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6 - Probability Density Functions

1. The document contains 19 problems involving probability density functions, expected values, variances, and other concepts. The problems range from calculating basic probabilities to finding means, medians, and other properties of random variables defined by given density functions.

Uploaded by

Sudibyo Gunawan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
437 views

6 - Probability Density Functions

1. The document contains 19 problems involving probability density functions, expected values, variances, and other concepts. The problems range from calculating basic probabilities to finding means, medians, and other properties of random variables defined by given density functions.

Uploaded by

Sudibyo Gunawan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

The random variable X has probability density function f where


kx( x 1)(2 x), 0 x 2
f(x) =
0,
otherwise.

(a)

Sketch the graph of the function. You are not required to find the coordinates of the
maximum.
(1)

(b)

Find the value of k.


(5)
(Total 6 marks)

2.

A continuous random variable X has a probability density function given by the function f(x),
where
k ( x 2) 2

f(x) = k ,

0,

(a)

2 x 0
4
0 x
3
otherwise.

Find the value of k.


(2)

(b)

Hence find
(i)

the mean of X;

(ii)

the median of X.
(5)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

3.

The ten numbers x1, x2, ..., x10 have a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3.
10

Find the value of

(x

12) 2 .

i 1

(Total 6 marks)

4.

A continuous random variable X has probability density function


x0
0,
f(x) = ax
ae , x 0.

It is known that P(X < 1) = 1

(a)

Show that a =

1
ln 2 .
2
(6)

(b)

Find the median of X.


(5)

(c)

Calculate the probability that X < 3 given that X > 1.


(9)
(Total 20 marks)

5.

A continuous random variable X has the probability density function f given by


c( x x 2 ), 0 x 1
f(x) =
0,
otherwise.

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(a)

Determine c.
(3)

(b)

Find E(X).
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

6.

A discrete random variable X has a probability distribution given in the following table.

(a)

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

P(X = x)

0.15

0.21

0.13

0.07

If E(X) = 2.61, determine the value of p and of q.


(4)

(b)

Calculate Var (X) to three significant figures.


(2)
(Total 6 marks)

7.

Tim throws two identical fair dice simultaneously. Each die has six faces: two faces numbered 1,
two faces numbered 2 and two faces numbered 3. His score is the sum of the two numbers
shown on the dice.
(a)

(i)

Calculate the probability that Tim obtains a score of 6.

(ii)

Calculate the probability that Tim obtains a score of at least 3.


(3)

Tim plays a game with his friend Bill, who also has two dice numbered in the same way. Bills
score is the sum of the two numbers shown on his dice.
(b)

(i)

Calculate the probability that Tim and Bill both obtain a score of 6.

(ii)

Calculate the probability that Tim and Bill obtain the same score.
(4)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(c)

Let X denote the largest number shown on the four dice.

16
.
81

(i)

Show that P(X 2) =

(ii)

Copy and complete the following probability distribution table.

(iii)

P(X = x)

1
81

Calculate E(X) and E(X2) and hence find Var(X).


(10)

(d)

Given that X = 3, find the probability that the sum of the numbers shown on the four dice
is 8.
(4)
(Total 21 marks)

8.

A random variable has a probability density function given by


kx(2 x), 0 x 2
f(x) =
0,
elsewhere.

(a)

Show that k =

3
.
4
(4)

(b)

Find E(X).
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

9.

The annual weather-related loss of an insurance company is modelled by a random variable X


with probability density function
2.5(200) 2.5

f(x) =
x 3.5

0,

x 200
otherwise.

Find the median.


(Total 8 marks)

10.

In each round of two different games Ying tosses three fair coins and Mario tosses two fair
coins.
(a)

The first game consists of one round. If Ying obtains more heads than Mario, she receives
$5 from Mario. If Mario obtains more heads than Ying, he receives $10 from Ying. If
they obtain the same number of heads, then Mario receives $2 from Ying. Determine
Yings expected winnings.
(12)

(b)

They now play the second game, where the winner will be the player who obtains the
larger number of heads in a round. If they obtain the same number of heads, they play
another round until there is a winner. Calculate the probability that Ying wins the game.
(8)
(Total 20 marks)

11.

The random variable T has the probability density function


f (t) =

t
cos , 1 t 1.
4
2

Find
(a)

P(T = 0);
(2)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(b)

the interquartile range.


(5)
(Total 7 marks)

12.

The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is defined by


P(X = x) = cx(5 x), x = 1, 2, 3, 4.

(a)

Find the value of c.


(3)

(b)

Find E(X).
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

13.

A continuous random variable X has probability density function


12 x 2 1 x , for 0 x 1,
f (x) =
0,
otherwise.

Find the probability that X lies between the mean and the mode.
(Total 6 marks)

14.

Anna has a fair cubical die with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 respectively on the six faces. When
she tosses it, the score is defined as the number on the uppermost face. One day, she decides to
toss the die repeatedly until all the possible scores have occurred at least once.
(a)

Having thrown the die once, she lets X2 denote the number of additional throws required
to obtain a different number from the one obtained on the first throw. State the
distribution of X2 and hence find E(X2).
(3)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(b)

She then lets X3 denote the number of additional throws required to obtain a different
number from the two numbers already obtained. State the distribution of X3 and hence
find E(X3).
(2)

(c)

By continuing the process, show that the expected number of tosses needed to obtain all
six possible scores is 14.7.
(5)
(Total 10 marks)

15.

John removes the labels from three cans of tomato soup and two cans of chicken soup in order
to enter a competition, and puts the cans away. He then discovers that the cans are identical, so
that he cannot distinguish between cans of tomato soup and chicken soup. Some weeks later he
decides to have a can of chicken soup for lunch. He opens the cans at random until he opens a
can of chicken soup. Let Y denote the number of cans he opens.
Find
(a)

the possible values of Y,


(1)

(b)

the probability of each of these values of Y,


(4)

(c)

the expected value of Y.


(2)
(Total 7 marks)

16.

A continuous random variable X has a probability density function given by


( x 1) 3
, for 1 x 3,

f(x) = 60

otherwise.
0,

Find
(a)

P(1.5 X 2.5);
(2)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(b)

E(X);
(2)

(c)

the median of X.
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

17.

A discrete random variable X has its probability distribution given by


P(X = x) = k(x + 1), where x is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.
(a)

Show that k =

1
.
15
(3)

(b)

Find E(X).
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

18.

The probability density function of the random variable X is given by


k
, for 0 x 1

f(x) = 4 x 2

0,
otherwise.

(a)

Find the value of the constant k.


(5)

(b)

Show that E(X) =

6(2 3 )
.

(7)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(c)

Determine whether the median of X is less than

1
1
or greater than
.
2
2
(8)
(Total 20 marks)

19.

The continuous random variable X has probability density function

1
x(1 + x2)
6
f(x) = 0
f(x) =

(a)

for 0 x 2,
otherwise.

Sketch the graph of f for 0 x 2.


(2)

(b)

Write down the mode of X.


(1)

(c)

Find the mean of X.


(4)

(d)

Find the median of X.


(5)
(Total 12 marks)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

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