PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 1
UNIT-2
1. Explain in detail about cumulative distribution function (CDF)?
Ans:
CUMULATIVE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION (CDF)
It is the probability that a random variable X takes values less than or equal to x and is
denoted as F
X
(x).

Thus, F
X
(x) = P ( X x) , where P ( X x) = P
i

x
i
x
i.e., to get cumulative distribution function of a random variable X, add all the probabilities
with which 'X' takes all the values less than or equal to x.
Consider the random experiment of tossing a die. Let X be the random variable defined on
the sample space of the above experiment such that it takes values equal to the outcomes of the
experiments.
Thus, the probability distribution of X is
TABLE 1:

The CDF of this random variable is
F
x
( 1 ) = P(X l) = l/6
F
x
(2) = P( X 2) = P ( X = 1) + P(X=2) = 2/6
F
x
(3) = P (X 3) = P ( X= 1) + P ( X= 2) + P(X = 3) = 3/6
F
x
(4) = P (X 4) = P ( X= 1) + P( X= 2) + P(X= 3) + P ( X= 4) = 4/6
F
x
( 5 ) = P ( X 5) = P ( X= 1) + P ( X= 2) + P (X- 3) + P( X= 4) + P (X=
5)= 5/6
F
x
(6) = P(X=6) = P(X= l) + P(X=2) + P(X=3) + P(X-4)
+ P(X=5) + P(X=6) = 1


The above CDF is plotted for different values(x
i
) taken by X as

X=x
i
1 2 3 4 5 6
P(x=x
i
) 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6
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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 2
Thus, the above plot is a stair case wave form. The above random variable is discrete
random variable, and for any discrete random variable, the CDF plot is a stair case function.
Thus, CDF of a discrete random variable can be expressed as
F
X
( x ) = P(xi). u(x - xi)
N
=1




where P(x
i
) is the probability of X = x
i
and U(x - x
{
) is the unit step function defined from
x = x
i
.
The CDF plot of a continuous random variable will be a continuous function.

The CDF of a mixed random variable is discontinuous, but not in a stair case function.
Ex:



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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 3
2. Explain the properties of CDF ?
Ans: PROPERTIES OF CDF

1. F
X
( x) 0 and 0 F
X
( x) 1 :
Since, CDF is sum of the probabilities and since probabilities are always non-negative (i.e.,
greater than or equal to zero), CDF is always non-negative.
It is numerically bounded between 0 and 1.

2.(i) F
X
( - ) = 0 :

As per the definition of CDF, F
X
(-) = P ( X - ) since X is having all the
assigned real values existing between - and + , and since there are no real numbers
less than - , P( X - ) = 0, i.e., F
X
(-) = 0
(ii) F
X
( - ) = 1 :
As per the definition of CDF, F
X
() = P ( X) i.e., it includes all the values taken by
X and the sum of the probabilities of X taking all the values less than or equal to is 1.

3 . F
X
( x ) is a non-decreasing function:
i.e., F
X
(x
1
) F
X
(x
2
) if x
1
< x
2
since F
X
(x
2
) considers as many or more of the events in
the sample space as F
X
(x
1
).

4. F
X
(x
2
) - F
X
(x
1
) = P(x
1
<X x
2
) if x
2
< x
1.
5. P( X>x ) =1 - F
X
( x ) ,
Si nce F
X
( x ) = P( X x )

3. Explain briefly about probability density function and its significance?
Ans:
X=x
i
1 2 3 4 5 6
P(X=x
i
) 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6

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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 4


PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTION (PDF):
Probability density function (PDF) of a random variable X is defined as
f
X
(x)=
d
dx
F
X
(x).i.e., change in CDF is named as PDF.
Consider the CDF plot in fig 3.1
From x
i
= - to x
i
=0, there is no change in CDF , and hence PDF=0.
At x
i
= 1, CDF is changed by 1/6. So, the Pdf of that random variable at x
i
= 1 is 1/6
From x
i
= 1 to x
i
= 2, there is no change in CDF and hence Pdf = 0.
At x
i
= 2, CDF is changed from 1/6 to 2/6 i.e., by 1/6, and so Pdf - 1/6.
Thus, the plot of Pdf is given as







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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 5

Thus, the PDF of a discrete random variable is an impulse train. Thus ,the PDF of a discrete
random variable can be expressed

d
dx
F
X
(x) =
d
dx
| P(x

). u(x -x

]
P(x

). o(x -x

j
d
dx
u(x) = o(x)[
For a continuous random variable since CDF is a continuous function, its Pdf which is d/dx(CDF) is also a
continuous function, provided the derivative exists. In the CDF plot of a continuous random variable, at the points
where there is an abrupt change in the slope, the Pdf is plotted as a step-type discontinuity.

Significance of PDF:
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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 6
Consider the following probability distribution of a discrete of a discrete random variable X:
X=x
i

1 2 3
P(X
=x
i
)
1
/
3
1
/
3
1
/
3






Its PDF plot is

Here, Pdf at X = 1 is 1/3 and P ( X = 1) is also 1/3 . Similarly Pdf at X = 2 is same
P( X = 2) and so on.
Thus, for a discrete random variable, probability and probability density function are found to be the same.
So, to specify a discrete random variable, both of the above need not be specified.



4. Explain the properties of PDF?
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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 7
Ans:
PROPERTIES OF PDF:
1. f
X
( x ) 0
Since, Pdf is the change in CDF and CDF always changes by a non negative amount i.e.
probability, Pdf is always non-negative.

2. ] (x). Jx = 1

-

since f
X
x =
d
dx
F
X
(x) =] (x). Jx = F
X
(x)

-

= F
X
(+) - F
X
(-)
From the property of CDF, F
X
(+)=1 and F
X
(-) = u
Therefore ] (x). Jx = 1

-

Similarly, sinef(x).dx is the probability for a random variable X to be present in a range of
width dx, the total probability for X to be in the range (-, ) is 1.

So, ] (x). Jx = 1

-

Thus, the area enabled by the pdf between the density limits is always equal to unity.
3. F
X
(x) = ]
X
(x). Jx
x
-

Consider a random variable X with a density function f ( x) =
x
6
for 2 x 4
= 0 else where

Its CDF is given as F
X
(x) =](x) . Jx

To decide the limits of the integration

(i) First, consider the limits as it is defined for X.

F
X
(x)=]
x
6
4
2
dx =1
These limits give the value of F
X
( x) at i.e., at the largest value taken by X i.e., 4. But, the
CDF at remaining X between 2 and 4 can't be obtained.
(ii) So, to get an expression for CDF in terms of x, take the lower limits of the integration as
defined for X and upper limit as x

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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 8
So, F
X
(x) = ]
x
6
Jx
x
2
=
x
2
-4
12

Thus, for whatever x we want to find the CDF ,that x can be substituted.

Thus, F
X
(x) = 0 for x < 2

=
x
2
-4
12
for 2 x 4

= 1 for x > 4
5. Explain the Gaussian distribution with a neat sketch of CDF and PDF?
Ans:
The PDF of a Gaussian distribution is given as
f (x)=
1
2o
2
e
-(x-m)
2
2o
2

This is also called normal density function N (m,
2
), where m is mean of the random variable X and
2

is its variance consider
J
Jx
(x) = u
=
1

2o
2
e
-(x-m)
2
2o
2

j
-2(x-m)
2o
2
[ =
= x=m
i.e.,Gaussian density is of maximum value at x= m and that maximum value is
1

2o
2

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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 9
Its density is plotted as









It is a bell shaped
curve, and extends
from x =- to x = +
and encloses unit
area.

Consider P(X K)=] (x)Jx
k
-

=1-] (x)Jx

k

P(X K)=1-]
1
2o
2
e
-(x-m)
2
2o
2
Jx

k

Let
x-m
c
=p i.e., dx= dp
Lower limit for P=
x-m
o

Upper limit for P= o
Therefore P(X K) = 1 -
1
2
] c
-
p
2
2
JP

k-m
o

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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 10
=1-Qj
k-m
c
[
Therefore The CDF of Gaussian distribution is
F
X
(x) =1- Qj
k-m
c
[




It is plotted as


6. (a)Explain CDF and PDF for a random variable ?
(b)Explain condition distribution and state its properties
(c)What is conditional density .List its properties
ANS: (a) Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF):
This function is very close to relative frequency function which gives the probabilities of
different outcomes of a random experiment. The CDF is the probability less than or equal to
some specified value or outcome of a random experiment.
This is defined as
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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 11
where x
k
is some value that belongs to the random variable X. Note that, F
X
(x
k
) is a function of
x, not of the random variable X. For any point x
k
, the distribution function F
X
( x
k
) express a
probability.
Probability Density Function (PDF):
The probability density function is defined as
With reference to the following plot of the distribution function against the possible outcome
Therefore the probability of finding random variable x in infinitesimally small interval 'dx'
is given by
P( x X ( x + dx)) = P
X
( x ) dx
Similarly probability of finding random variable between x
1
to x
2
is given by

P(x
1
X x
2
) = ] P
X
(x)
x
2
x
1
dx
We know that conditional probability of A given that B already occurred can be given by

P[
A
B
=
P(A n B)
P(B)

Let event A = { X<x } for the random variable X. Then conditional distribution function
of X is symbolically expressed and mathematically defined as

F
X
[
A
B
= P [X
x
B

=
P{X<x n B]
P(B)

Where X x n B

implies the joint event

{X x ]n B

Properties of Conditional Distribution:

1. F
X
[
-
B
= u

2. F
X
[

B
= 1

3. F
X
[
x
B
u

4. F
X
[
x
B
1

5. F
X
[
x
1
B

F
X
[
x
2
B

if x
1
x
2
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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 12
6
.P[x
1
< X
x
2
B
=F
X
[
x
2
B
-F
X
(x
1
)
(c) Conditional density function of a random variable X is defined as the derivative of the
conditional distribution function. It is expressed as

P
X
[
x
B
=
dF[
x
B

dx

Properties:
1.P
X
[
x
B
u

2.] PX[
x
B
Jx = 1

-

3. F
X
[
x
B
= ] PX[
x
B
Jx
x
-

4. P]x
1
< X
x
2
B
= ] P
X
[
x
B
Jx
x
2
x
1










7. A random variable X is having a CDF given by
F
X
(x) =0 for x<0
= kx
2
for 0 x 10
= 100k for x > 10
Find (a) k (b)P(X5) (c) P(5<X7)
sol:
(a) Since Fx() =1 => 100 K= 1
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GRIETECE 13
=> K= 1/100

(b) By definition of CDF, F
X
(x)= P(Xx)
Here, we have to find P (X < 5) i.e., FX(5)
F
X
(5)=F
X
(x) =Kx
2
=25K=25/100=1/4

(c) Since P(x1<Xx2)=F
X
(x
2
)F
X
(x
1
)
P(5<X7)=F
X
(7)-F
X
(5)=Kx
2

x=7
- Kx
2

x=5
=49K-25K=24K=24/100
8. Find the values of the constants 'a' and 'b' such that the CDF = [1 a.e
-x
h
]
u (x) is a valid distribution function, u (x) is a unit step function.
Sol: F
X
(x) will be a valid distribution function if and only if the corresponding pdf F
X
(x) is
valid
F
X
(x)=
d
dx
F
X
(x) =
d
dx
[1 a.c
-x
b
]
=
u
b
c
-x
b

For F
X
(x) to be valid, it should enclose unit area
i.e. ] (x). Jx = 1 => ]
u
b
c
-x
b
. Jx = 1

0

=>a=1
Thus, for the above CDF to be valid distribution function,a=1;b0

8. A Rayleigh function is given by
f
X
(x)=x.e
-x
2
2
for x 0
=0 for x<0

Find the CDF?
Sol: f
X
(x)=] (t)
x
0
= ] tc
t
2
2
. Jt
x
0

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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 14
Let
t
2
2
= P =>2t/2 .dt=dp
=>t.dt=dp
Lower limit for p=0
Upper limit for p=x
2
/2
Therefore F
X
(x)=] c
-p
. Jp = -c
-p
x
2
2
x
(from x
2
/2 to 0)=1-c
-x
2
2

Therefore F
X
(x)=[1-e
-x
2
2
]u(x)
9. Consider the probability density/ (x) where x is a random variable whose allowable
values range from x = - to . Find:
(i) The CDF F (x)
(ii) The relationship between a & b and
(iii) The probability 'that the outcome x lies
between 1 and 2.
Sol:
(i) The CDF F(x)
For x<0 F
X
(x)=] o. c
bx
x
-
dx=aj
c
bx
b
[=
u
b
. c
bx

For x0 F
X
(x)= ] o. c
bx
0
-
dx +] o. c
-bx
x
0
dx
=
u
b
|c
bx
]
-
0
+
u
b
|c
bx
]
0
x
=
u
b
+
u
b
|1 -c
-bx
]
(ii)The relationship between a and b
] c
bx
0
-
+ ] o. c
bx

0
Jx=1
u
b
|c
bx
]
-
0

+
u
b
|-c
-bx
]
0

=1
o
b
+
o
b
= 1 => 2o = b => b =
o
2

(iii) The probability 'that the outcome x lies between 1 and 2.

GRIETECE 15
10.consider the experiment of tossing four fair coins .The random variables X
is associated with the number of tails showing. Compute and sketch the CDF
of x
Sol:

Outcome of the Expt. No. of Tails Appeared Value Taken by X
p(X = xj)

TTTT 4 4 1/16

TTTH 3 3 1/16

TTHT 3 ' 3 1/16

TTHH 2 2 1/16

THTT 3 3 1/16

THTH 2 2 1/16

THHT 2 2 1/16

THHH 1 1 1/16

HTTT 3 3 1/16

HTTH 2 2 1/16

HTHT 2 2 1/16

HTHH 1 1 1/16

HHTT 2 2 1/16

HHTH 1 1 1/16

HHHT 1 1 1/16

HHHH 0 0 1/16

The probability distribution of X is
x
i
0 1 2 3 4

P(X= x
i
) 1/16 4/16 6/16 4/16 1/16

T h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g C DF i s
F
X
( 0 ) = 1 / 1 6 ; F
X
(1) = 5 / 1 6 ; F
X
( 2 ) = 1 1 / 1 6 ; F
X
( 3 ) = 1 5 / 1 6 ; F
X
( 4 ) = 1
T h e C DF

i s p l o t a s
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PTSP-UNIT II Questions & Answers

GRIETECE 16

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