Created by T.

Madas

DISCRETE
RANDOM
VARIABLES

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 0 1 2 3 4
P ( X = x) 3 1 1 a 1
8 3 4 24

where a is a positive constant.

a) Explain why a = 0 .

b) Find the value of E ( X ) .

c) Calculate Var ( X ) .

FS1-N ,  P ( X = x) = 1 , E ( X ) = 1 , Var ( X ) = 1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 0 1 2 3
P ( X = x) 1 1 1 1
12 4 3 3

Find, showing full workings where appropriate, the value of

a) P (1 < X ≤ 3) .

b) F (1.8) .

c) E ( X ) .

d) Var ( X ) .

e) E ( 2 X − 3) .

f) Var ( 2 X − 3) .

FS1-A , P (1 < X ≤ 3) = 2 , F (1.8 ) = 1 , E ( X ) = 23 , Var ( X ) = 131 ≈ 0.910 ,

3 3 12 144
E ( 2 X − 3) = 5 , Var ( 2 X − 3) = 131 ≈ 3.639
6 36

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

 kx 2 x = 3, 4,5
P ( X = x) = 
0 otherwise

a) Determine the value of the constant k .

b) Find the value of …

i. … E ( X ) .

ii. … Var ( X ) .

c) Determine …
i. … E ( 5 X − 4 ) .

ii. … Var ( 5 X − 4 ) .

FS1-O , k = 1 , E ( X ) = 4.32 , Var ( X ) = 0.5776 , E ( 5 X − 4 ) = 17.6 ,

50
Var ( 5 X − 4 ) = 14.44

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (**)
The discrete random variable X has mean 7 and variance 11.

( )
a) Calculate E X 2 .

b) Given that Y = 2 X − 4 , determine the mean and variance of Y .

( )
FS1-J , E X 2 = 60 , E (Y ) = 10 , Var (Y ) = 44

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

k 2 − x )2
P ( X = x) =  (
x = −2, −1,0,1, 2
 0 otherwise

a) Determine the value of the constant k .

b) Find the value of …

i. … E ( X ) .

( )
ii. … E X 2 .

c) Determine …
i. … E (1 − 15X ) .

ii. … Var (1 − 15X ) .

30 3 ( )
FS1-P , k = 1 , E ( X ) = − 4 , E X 2 = 37 , E (1 − 15 X ) = 21 ,
15
Var (1 − 15 X ) = 155

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (**)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

kx ( 5 − x ) x = 1, 2,3, 4
P ( X = x) = 
 0 otherwise

a) Determine the value of the constant k .

b) State the value of E ( X ) .

c) Calculate Var ( X ) .

d) Determine the value of E ( 4 X − 5 ) .

FS1-R , k = 1 , E ( X ) = 2.5 , Var ( X ) = 1.05 , E ( 4 X − 5 ) = 5

20

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 0 1 2 3

P ( X = x) 0.5 0.35 a b

where a and b are positive constants.

a) Given that E ( X ) = 0.67 , find the value of a and the value of b .

b) Determine the variance of X .

c) Calculate Var ( 5 + 10X ) .

X , a = 0.13, b = 0.02 , Var ( X ) = 0.6011 , Var ( 5 + 10 X ) = 60.11

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 1 3 5 7 9
P ( X = x) 0.2 a 0.2 b 0.15

where a and b are positive constants.

a) Given that E ( X ) = 4.5 , find the value of a and the value of b .

b) Determine E ( 29 − 6X ) .

a = 0.3, b = 0.15 , E ( 29 − 6 X ) = 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***)
Two fair spinners, both numbered with 0 , 1 , 2 and 3 , are spun together and the
product of their scores is recorded.

The discrete random variable X represents the product of the scores of these spinners
and its probability distribution is summarized in the table below

x 0 1 2 3 4 6 9
P ( X = x) 7
16
1
16 a b c 2
16
1
16

a) Find the value of a , b and c .

b) Determine E ( X ) .

c) Find the value of Var ( X ) .

d) Calculate E ( 4 X − 1) .

e) Calculate Var ( 4 X − 1) .

X , a = 1 , b = 1 , c = 1 , E ( X ) = 9 , Var ( X ) = 115 , E ( 4 X − 1) = 8 ,
8 8 16 4 16
Var ( 4 X − 1) = 115

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is summarised in the
table below.

x 1 2 3 4 5
P ( X = x) 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.25 0.25

a) Find the value of …

i. … E ( X ) .

( )
ii. … E X 2 .

iii. … Var ( X ) .

b) Calculate …
i. … E ( 3 − X ) .

ii. … Var ( 3 − X )

c) Determine the value of

P  4 X − 3 ≥ 2 ( X + 1)  .

( )
FS1-I , E ( X ) = 3.25 , E X 2 = 12.65 , Var ( X ) = 2.0875 , E ( 3 − X ) = −0.25 ,

Var ( 3 − X ) = 2.0875 , P  4 X − 3 ≥ 2 ( X + 1)  = 0.7

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***)
The cumulative distribution F ( x ) , of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
F( x) 0.25 0.40 0.55 0.65 0.75 0.85 0.95 1

a) Find the value …

i. … E ( X ) .

ii. … Var ( X ) .

The discrete random variable Y is defined as Y = 5 X − 3 .

b) Determine the mean and variance of Y .

FS1-K , E ( X ) = 3.6 , Var ( X ) = 5.04 , E (Y ) = 15 , Var (Y ) = 126

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (***)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

 1 x = 1, 2, 3, ... , 12
P ( X = x ) = 12
 0 otherwise

Determine P ( X + 2 < 3 X − 4 ≤ 2 X + 7 ) .

MMS-L , P ( X + 2 < 3 X − 4 ≤ 2 X + 7 ) = 2
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (***+)
A sixth form class consists of 6 boys and 4 girls.

Three students are selected at random from this class and the variable X represents the
number of girls selected.

Show that the probability distribution of X is given by

x 0 1 2 3

P ( X = x) 5 15 9 1
30 30 30 30

MMS-K , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (***+)
The cumulative distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 1 2 4 5

F( x) 3 2k+3 k+5 k+ 2
20 20 10 4

where k is a positive constant.

a) Show clearly that k = 2 .

b) Find the value of …

i. … E ( X ) .

( )
ii. … E X 2 .

c) Calculate Var ( 20 X − 2 ) .

( )
FS1-Q , E ( X ) = 3.45 , E X 2 = 14.05 , Var ( 20 X − 2 ) = 859

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (***+)
A biased six sided die has the following probability distribution

x 1 2 3 4 5 6

1 1 1 1 1 1
P( X = x) 10 10 10 10 10 2

where the random variable X represents the number shown on its uppermost face
when it comes to rest after it is rolled.

The die is rolled twice and the two independent observations of X , X1 and X 2 ,
produce the score Y defined as

 6 if X1 = 6
Y =
 X1 + X 2 if X1 ≠ 6

a) Find the value of P (Y = 6 ) .

b) Find the value of P (Y < 7 Y > 4 ) .

MMS-A , P (Y = 6 ) = 0.55 , P (Y < 7 Y > 4 ) = 59

94

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (***+)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
P ( X = x) 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.2 0.05

a) Find the value of E ( X ) .

b) Calculate Var ( X ) .

c) Determine P ( µ − σ ≤ X ≤ µ + σ ) .

(
d) Find the value of E 4 X 2 − 3.2 . )
FS1-F , E ( X ) = 3.3 , Var ( X ) = 2.41 , P ( µ − σ ≤ X ≤ µ + σ ) = 0.6 ,

( )
E 4 X 2 − 3.2 = 50

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (***+)
A box contains three blue discs and two red discs.

Three discs are selected at random from the box without replacement.

The variable X represents the number of blue discs selected.

a) Show that the probability distribution of X is given by

x 1 2 3

P ( X = x) 3 6 1
10 10 10

b) Determine E ( X ) and Var ( X ) .

FS1-X , E ( X ) = 9 = 1.8 , Var ( X ) = 9 = 0.36

5 25

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (***+)
A sixth form class consists of 6 boys and 4 girls.

Three students are selected at random from this class and the variable X represents the
number of girls selected.

a) Show that the probability distribution of X is given by

x 0 1 2 3

P ( X = x) 5 15 9 1
30 30 30 30

b) Determine E ( X ) and Var ( X ) .

X , E ( X ) = 6 = 1.2 , Var ( X ) = 14 = 0.56

5 25

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (***+)
The probability distribution of the discrete random variable X is given by

x 2 3 4
P(X = x) 0.4 – a 2a 0.6 – a

where a is a constant.

a) State the range of the possible values of a .

Two independent observations of X , denoted by X1 and X 2 , are considered.

b) Determine, in terms of a , a simplified expression for P ( X1 + X 2 = 6 ) .

MMS-J , 0 ≤ a ≤ 0.4 , P ( X1 + X 2 = 6 ) = 6a 2 − 2a + 0.48

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (***+)
Two standard fair cubical dice, numbered 1 to 6 are such rolled and the random
variable X represents the sum of the scores of the two dice.

Determine the value of Var ( X ) .

FS1-M , Var ( X ) = 35
6

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (***+)
The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution

x 0 2 3

P ( X = x) 1 1 1
2 3 6

a) Determine E ( X ) and Var ( X ) .

A game in a fun fair consists of throwing 5 darts on a small target.

If a dart lands on the central portion of the target the dart scores 3 points.

If a dart lands on the outer portion of the target the dart scores 2 points, otherwise the
dart scores no points.

To win a prize, 10 or more points must be scored with 5 darts.

Paul has scored 6 points with his first 3 darts.

The likelihood of Paul scoring 0 , 2 or 3 points is given by the probability distribution

of part (a).

b) Find the probability that Paul will win a prize after he throws his last 2 darts.

FS1-G , E ( X ) = 7 , Var ( X ) = 53 , 1
6 36 4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (***+)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

k ( 4 − x ) x = 0,1, 2,3

P ( X = x) =  1 x=4
2

 0 otherwise

a) Show that k = 1 .
20

Two independent observations of X are made, denoted by X1 and X 2 .

b) Find the probability distribution of Y , where Y = X1 + X 2 .

c) Calculate P (1.5 ≤ Y ≤ 4.5 ) .

y 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
MMS-V , 16 24 25 20 90 64 41 20 100 ,
P (Y = y )
400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400
P (1.5 ≤ Y ≤ 4.5 ) = 27
80

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (***+)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 1 2 3 4
P ( X = x) a b b c

where a , b and c are constants.

The cumulative distribution function of X is given by

x 1 2 3 4
F ( x) 1 d 2 e
6 3

where d and e are constants.

a) Determine the value of each of the constants a , b , c , d and e .

The discrete random variable Y is defined as Y = 10 − 3 X .

b) Find the value of P (Y > X ) .

MMS-Y , ( a, b, c, d , e ) = ( 16 , 14 , 13 , 12 )
5 ,1 , P (Y > X ) = 5
12

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (***+)
The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution

x 0 1 3

P ( X = x) 1 1 1
6 3 2

Three independent observations of X are made, denoted by X1 , X 2 and X 3 .

Calculate P ( X 1 + X 2 + X 3 ≥ 4 ) .

MMS-D , P ( X1 + X 2 + X 3 ≥ 4 ) = 5
8

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (****)
The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution

x 0 1 3

P ( X = x) 1 1 1
6 3 2

Two independent observations of X are made, denoted by X1 and X 2 .

a) Find the probability distribution of X1 + X 2 .

b) Calculate P ( X1 > X 2 ) .

 1 r =0
 36
1 r = 1, 2
9
 11
MMS-C , P ( X1 + X 2 = r ) =  1 r = 6 , P ( X1 > X 2 ) = 36
4
1 r=4
3
 0 otherwise

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 26 (****)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

k (2 − x) x = 0,1, 2

P ( X = x) =  1 x=3
4

 0 otherwise

a) Show that k = 1 .
4

( )
b) Find the value of E ( X ) and E X 2 .

c) Determine Var ( 3 − X ) .

Two independent observations of X are made, denoted by X1 and X 2 .

d) Find the probability distribution of Y , where Y = X1 + X 2 .

e) Calculate P (1.5 ≤ Y ≤ 3.5 ) .

1 y = 2,6
16
1
 y=4
( )
FS1-L , E ( X ) = 1 , E X 2 = 2.5 , Var ( 3 − X ) = 1.5 , P (Y = y ) =  8
 1
,
y = 0,1,3
4
0 otherwise

P (1.5 ≤ Y ≤ 3.5 ) = 5
16

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (****)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 1 2 3

P ( X = x) 0.3 − k 2k 0.7 − k

a) Find the range of possible values of the constant k .

b) Determine E ( X ) .

c) Given that Var ( X ) = 0.72 , find the value of k .

X1 and X 2 are two independent observations of X .

d) Find P ( X1 = X 2 ) .

FS1-E , 0 ≤ k ≤ 0.3 , E ( X ) = 2.4 , k = 0.06 , 0.4816

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (****)
The probability distribution of the discrete random variable X is given by

x 2 3 4
P(X = x) 0.4 – a 2a 0.6 – a

where a is a constant.

a) State the range of the possible values of a .

b) Show that E ( X ) is independent of a .

c) Given that Var ( X ) = 0.56 show that a = 0.2 .

Two independent observations of X , denoted by X1 and X 2 are considered.

d) Calculate P ( X1 + X 2 = 6 ) .

FS1-C , 0 ≤ a ≤ 0.4 , P ( X1 + X 2 = 6 ) = 0.32

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 29 (****)
A biased spinner can show whole numbers from 1 to 8 .

The probability of showing an 8 is 0.05 and the probability of showing a 7 is 0.11 .

The probabilities of showing any of the other six whole numbers are all equal to one
another.

Players in a gambling parlour pay £5 for a single spin.

A score of 8 wins the player £50 , a score of 7 wins the player £20 , otherwise the
player wins no money.

In a typical day, a gambling addict has 150 spins on this spinner.

Find the expected loss of the gambling addict in a typical day.

FS1-Z , £45

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 30 (****)
The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution

x 0 1 3

P ( X = x) 1 1 1
6 3 2

a) Determine E ( X ) and Var ( X ) .

Two independent observations of X are made, denoted by X1 and X 2 .

b) Find the probability distribution of X1 + X 2 .

c) Calculate P ( X1 > X 2 ) .

 1 r =0
 36
1 r = 1, 2
9

FS1-D , E ( X ) = 11 , Var ( X ) = 53 , P ( X1 + X 2 = r ) =  1 r=6 ,
6 36 4

1 r=4
3
 0 otherwise

P ( X1 > X 2 ) = 11
36

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 31 (****)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

1 x x = 1, 2,3, 4,5
 20
P ( X = x) = 1 x=6
4
 0 otherwise

a) Find P ( X > 4 ) .

1 
b) Calculate E  .
X 

1  173
c) Show that Var  = .
X  4800

X +3
The discrete random variable Y is defined as Y = .
X

d) Determine the value of E (Y ) and the value of Var (Y ) .

24 ( )
FS1-Y , P ( X > 4 ) = 0.5 , E 1 = 7 , E (Y ) = 15 , Var (Y ) = 519
X 8 1600

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 32 (****)
A sixth form class consists of 3 boys and 7 girls.

Three students are selected at random from this class and the variable X represents the
number of boys selected.

Show clearly that E ( X ) = 0.9 .

FS1-B , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 33 (****)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

 1 x = 1, 2, 3, ... , 10
P ( X = x ) = 10
 0 otherwise

( )
a) Find the value of E X 2 .

b) Determine P ( X + 2 < 3 X − 4 < X + 7 ) .

It is further given that

E ( kX + 5 ) = 6.1 ,

where k is a constant.

c) Find the value of Var ( kX + 5)

( )
FS1-V , E X 2 = 38.5 , P ( X + 2 < 3 X − 4 < X + 7 ) = 1 , Var ( kX + 5 ) = 0.33
5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 34 (****+)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

x 1 2 3 4 5
P ( X = x) k 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 − k

where k is a positive constant.

a) Determine the range of values of E ( X ) .

b) Given that Var ( X ) = 1.36 , find the value of k .

FS1-H , 2.4 ≤ E ( X ) ≤ 4 , k = 0.05

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 35 (****+)
Luke has 6 chocolates of which 2 have a hazelnut at their centre.

Luke eats his chocolates one after the other.

The random variable X represents the number of chocolates Luke eats, up and
including the first chocolate with a hazelnut at its centre.

Show, with detailed workings, that Var ( X ) = 14 .

9

FS1-U , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 36 (****+)
The probability of a biased coin landing on “tails” is 0.3 .

An experiment consists of tossing the coin until “tails” is shown for the first time, up to
a maximum of 4 tosses.

If “tails” is shown before the 4th toss the experiment stops.

If after the 4th toss no “tails” has been obtained, then no more tosses are made.

• The discrete random variable X is defined as the number of tosses in this

experiment.

• The discrete random variable Y is defined as the number of “tails” in this

experiment.

Determine the probability distribution of X + Y .

x+ y 2 3 4 5
MMS-X ,
probability 0.3 0.21 0.3871 0.1029

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 37 (****+)
A box contains three blue discs and two red discs.

An experiment is conducted where three discs are selected at random from the box
without replacement.

The variable X represents the number of blue discs selected.

a) Show that the probability distribution of X is given by

x 1 2 3

P ( X = x) 3 6 1
10 10 10

Four independent observations of X are recorded, labelled as X1 , X 2 , X 3 and X 4 .

b) Determine P ( X1 + X 2 + X 3 + X 4 ≥ 10 ) and Var ( X ) .

MMS-H , P ( X1 + X 2 + X 3 + X 4 ≥ 10 ) = 0.0253

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 38 (*****)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

 1 x = 1, 2, 3, ... 7
P ( X = x) = 7
 0 otherwise

The probability distribution of another discrete random variable Y is given by

 1 x = 2, 3, 6
P (Y = y ) =  y
 0 otherwise

Two observations of X are made, denoted by X1 and X 2 , and one observation of Y ,

denoted by Y1 are considered.

Assuming these three observations are independent, calculate P ( X1 + X 2 ≥ 9 + Y1 ) .

MMS-S , P ( X1 + X 2 ≥ 9 + Y1 ) = 1
7

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 39 (*****)
A biased six sided die has the following probability distribution

x 1 2 3 4 5 6

1 1 1 1 1 1
P( X = x) 10 10 10 10 10 2

where the random variable X represents the number shown on its uppermost face
when it comes to rest after it is rolled.

The die is rolled twice and the two independent observations of X , X1 and X 2 ,
produce the score Y defined as

 6 if X1 = 6
Y =
 X1 + X 2 if X1 ≠ 6

a) Find the value of P (Y = 6 ) .

b) Determine the probability distribution of Y and hence calculate the E (Y ) .

c) Find the value of P (Y < 7 Y > 4 ) .

FS1-S , P (Y = 6 ) = 0.55 , E (Y ) = 6.75 , P (Y < 7 Y > 4 ) = 59

94

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 40 (*****)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

 k x =1
1
P ( X = x ) =  P ( X = x − 1) x = 2,3, 4
2

 0 otherwise

where k is a positive constant.

Three independent observations of X are made, denoted by X1 , X 2 and X 3 , and the

variable Y is defined as Y = X 1 + X 2 + X 3 .

If Y is an even number, determine the probability that Y is greater than 9 .

MMS-T , 1
65

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 41 (*****)
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

 2 P ( X = r ) r = 1, 2,3, 4,5,...
P ( X = r + 1) =  3
 0 otherwise

Determine P ( 2 ≤ X ≤ 4 ) .

MMS-U , P ( 2 ≤ X ≤ 4 ) = 38
31

Created by T. Madas