Review Module – Data Analytics 2

DISCRETE: POISSON DISTRIBUTION and rubber bands. X may be regarded as a random variable with
probability function.
𝑘(𝑥 − 1)(4 − 𝑥), 1<𝑥<4
𝑓(𝑥) = {
1. The Poisson distribution is a discrete probability distribution. 0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
2. It expresses the probability of a number of events occurring in a fixed Find the probability that X exceeds 3.5
time if these events occur with a known average rate and are
independent of the time since the last event. 5. The random variable, X, has a probability density function.
𝑘(8 − 2𝑥), 0<𝑥<4
𝑓(𝑥) = {
The probability distribution of Poisson Random variable X, representing 0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
the number of outcomes occurring in each time interval is Determine the median.
𝜇 𝑥 𝑒 −𝜇
𝑃(𝑥) = CONTINUOUS: EXPONENTIAL DISTRIBUTION
𝑥!

1. Suppose that a computer program will make an average of 3 errors The exponential distribution is a probability distribution that anticipates
per 300 words of translation. Suppose we randomly select a 600- the time interval between successive events. The events should occur
word passage translated by this program. Assuming that the continuously and should be independent of each other.
Poisson distribution applies:
a. Find the probability that no errors will be found. Probability Density Function:
1
b. Find the probability that more than 15 errors will be found. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒
1 − 𝑥
𝜇 .
c. Find the probability that fewer than 7 errors will be found. 𝜇

2. The exterior of a building consists of one hundred 3m x 5m glass 6. A checkout counter at a supermarket completes the process
panels. Past records indicate that on average one flaw is found in according to an exponential distribution with a service rate of 6 per
every 50 sq.m of this type of glass panels; also a panel containing hour. A customer arrives at the checkout counter. Find the
two or more flaws will eventually cause breakage problems and probability of the following events.
have to be replaced. The occurrence of flaws may be assumed to a. The service is completed in fewer than 5 minutes.
be a Poisson process. What is the probability that a given panel will b. The customer leaves the checkout counter more than 10 minutes
be replaced? after arriving.
c. The service is completed in exactly 7 minutes.
POISSON APPROXIMATION TO THE
BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION CONTINUOUS: NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Assuming that n is large, p is small and that np is constant, the terms The normally distributed curve should be symmetric, bell-shaped
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑛𝐶𝑥(𝑝)𝑥 (1 − 𝑝)𝑛−𝑥 distribution which is defined by the mean and standard deviation.

of a binomial distribution may be closely approximated by the terms Probability Density Function:
𝜇 𝑥 𝑒 −𝜇 1 1 𝑥−𝜇 2
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 − 2(𝜎 )
𝑥! 𝜎√2𝜋
of the Poisson distribution for corresponding values of x.
7. Suppose the diameters of bolts manufactured by a company are
3. A manufacturer produces light-bulbs that are packed into boxes of normally distributed with mean of 0.25 inches and standard
100. If quality control studies indicate that 0.5% of the light-bulbs deviation 0.02 inches. A bolt is considered defective if its diameter
produced are defective, what percentage of the boxes will contain is Greater than or equal to 0.28 inches or less than or equal to 0.20
exactly 3 defectives? inches. Find the percentage of defective bolts manufactured by the
company.
CONTINUOUS PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION 8. The length of life (in hours) of a certain type of electric bulb is
normally distributed with a mean life of 500 hours and a standard
deviation of 30 hours. What is the probability that a random sample
A probability distribution in which the random variable X can take on any of a bulb will have a life between 472 and 518 hours?
of possible values (is continuous). The probability that X falls between
two values (a and b) equals the integral (area under the curve), NORMAL CURVE APPROXIMATION TO THE
represented by a probability density function, from a to b: BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION
𝑏
𝑃(𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏) = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 > 0 9. A fair coin is tossed 10 times, show the probability distribution of
𝑎
number of heads.
10. A coin is tossed 400 times. Use the normal curve approximation to
4. A charity group raises funds by collecting waste paper. A skip-full find the probability of obtaining
will contain an amount of X, of other materials such as plastic bags a. exactly 205 heads
b. between 185 and 210 heads inclusive
Sampling Distribution
14. The length of life (in hours) of a certain type of electric bulb is
a random variable with a mean life of 500 hours and a standard
deviation of 35 hours. What is the approximate probability that a
random sample of 49 bulbs will have a mean life between 488 and
505 hours?

Reliability
The reliability of a component or product as the probability that it
will function properly for at least a specified time under specified
experimental conditions.

15. The mean time between failures of a metal cutting lathe is

2770 hours. Assuming an exponential distribution, what is the
reliability of the lathe after operating for 700 hours?

16. A mechanical component exhibits a negative exponential

failure with a mean time to failure of 1000 hours. What is the
maximum operating time such that the reliability remains above
99%

CE Board NOV 2018

17. An engineering consultant company must decide between two
jobs. The decision is based on the following information
Job 1
Probability 0.2 0.8
Outcome loss of Php 30,000 profit of Php 100,000

Job 2
Probability 0.4 0.6
Outcome loss of PhP 20,000 profit of PhP125,000
Which job has greater expected profit? and state how much is the
expected profit.

18. Determine the Expectation, Variance and Standard Deviation

for the probability distribution below.

x 1 2 3 4 5 6
p(x) 11/36 9/36 7/36 5/36 3/36 1/36

19.The waiting time X (in minutes) of a car waiting in tollgate of

North Luzon Expressway is given below
2𝑒 −2𝑥 , 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 0;
𝑓𝑥 (𝑥 ) = {
0, 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒

a. Determine the average waiting time.

b. Determine the standard deviation.