Discrete Random Variables

1. A biased die with six faces is rolled. The discrete random variable X represents the score on
the uppermost face. The probability distribution of X is shown in the table below.

x 1 2 3 4 5 6

P(X = x) a a a b b 0.3

(a) Given that E(X) = 4.2 find the value of a and the value of b. (5)
(b) Show that E(X 2) = 20.4. (1)
(c) Find Var(5 – 3X). (3)

A biased die with five faces is rolled. The discrete random variable Y represents the score which
is uppermost. The cumulative distribution function of Y is shown in the table below.

y 1 2 3 4 5

1 2
F(y) 3k 4k 5k
10 10

(d) Find the value of k. (1)

(e) Find the probability distribution of Y. (3)

Each die is rolled once. The scores on the two dice are independent.

(f) Find the probability that the sum of the two scores equals 2. (2)

2. The discrete random variable X takes the values 1, 2 and 3 and has cumulative distribution
function F(x) given by

x 1 2 3
F(x) 0.4 0.65 1

(a) Find the probability distribution of X. (3)

(b) Write down the value of F(1.8). (1)

3. The score S when a spinner is spun has the following probability distribution.

s 0 1 2 4 5
P(S = s) 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2

(a) Find E(S). (2)

(b) Show that E(S2) = 10.4. (2)
(c) Hence find Var(S). (2)
(d) Find
(i) E(5S – 3),
(ii) Var(5S – 3). (4)
(e) Find P(5S – 3 > S + 3). (3)

The spinner is spun twice.

 The score from the first spin is S1 and the score from the second spin is S2.
The random variables S1 and S2 are independent and the random variable X = S1 × S2.
(f) Show that P({S1 = 1} ∩ X < 5) = 0.16. (2)
(g) Find P(X < 5) (3)

4. The discrete random variable X can take only the values 1, 2 and 3. For these values the
cumulative distribution function is defined by

x3 + k
F(x) = , x = 1, 2, 3.
40

(a) Show that k = 13. (2)

(b) Find the probability distribution of X (4)

259
Given that Var(X) = ,
320

(c) find the exact value of Var(4X – 5). (2)

5. A fair blue die has faces numbered 1, 1, 3, 3, 5 and 5. The random variable B represents the
score when the blue die is rolled.

(a) Write down the probability distribution for B. (2)

(b) State the name of this probability distribution. (1)
(c) Write down the value of E(B). (1)

A second die is red and the random variable R represents the score when the red die is rolled.
The probability distribution of R is
r 2 4 6

2 1 1
P(R = r)
3 6 6

(d) Find E(R). (2)

(e) Find Var(R). (3)

Tom invites Avisha to play a game with these dice.

Tom spins a fair coin with one side labelled 2 and the other side labelled 5. When Avisha sees
the number showing on the coin she then chooses one of the dice and rolls it. If the number
showing on the die is greater than the number showing on the coin, Avisha wins, otherwise
Tom wins.
Avisha chooses the die which gives her the best chance of winning each time Tom spins the
coin.

(f) Find the probability that Avisha wins the game, stating clearly which die she should use
in each case.
(4)
6. A discrete random variable X has the probability function

k (1 − x) 2 x = −1, 0, 1and 2
P(X = x) = 
0 otherwise.

1
(a) Show that k = . (3)
6
(b) Find E(X). (2)
4
(c) Show that E(X 2) = . (2)
3
(d) Find Var(1 – 3X). (3)

7. The discrete random variable X can take only the values 2, 3, 4 or 6. For these values the
probability distribution function is given by

x 2 3 4 6

5 2k 7 k
P(X = x)
21 21 21 21

where k is a positive integer.

(a) Show that k = 3. (2)

Find
(b) F(3), (1)
(c) E(X), (2)
(d) E(X 2), (2)
(e) Var (7X – 5). (4)

8. The discrete random variable Y has the probability distribution

y 1 2 3 4

P(Y = y) a b 0.3 c

where a, b and c are constants.

The cumulative distribution function F(y) of Y is given in the following table.

y 1 2 3 4

F(y) 0.1 0.5 d 1.0

where d is a constant.

(a) Find the value of a, the value of b, the value of c and the value of d. (5)
(b) Find P(3Y + 2  8). (2)
9. A spinner is designed so that the score S is given by the following probability distribution.

s 0 1 2 4 5
P(S = s) p 0.25 0.25 0.20 0.20

(a) Find the value of p. (2)

(b) Find E(S). (2)
(c) Show that E(S 2) = 9.45. (2)
(d) Find Var(S). (2)

Tom and Jess play a game with this spinner. The spinner is spun repeatedly and S counters are
awarded on the outcome of each spin. If S is even then Tom receives the counters and if S is
odd then Jess receives them. The first player to collect 10 or more counters is the winner.
(e) Find the probability that Jess wins after 2 spins. (2)
(f) Find the probability that Tom wins after exactly 3 spins. (4)
(g) Find the probability that Jess wins after exactly 3 spins. (3)

10. The discrete random variable X has the probability distribution

x 1 2 3 4

P(X = x) k 2k 3k 4k

(a) Show that k = 0.1 (1)

Find
(b) E(X ) (2)
(c) E(X 2) (2)
(d) Var (2 – 5X ) (3)

Two independent observations X1 and X2 are made of X.

(e) Show that P(X1 + X2 = 4) = 0.1 (2)
(f ) Complete the probability distribution table for X1 + X2. (2)

y 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

P(X1 + X2 = y) 0.01 0.04 0.10 0.25 0.24

(g) Find P(1.5 < X1 + X2  3.5) (2)

11. The discrete random variable X has probability distribution given by

x –1 0 1 2 3
1 1 1
P(X = x) 5 a 10 a 5

where a is a constant.
(a) Find the value of a. (2)
(b) Write down E(X). (1)
(c) Find Var(X ). (3)

The random variable Y = 6 − 2X.

(d) Find Var(Y). (2)
(e) Calculate P(X  Y). (3)
12. The probability function of a discrete random variable X is given by

p(x) = kx2, x = 1, 2, 3.

where k is a positive constant.

1
(a) Show that k = . (2)
14

Find

(b) P(X  2), (2)

(c) E(X), (2)
(d) Var (1 – X). (4)