A sample of subjective type problems from unit 2 and 3 of MTH302.

Practice all these problems well for the preparation of CA.

Q1. A random variable X has the following probability function:

Values of
X :x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
p ( x) 0.1 k 0.2 2k 0.3 3k
Find the Mean and Variance.

Q2. A probability curve y = f ( x ) has a range from 0 to ∞ . If f ( x) = e− x , find the mean and variance.

Q3. A random variable X has the following probability function:

Values
of X : x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
p ( x) k 3k 5k 7k 9k 11k 13k 15k 17k
(i). Determine the value of k .
(ii). Find P ( X < 3).

Q4. A random variable X has the following probability function:

Values of
X :x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
p ( x) 0.1 k 0.2 2k 0.3 3k
Find the value of k and construct the distribution function that is, c.d.f. for X .

Q5. Let X be a continuous random variable with p.d.f.

ax, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1
 a ,1 < x ≤ 2

f (x) = 
 − ax + 3a , 2 < x ≤ 3
 0, e lse w h er e

(i) Determine the constant a .

(ii) Compute P ( X ≤ 1.5).
(iii) Find Mean and Variance.

Q6. A student is to match three historical events (Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday, India's freedom, and First
World War) with three years (I947, 1914, 1896). If he guesses with no knowledge of the correct answers,
what is the probability distribution of the number of answers he gets correctly?

Q7. From a lot of 10 items containing 3 defectives, a sample of 4 items is drawn at random. Let the
random variable X denote the number of defective items in the sample. Find the probability distribution
of X , and also find P (0 < X < 2).
Q8. The diameter of an electric cable say, X is assumed to be a continuous random variable with
function. f ( x ) = 6 x (1 − x ) : 0 ≤ x ≤ 1. Check that it is probability density function and determine the
value of b such that P ( X < b ) = P ( X > b).

Q9. The mean and variance of a binomial variate X with parameters n and p are 16 and 8 respectively.
Find P ( X = 0), P ( X ≥ 2).

Q10. The amount of bread (in hundred pounds) X that a certain bakery is able to sell in a day is found to
be a numerical valued random phenomenon, with a probability function specified by the probability
density
ax, 0 ≤ x < 5

function f ( x ) , given by f ( x) = a (10 − x),5 ≤ x < 10
0, otherwise

(a) Find the value of a such that f ( x ) is a probability density function.
(b) What is the probability that the number of pounds of bread that will be sold tomorrow is
(i) more than 500 pounds,
(ii) less than 500 pounds,
(iii) between 250 and 750 pound

Q11. The mileage (in thousands of miles) which car owners get with a certain kind of tyre is a random
 1 − x / 20
 e ,x >0
variable having probability density function f ( x ) =  20
0, x ≤ 0
Find the probabilities that one of these tyres will-last
(i) at most 10,000 miles,
(ii) anywhere from 16,000 to 24,000 miles, (iii) at least 30,000 miles.

Q12. Ten coins are tossed simultaneously, find the probability of getting at least one head.

Q13. A coin is tossed until head appears. What is the expectation of the number of tossed required.

, 0 ≤  ≤ 1

Q14. Find the moment generating function (mgf) of the random variable X with probability density

function
 = 

0, ℎ 
.

Q15. Find the moment generating function (mgf) of the random variable X with probability mass function

 = 
 =  =  . ! ,  = 0, 1, 2, 3, ….


Q16. Let the random variable X assume the value x with the probability law:
P ( X = r ) = q r −1 p; r = 1, 2,3,... Find M.G.F of X .
Q17. Let the random variable X assume the value x with the probability function
 1
 , x = 1, 2,3,...
f ( x) =  x( x + 1)
0, otherwise

Find M.G.F of X .

Q18. Let the random variable X assume the value x with the probability function:
1
 , x = 1, 2, 3, ... Find M.G.F. of X .
f (x) =  x
 0, otherw ise

Q19. Find the moment generating function of X where X follows binomial distribution.

!"
Q20. If mgf of a random variable X is # , find the mean of X.

Q21. If mgf of a random variable X is $!

" %&
find the mean of X.

(, 0 ≤  ≤ 2
Q22. Let X is a continuous random variable with probability density function


 = ' 2(, 2 <  < 4 . (a) find the value of k, (b) find mean, (c) find 
 ≤ 2.5.
−( + 6(, 4 ≤  ≤ 6

,0 ≤  < 1
0
1
Q23. Let X is a continuous random variable with probability density function 
 = / 20 , 1 ≤  ≤ 2 .
1
0,  ℎ 

(a) find the value of k, (b) find mean, (c) find 
 ≤ 1.5.

Q24. The probability that a bomb dropped from a plane will strike the target is 1/5. If 6 bombs are
dropped then find the probability that exactly two will strike the target successfully.

Q25. If the probability that a sniper shooter miss the target is 0.0001 and in an year he made 120 hits,
what is the probability that he missed the target in 3rd hit that year?