Exercises 111

f (x )
1.0

0.5

x
!1 0 1 2

Figure 3.6: Continuous cumulative distribution function.

Thus,

0,
 y < 25 b,
5y
F (y) = 8b − 14 , 2
5 b ≤ y < 2b,


1, y ≥ 2b.

To determine the probability that the winning bid is less than the preliminary bid
estimate b, we have
5 1 3
P (Y ≤ b) = F (b) = − = .
8 4 8

Exercises

3.1 Classify the following random variables as dis- x of the random variable X, representing the number
crete or continuous: of automobiles with paint blemishes purchased by the
X: the number of automobile accidents per year agency.
in Virginia.
3.3 Let W be a random variable giving the number
Y : the length of time to play 18 holes of golf. of heads minus the number of tails in three tosses of a
M : the amount of milk produced yearly by a par- coin. List the elements of the sample space S for the
ticular cow. three tosses of the coin and to each sample point assign
N : the number of eggs laid each month by a hen. a value w of W .
P : the number of building permits issued each 3.4 A coin is flipped until 2 heads occur in succession.
month in a certain city. List only those elements of the sample space that re-
Q: the weight of grain produced per acre. quire 6 or fewer tosses. Is this a discrete sample space?
Explain.
3.2 An overseas shipment of 5 foreign automobiles 3.5 Determine the value c so that each of the follow-
contains 2 that have slight paint blemishes. If an ing functions can serve as a probability distribution of
agency receives 2 of these automobiles at random, list the discrete random variable X:
the elements of the sample space, S, using the let-
ters B and N for blemished and unblemished units, (a) f (x) = c(x2 + 4), for x = 0, 1, 2;
% &% 3 &
respectively. Then, to each sample point, assign a value (b) f (x) = c x3 3 −x , for x = 0, 1, 2.
112 Chapter 3 Random Variables and Probability Distributions

3.6 The shelf life, in days, for bottles of a certain 3.12 An investment firm o!ers its customers munici-
prescribed medicine is a random variable having the pal bonds that mature after varying numbers of years.
density function Given that the cumulative distribution function of T ,
' the number of years to maturity for a randomly se-
20,000
3 , x > 0, lected bond, is
f (x) = (x + 1 0 0 ) 
0, elsewhere.

 0, t < 1,

 1
Find the probability that a bottle of this medicine will  4 , 1 ≤ t < 3,

have a shell life of F (t) = 12 , 3 ≤ t < 5,

 3
(a) at least 200 days; 
 , 5 ≤ t < 7,
4

(b) anywhere from 80 to 120 days. 1, t ≥ 7,

find
3.7 The total number of hours, measured in units of
100 hours, that a family runs a vacuum cleaner over a (a) P (T = 5);
period of one year is a continuous random variable X (b) P (T > 3);
that has the density function (c) P (1.4 < T < 6);
 (d) P (T ≤ 5 | T ≥ 2).
x, 0 < x < 1,
f (x) = 2 − x, 1 ≤ x < 2,
 3.13 The probability distribution of X, the number
0, elsewhere. of imperfections per 10 meters of a synthetic fabric in
continuous rolls of uniform width, is given by
Find the probability that over a period of one year, a
family runs their vacuum cleaner x 0 1 2 3 4
f (x) 0.41 0.37 0.16 0.05 0.01
(a) fewer than 110 hours;
Construct the cumulative distribution function of X.
(b) between 60 and 100 hours.
3.14 The waiting time, in hours, between successive
3.8 Find the probability distribution of the random speeders spotted by a radar unit is a continuous ran-
variable W in Exercise 3.3, assuming that the coin is dom variable with a cumulative distribution function
biased so that a head is twice as likely to occur as a (
tail. 0, x < 0,
F (x) =
1 − e−4 x , x ≥ 0.
3.9 The proportion of people who respond to a certain
mail-order solicitation is a continuous random variable Find the probability of waiting fewer than 12 minutes
X that has the density function between successive speeders
' (a) using the cumulative distribution function of X;
2 (x + 2 )
, 0 < x < 1,
f (x) = 5 (b) using the probability density function of X.
0, elsewhere.
3.15 Find the cumulative distribution function of the
(a) Show that P (0 < X < 1) = 1.
random variable X representing the number of defec-
(b) Find the probability that more than 1/4 but fewer tives in Exercise 3.11. Then using F (x), find
than 3/4 of the people contacted will respond to
(a) P (X = 1);
this type of solicitation.
(b) P (0 < X ≤ 2).
3.10 Find a formula for the probability distribution
of the random variable X representing the outcome 3.16 Construct a graph of the cumulative distribution
when a number is drawn at random from a hat having function of Exercise 3.15.
numbers from 0 to 9.
3.17 A continuous random variable X that can as-
3.11 A shipment of 7 televisions contains 2 defec- sume values between x = 1 and x = 3 has a density
tive ones. A hotel makes a random purchase of 3 function given by f (x) = 1/2.
televisions. If x is the number of defective ones pur- (a) Show that the area under the curve is equal to 1.
chased by the hotel, find the probability distribution (b) Find P (2 < X < 2.5).
of X. Express the results graphically as a probability
(c) Find P (X ≤ 1.6).
histogram.
Exercises 113

3.18 A continuous random variable X that can as- (b) Determine the probability that the component (and
sume values between x = 2 and x = 5 has a density thus the DVD player) lasts more than 1000 hours
function given by f (x) = 2(1 + x)/27. Find before the component needs to be replaced.
(a) P (X < 4); (c) Determine the probability that the component fails
(b) P (3 ≤ X < 4). before 2000 hours.

3.28 A cereal manufacturer is aware that the weight

3.19 For the density function of Exercise 3.17, find
of the product in the box varies slightly from box
F (x). Use it to evaluate P (2 < X < 2.5).
to box. In fact, considerable historical data have al-
lowed the determination of the density function that
3.20 For the density function of Exercise 3.18, find describes the probability structure for the weight (in
F (x), and use it to evaluate P (3 ≤ X < 4). ounces). Letting X be the random variable weight, in
ounces, the density function can be described as
3.21 Consider the density function (2
( √ , 23.75 ≤ x ≤ 26.25,
k x, 0 ≤ x < 4, f (x) = 5
f (x) = 0, elsewhere.
0, elsewhere.
(a) Verify that this is a valid density function.
(a) Evaluate k. (b) Determine the probability that the weight is
(b) Find F (x) and use it to evaluate P (3 < X < 4). smaller than 24 ounces.
(c) The company desires that the weight exceeding 26
3.22 Two cards are drawn in succession from a deck ounces be an extremely rare occurrence. What is
without replacement. Find the probability distribution the probability that this rare occurrence does ac-
for the number of spades. tually occur?

3.23 Find the cumulative distribution function of the 3.29 An important factor in solid missile fuel is the
random variable W in Exercise 3.8. Using F (w), find particle size distribution. Significant problems occur if
(a) P (W > 0); the particle sizes are too large. From production data
in the past, it has been determined that the particle
(b) P (−1 ≤ W < 3). size (in micrometers) distribution is characterized by
( −4
3.24 Find the probability distribution for the num- 3x , x > 1,
f (x) =
ber of comic books when 4 books are selected at ran- 0, elsewhere.
dom from a collection consisting of 5 comic books, 2
art books, and 3 math books. Express your results by (a) Verify that this is a valid density function.
means of a formula. (b) Evaluate F (x).
(c) What is the probability that a random particle
3.25 From a box containing 4 dimes and 2 nickels,
from the manufactured fuel exceeds 4 micrometers?
3 coins are selected at random without replacement.
Find the probability distribution for the total T of the
3 coins. Express the probability distribution graphi- 3.30 Measurements of scientific systems are always
cally as a probability histogram. subject to variation, some more than others. There
are many structures for measurement error, and statis-
3.26 From a box containing 3 black balls and 2 green ticians spend a great deal of time modeling these errors.
balls, 3 balls are drawn in succession, each ball being Suppose the measurement error X of a certain physical
replaced in the box before the next draw is made. Find quantity is decided by the density function
the probability distribution for the number of green (
k(3 − x2 ), −1 ≤ x ≤ 1,
balls. f (x) =
0, elsewhere.
3.27 The time to failure in hours of an important (a) Determine k that renders f (x) a valid density func-
piece of electronic equipment used in a DVD player tion.
has the density function
(b) Find the probability that a random error in mea-
( 1 surement is less than 1/2.
exp(−x/1000), x ≥ 0,
f (x) = 1000
(c) For this particular measurement, it is undesirable
0, x < 0.
if the magnitude of the error (i.e., |x|) exceeds 0.8.
(a) Find F (x). What is the probability that this occurs?
114 Chapter 3 Random Variables and Probability Distributions

3.31 Based on extensive testing, it is determined by 3.34 Magnetron tubes are produced on an automated
the manufacturer of a washing machine that the time assembly line. A sampling plan is used periodically to
Y (in years) before a major repair is required is char- assess quality of the lengths of the tubes. This mea-
acterized by the probability density function surement is subject to uncertainty. It is thought that
( 1 −y / 4 the probability that a random tube meets length spec-
e , y ≥ 0, ification is 0.99. A sampling plan is used in which the
f (y) = 4
0, elsewhere. lengths of 5 random tubes are measured.
(a) Show that the probability function of Y , the num-
(a) Critics would certainly consider the product a bar- ber out of 5 that meet length specification, is given
gain if it is unlikely to require a major repair before by the following discrete probability function:
the sixth year. Comment on this by determining
P (Y > 6). 5!
(b) What is the probability that a major repair occurs f (y) = (0.99)y (0.01)5 −y ,
y!(5 − y)!
in the first year?
for y = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
3.32 The proportion of the budget for a certain type (b) Suppose random selections are made o! the line
of industrial company that is allotted to environmental and 3 are outside specifications. Use f (y) above ei-
and pollution control is coming under scrutiny. A data ther to support or to refute the conjecture that the
collection project determines that the distribution of probability is 0.99 that a single tube meets specifi-
these proportions is given by cations.
(
5(1 − y)4 , 0 ≤ y ≤ 1,
f (y) = 3.35 Suppose it is known from large amounts of his-
0, elsewhere. torical data that X, the number of cars that arrive at
(a) Verify that the above is a valid density function. a specific intersection during a 20-second time period,
is characterized by the following discrete probability
(b) What is the probability that a company chosen at function:
random expends less than 10% of its budget on en-
vironmental and pollution controls? e−4 4x
(c) What is the probability that a company selected f (x) = , for x = 0, 1, 2, . . . .
x!
at random spends more than 50% of its budget on
environmental and pollution controls? (a) Find the probability that in a specific 20-second
time period, more than 8 cars arrive at the
3.33 Suppose a certain type of small data processing intersection.
firm is so specialized that some have difficulty making (b) Find the probability that only 2 cars arrive.
a profit in their first year of operation. The probabil-
ity density function that characterizes the proportion 3.36 For a laboratory assignment, if the equipment is
Y that makes a profit is given by working, the density function of the observed outcome,
( 2 X, is
ky (1 − y)3 , 0 ≤ y ≤ 1,
f (y) = (
0, elsewhere. 2(1 − x), 0 < x < 1,
f (x) =
(a) What is the value of k that renders the above a 0, otherwise.
valid density function?
(b) Find the probability that at most 50% of the firms (a) Calculate P (X < 0.5).
make a profit in the first year. (b) What is the probability that X will exceed 0.4?
(c) Find the probability that at least 80% of the firms (c) Given that X ≥ 0.5, what is the probability that
make a profit in the first year. X will be less than 0.7?

3.4 Joint Probability Distributions

Our study of random variables and their probability distributions in the preced-
ing sections is restricted to one-dimensional sample spaces, in that we recorded
outcomes of an experiment as values assumed by a single random variable. There
will be situations, however, where we may find it desirable to record the simulta-