Tutorial 5.

0 Discrete Random Variables MAT1074

1. State which of the following are discrete or continuous random variables.

(a) The number of copies of the New Straits Times sold each month.
(b) The amount of ink used in printing.
(c) The actual number of ounces of laundry detergent in a one-gallon bottle.
(d) The number of patients what are admitted per week in a particular hospital.

2. The probability distribution function of a discrete random variable X is given by

{
0.1 , x = 1, 3, 5, 7
P ( X=x ) = 0.2 , x = 2, 4 , 6
0 otherwise .
Prove that X is a discrete random variable with the probability distribution function of P.

3. The discrete random variable X has probability function

20
(a) Show that the value of k is 33 .
(b) Find the probability that X is less than 3 or greater than 4.

4. The discrete random variable X has probability distribution function

{
x
, x =1, 3, 5 , 7
m
P( X= x ) =
x2
, x=2, 4,6
m

(a) Find the value of m.

(b) Determine P (| X−4|≤1 ) and P ( X >3 .5 ) .

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 Tutorial 5.0 Discrete Random Variables MAT1074

5. T ={ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 } is a discrete random variable with the probability distribution function

P(T=t) = ¿{ a , t=0, 1¿{ a+b , t=2¿¿

6. Number of sick 0 1 2 3
employees per week
Probability 0.10 0.25 0.30 0.35

The above table shows the probability distribution of the number of sick employees
per week. Find the probability that the number of sick employees at a given week
is
(i) 1 to 3 (ii) more than 2
(iii) less than or equal to 1 (iv) exactly 2

7. A discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution function.

{
m
, x=−2,−1
|x−2|
f ( x )= x +1
, x=1 ,2
12
0 , otherwise

(a) Show that m = 1

8. A discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution :

x 1 2 3 4
P( X = x ) 1 1 11 1
4 8 24 6

(a) Calculate P ( X≤3 ) .

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 Tutorial 5.0 Discrete Random Variables MAT1074

9. Given the discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution function

g ( x )=
{2ppxx ,,x=0,1,2
2
x=3,4
1
where p is a constant. Show that p= . Hence, find
31

a) P(1 ≤ X <4 ) c) P(| X−3|< 2)

10. A discrete random variable X can take any one of five possible values and has the
following probability distribution.

x 0 2 5 8 11
P( X = x ) 0.1 0.25 0.2 2p p
Find:
(a) the value of p
(b) Find P( X < 11)
(c) Calculate
i) P ¿) ii) P ( 2≤ X ≤ 5 ) iii) P(1< X ≤ 2)

11. A probability distribution for the discrete random variable X is as shown.

X 1 2 3 4 5
P( X =x) 0.10 0.25 0.25 0.32 0.08

Find the cumulative distribution function of X and draw its graph.

12. A probability distribution for the discrete random variable Y is as shown.

Y 0 1 2 3 4
P(Y = y) 0.13 0.24 0.31 0.17 0.15

Find the cumulative distribution function of Y and draw its graph.

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 Tutorial 5.0 Discrete Random Variables MAT1074

13. The cumulative distribution function for a discrete random variable X is as follows.

X 1 2 3 4 5
F (x) 0.15 0.22 0.36 0.68 1

Find (a) P( X =2) (b) P( X > 3) (c) P(2< X< 5)

14. The cumulative distribution function for a discrete random variable Y is as follows.

Y 1 2 3 4 5
F ( y) 0.10 0.37 0.48 0.6 1

Find :

(a) P(Y =4) (b) P(Y > 4) (c) P(2<Y <5)

15. Discrete random variable Y has the probability function

{
3+ y
, y=0 ,1 , 2 ,3 , 4
P ( Y = y )= 25
0 , elsewhere

(a) Find the cumulative distribution function.

(b) Determine F (1) and F (3).

16. Discrete random variable X has the probability function

{
1 2
P ( X=x )= 34
( x +1 ) , x=1 ,2 , 3 , 4
0 , elsewhere

(a) Find the cumulative distribution function.

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 Tutorial 5.0 Discrete Random Variables MAT1074

(b) Determine F (2) and F (4).

ANSWERS :

1. (a) Discrete (b) Continuous

49
3. (b) 99

1 8
,
4. (a) 72 (b) 3 9
1 2
a= , b=
5. 9 9

6. (i) 0.90 (ii) 0.35 (iii) 0.35 (iv) 0.30

3
7. (b)
4
5
8. (a) 6
15 29
9. (a) (b) 0 (c) (d) 0
31 31

10. (a) 0.15 (b) 0.85 (c) 0.45 (d) 0.25

11.
X 1 2 3 4 5
P( X =x) 0.10 0.25 0.25 0.32 0.08
F (x) 0.10 0.35 0.60 0.92 1

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 Tutorial 5.0 Discrete Random Variables MAT1074

12.
Y 0 1 2 3 4
P(Y = y) 0.13 0.24 0.31 0.17 0.15
F ( y) 0.13 0.37 0.68 0.85 1

13. (a) 0.07 (b) 0.64 (c) 0.46

14. (a) 0.12 (b) 0.4 (c) 0.23

15. (a)
y 0 1 2 3 4
P(Y = y) 3 4 5 6 7
25 25 25 25 25
F ( y) 3 7 12 18 1
25 25 25 25 25

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 Tutorial 5.0 Discrete Random Variables MAT1074

7 18
(b) F ( 1 )= , F ( 3 )=
25 25

16. (a)
x 1 2 3 4
P( X =x) 2 5 10 17
34 34 34 34
F (x) 2 7 17 1
34 34 34

7
(b) F ( 2 )= , F ( 4 )=1
34