is designed so that the score S is given by the following probability distribution.
s 0 1 2 4 5
P(S = s) p 0.25 0.25 0.20 0.20
(a) Find the value of p. (1)
Tom and Jess play a game with this spinner. The spinner is spun repeatedly and S counters are
awarded on the outcome of each spin. If S is even then Tom receives the counters and if S is
odd then Jess receives them. The first player to collect 10 or more counters is the winner.
(b) Find the probability that Jess wins after 2 spins. (2)
(c) Find the probability that Tom wins after exactly 3 spins. (4)
(d) Find the probability that Jess wins after exactly 3 spins. (3)
June 11 Q8(edited)
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