Ms Abrao

Math 43 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

Chapters 5 Continuous Random Variables Homework Solutions
HW pp. 353 - 355 #75 (ignore part (c)), 76 (ignore part (d)), 79 - 81, 85
Note: Do not attempt pp. 355 - 357 #86 - 101.

75. P (X )
(a) X ∼ U (1, 9) (b)

a = 1, b = 9 1
= 0.125
8
base =b−a =9−1=8
1 1 1
height = = = x
b−a 9−1 8 1 9
Random Number

{ 0 x < 1 OR x > 9
1≤x≤9
(c) f (x) = 8

a+b 1+9
(d) μ = = =5
2 2

(b − a)
2
(9 − 1)2
(e) σ = = = 2.309
12 12
1 1
(f) P (3.5 < x < 7.25) = base ⋅ height = (7.25 − 3.75) ⋅ = 3.75 ⋅ = 0.469
8 8
(g)
P (X )

P (x > 5.67) = base ⋅ height

1 1
= (9 − 5.67) ⋅ 8
= 0.125
8
1
= 3.33 ⋅ x
8 1 5.67
5.67 9
= 0.416 Random Number
(h) This is a conditional probability problem. We will use the conditional probability
P (A AND B)
formula from Chapter 3 - P (A ∣ B) = .
P (B)

P (x > 5 AND x > 3)

P (x > 5 ∣ x > 3) =
You might be wondering how I got from
the 1st to the second line. We are
P (x > 3) looking for the overlap between

P (x > 5 ) numbers greater than 5 AND numbers

greater than 3. Any number greater
=
P (x > 3) than 5 is automatically greater than 3.
So the overlap is all of the numbers
base ⋅ height greater than 5. We can also look at this
= graphically on numbers lines.
base ⋅ height
Overlap, i.e. “AND”
(9 − 5) ⋅
1 x >5
8
= 1
(9 − 3) ⋅ 8 x >3
2
=
3
= 0.667
(i)

base ⋅ height = 0.90

1
base ⋅ = 0.90
8
⇒ base = 0.90 ⋅ 8 = 7.2
But, don’t forget our a value is 1…not 0! So our answer is 7.2 + 1 = 8.2. We have a
base of 7.2, starting from the number 1. 7.2 + 1 = 8.2✓

P (X ) The cutoff for the Top 10%

is the 90th percentile.

1
= 0.125
8
90% 10%

base = 7.2
x
1 9
Random Number 8.2
76.

(a) X = the amount of weight lost in a month

(b) X ∼ U (6, 15) (c) P (X )

a = 6, b = 15
1
base = b − a = 15 − 6 = 9 = 0.111
9
1 1 1
height = = =
b−a 15 − 6 9
x
6 15
Weight Loss (lbs.)
1

{ 0 x < 6 OR x > 15
6 ≤ x ≤ 15
(d) f (x) = 9

a+b 6 + 15
(e) μ= = = 10.5 lbs.
2 2

(b − a) (15 − 6)
2 2

(f) σ= = = 2.598 lbs.

12 12

(g)
P (X )
P (x > 10) = base ⋅ height
1
= (15 − 10) ⋅ 1
9 9
= 0.111
1
=5⋅
9
= 0.556 x
6 10 15
Weight Loss (lbs.)
(h) This is a conditional probability problem. We will use the conditional probability
P (A AND B)
formula from Chapter 3 - P (A ∣ B) = .
P (B)

P (x < 12 AND x > 10)

P (x < 12 ∣ x > 10) = You might be wondering how I got from
P (x > 10) the 1st to the second line. We are
P (10 < x < 12) looking for the overlap between
= numbers greater than 10 AND numbers
P (x > 10) less than 12. That leaves us with

base ⋅ height
numbers between 10 and 12. We can
= also look at this graphically on numbers
base ⋅ height lines.

1
(12 − 10) ⋅ 9 Overlap, i.e. “AND”
= x < 12
(15 − 10) ⋅ 19
2 x > 10
=
5
= 0.40

(i) This is a conditional probability problem. We will use the conditional probability
P (A AND B)
formula from Chapter 3 - P (A ∣ B) = .
P (B) You might be wondering how I got from
P (7 < x < 13 AND x > 9) the 1st to the second line. We are
P (7 < x < 13 ∣ x > 9) = looking for the overlap between
P (x > 9) numbers between 7 & 13 AND numbers
greater than 9. That leaves us with
P (9 < x < 13) numbers between 9 and 13. We can
=
P (x > 9) also look at this graphically on numbers
lines.
base ⋅ height
= Overlap, i.e. “AND”
base ⋅ height 7 < x < 13
1
(13 − 9) ⋅ 9
=
(15 − 9) ⋅ 19 x >9

2
=
3
= 0.667
There is a 67% chance when a persons monthly weight loss is greater than 9 pounds, it
will also be between 7 and 13 lbs.
 P (X )

79.
1
(d) = 0.125
8
a+b 0+8
μ= = = 4 minutes
2 2
x
80. 0 8
Wait Times (minutes)
(b)

base ⋅ height = 0.30

1
base ⋅ = 0.30
8
⇒ base = 0.30 ⋅ 8 = 2.4
Our a value is 0. So our answer is 2.4 + 0 = 2.4. The 30th percentile is 2.4 minutes.

P (X )

1
= 0.125
8
30% 70%

base = 2.4
x
0 2.4 8
Random Number
81.

(b)

P (x > 7 AND x > 4)

P (x > 7 ∣ x > 4) =
You might be wondering how I got from
the 1st to the second line. We are
P (x > 4) looking for the overlap between
P (x > 7) numbers greater than 7 AND numbers
= greater than 4. Any number greater
P (x > 4) than 7 is automatically greater than 4.
So the overlap is all of the numbers
base ⋅ height greater than 7. We can also look at this
=
base ⋅ height
graphically on numbers lines.

1
(8 − 7) ⋅ 8
Overlap, i.e. “AND”
= x >7
1
(8 − 4) ⋅ 8
1 x >4
=
4
= 0.25
85. X ~ U ( 300, 700 )

(a)

P (x > 650) = base ⋅ height

1
= (700 − 650) ⋅
400
1
= 50 ⋅
400
= 0.125
(b)
1 1
P (400 < x < 650) = base ⋅ height = (650 − 400) ⋅ = 250 ⋅ = 0.625
400 400
(c)

base ⋅ height = 0.90

1
base ⋅ = 0.90
400
⇒ base = 0.90 ⋅ 400 = 360

But, don’t forget our a value is 300…not 0! So our answer is 360 + 300 = 660. We
have a base of 360, starting from the number 300. 360 + 300 = 660✓

The truck driver travels at least 660 miles on the furthest 10% of days.

P (X ) The cutoff for the Top 10%

is the 90th percentile.

1
= 0.0025
400
90% 10%

base = 360
x
300 700
Driving Distance (miles) 660