I.B.

Mathematics HL Core: Discrete and Continuous Random Variables

Index:

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Question 1 Question 2

Question 3 Question 4

Question 5 Question 6

Question 7 Question 8

Question 9

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Question 1

A bag contains 4 blue balls and 5 yellow balls. A ball is picked out at random from
the bag and its colour is noted. The ball is not replaced and a second one is
drawn.

a. Draw a probability tree showing all of the different outcomes.

b. Let X be the random variable ‘the number of yellow balls’. Copy and
complete the following probability distribution for X.

x 0 1 2
p(X = x)

c. Find E ( X ) .

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Solution to question 1

a. Drawing the probability tree.

 4  3  1
p (B2 ) =
3 p (B1 ∩ B2 ) =    =
8  9  8  6

4
p (B1 ) =
9  4  5  5
p (B1 ∩ Y2 ) =    =
5  9  8  18
p (Y2 ) =
8
4  5  4  5
p (B2 ) = p (Y1 ∩ B2 ) =    =
8  9  8  18

5
p (Y1 ) =
9

4  5  4  5
p (Y2 ) = p (Y1 ∩ Y2 ) =    =
8  9  8  18

 4  3  1
b. p ( X = 0 ) = p (B1 ∩ B2 ) =    =
 9  8  6

 4  5   5   4  5 5 5
p ( X = 1) = p (B1 ∩ Y2 ) + p (Y1 ∩ B2 ) =    +     = + =
 9  8   9   8  18 18 9

 5  4  5
p ( X = 0 ) = p (Y1 ∩ Y2 ) =    =
 9  8  18

x 0 1 2
1 5 5
p(X = x)
6 9 18

 1 5  5  1
c. E ( X ) = ∑ xp ( X = x ) = 0   + 1  + 2   = 1
all x 6 9  18  9

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Question 2

The probability distribution of the random variable X is as shown in the following

table.

x 1 2 3 4 5
p(X = x) 2k 3k 4k 5k 6k

1
a. Show that k = .
20
b. Find E ( X ) .
c. ( )
Find E X 2 .
d. Find Var ( X ) .
e. Find the standard deviation σ .

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Solution to question 2

x 1 2 3 4 5
p(X = x) 2k 3k 4k 5k 6k

a. ∑ p(X = x) = 1
all x

2k + 3k + 4k + 5k + 6k = 1
20k = 1
1
k=
20

b. Rewriting the probability distribution into the table we have

x 1 2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5 6
p(X = x)
20 20 20 20 20
 2   3   4   5   6  1
E ( X ) = ∑ xp ( X = x ) = 1  + 2  + 3  + 4  + 5 =3
all x  20   20   20   20   20  2

c. ( )
E X 2 = ∑ x2p ( X = x )
all x

 2  2 3  2 4   5  2 6 
= 12   +2   +3   + 42   + 5  20 
 20   20   20   20   
= 14

2
7 3
d. Var ( X ) = E X ( )
2
− E ( X ) = 14 −   = 1
2

2 4

7 1
e. Standard deviation = σ = Var ( X ) = = 7 ≈ 1.32
4 2

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Question 3

The probability that a student travels to school by car is 0.6. From a sample of 12
pupils chosen at random find the probability that

a. only four travel by car,

b. less than three travel by car,

c. ten or more travel by car.

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Solution to question 3

Let X be the random variable ‘the number of students who travel to school by car’

Probability of success is p = 0.6 and failure q = 1 − p = 1 − 0.6 = 0.4

X ∼ Bin ( n, p ) ∼ Bin (12, 0.6 ) and p ( X = x ) = nCx q n − x p x = 12Cx (0.4 ) (0.6 )
12 − x x

p ( X = 4 ) = 12C4 (0.4 ) (0.6 ) = 12C4 (0.4 ) (0.6 ) = 0.042042 = 0.0420

12 − 4 4 8 4
a.

b. p ( X < 3 ) = p ( X = 0 ) + p ( X = 1) + p ( X = 2 )
= 12C0 (0.4 ) (0.6 ) + 12C1 (0.4 ) (0.6 ) + 12C2 (0.4 ) (0.6 )
12 0 11 1 10 2

= 0.000016777 + 0.00030198 + 0.0024914

= 0.0028101
= 0.00281

c. p ( X ≥ 10 ) = p ( X = 10 ) + p ( X = 11) + p ( X = 12 )
= 12C10 (0.4 ) (0.6 ) + 12C11 (0.4 ) (0.6 ) + 12C12 (0.4 ) (0.6 )
2 10 1 11 0 12

= 0.063852 + 0.017414 + 0.0021767

= 0.0834427
= 0.0834

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Question 4

In a penalty shoot out the probability that Henry scores a goal is 0.3. Find how
many penalties must be taken so that the probability of scoring at least one goal
is greater than 0.9.

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Solution to question 4

Let X be the random variable ’the number goals scored’

Probability of success is p = 0.3 and failure q = 1 − p = 1 − 0.3 = 0.7
X ∼ Bin ( n, p ) ∼ Bin (n, 0.3 ) and p ( X = x ) = nCx q n − x p x = nCx (0.4 ) (0.6 )
n−x x

We require the probability of at least one to be greater than 0.9

p ( X ≥ 1) > 0.9
1 − p ( X = 0 ) > 0.9
1 − nC0 (0.7 ) (0.3 ) > 0.9
n 0

1 − (0.7 ) > 0.9

n
Note nC0 = 1
0.1 > (0.7 )
n

log (0.1) > log (0.7 )

n

log (0.1) > n log (0.7 )

log (0.1)
<n Note that log (0.7 ) is -ve
log (0.7 )
n > 6.46

n has to be greater or equal to 7 times.

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Question 5

If X ∼ Bin ( n, p ) , with a mean of 4 and variance of 3, find the values of p and n.

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Solution to question 5

X ∼ Bin ( n, p )

E ( X ) = np np = 4…1.
Var ( X ) = npq = np (1 − p ) = 3 np (1 − p ) = 3… 2.

4
From 1 we have p = and substitute into 2.
n
 4  4 
n   1−  = 3
 n  n 
 4
4 1−  = 3
 n
16
4− =3
n
4n − 16 = 3n
n = 16

4 4 1
p= = =
n 16 4

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Question 6

The time (t minutes) spent by a pupil arriving to their mathematics class after the
bell has rung is modelled by the function

e − t t >0
ƒ (x ) = 
0 otherwise

a. Prove that ƒ ( x ) represents a probability density function.

b. Find the probability that a pupil will arrive to class one minute after the bell
has rung.

c. Students who arrive three minutes after the bell receive a detention. If there
are 30 students in the class, how many can expect to receive a detention?
(Show clearly all your working out).

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Solution to question 6

e − t t >0
ƒ (x ) = 
0 otherwise

a. To prove ∫ ƒ ( x ) dx = 1
all x
∞
∞ ∞  1 1 1
⇒ ∫ e dt =  −e 
−t −t
= − t  = − ∞ + 0 = 0 + 1 = 1
0 0
 e 0 e e

∞
∞ ∞  1 1 1
b. p ( X > 1) = ∫ e dt =  −e 
−t −t
=  − t  = − ∞ + 1 = 0.368
1 1
 e 1 e e

∞
∞ ∞  1 1 1 1
c. p ( X > 3) = ∫ e − t dt =  −e − t  =  − t  = − ∞ + 3 = 3
3 3
 e 1 e e e

The number of students who receive a detention is e −3 (30 ) ≈ 1.49 ( )

Approximately 1 student will receive a detention.

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Question 7

A continuous random variable X has a probability density function ƒ ( x ) where

kx 2 0≤x≤2

ƒ ( x ) = k ( 6 − x ) 2 ≤ x ≤ 6
 otherwise
0

3
a. Show that k =
32
b. Sketch y = ƒ ( x )
c. Find p (1 ≤ X ≤ 3 ) .

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Solution to question 7

kx 2 0≤x≤2

ƒ ( x ) = k ( 6 − x ) 2 ≤ x ≤ 6
 otherwise
0

a.
∫
all x
ƒ ( x ) dx = 1

2 6

k
∫ 0
x 2dx + k
∫ 2
(6 − x ) dx = 1
2 6
 x3   x2 
k   + k 6x −  = 1
 3 0  2 2
8
k + k (36 − 18 − 12 + 2 ) = 1
3
8
k + 8k = 1
3
32
k =1
3
3
k=
32

b. Writing out the probability density function we have

3 2
 32 x 0≤x≤2

3
ƒ ( x ) =  (6 − x ) 2≤ x≤6
 32
0 otherwise



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 Sketching the graph of y = ƒ ( x )

3 2
y= x
32

3
y= (6 − x )
32

c. Notice from the diagram the integral has to be done in two parts
2 3

∫ ∫
3 3
p (1 ≤ X ≤ 3 ) = 2
x dx + (6 − x ) dx
32 1 32 2
2 3
3  x3  3  x2 
=   + 6 x − 
32  3  1 32  2 2
3 8 1 3  9 
=  − + 18 − − 12 + 2
32  3 3  32  2 
3 7 3 7
= +
32  3  32  2 
7 21
= +
32 64
35
= ≈ 0.547
64
Using the graphics calculator in the RUN Menu press option followed by F4
CALC and enter the first integral followed by Ans + the second integral.

p (1 ≤ X ≤ 3 ) = 0.547

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Question 8

X is a continuous random variable such that

 x
 0 ≤ x ≤1
2

 2 x
ƒ (x ) =  − 1≤ x ≤ 4
 3 6
 0 otherwise



a. Sketch y = ƒ ( x )
b. Find E ( X )
c. ( )
Find E X 2
d. Find Var ( X )
e. Find the cumulative distribution function F ( x )
f. Sketch y = F ( x )
g. Find the median.

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Solution to question 8

 x
 0 ≤ x ≤1
2

 2 x
ƒ (x ) =  − 1≤ x ≤ 4
 3 6
 0 otherwise



a. Sketching y = ƒ ( x ) we have

x
y=
2 2 x
1 y= −
2 3 6

1 4 x

1 4
 2x x 2 
∫ ∫ ∫
x2
b. E (X ) = x ƒ ( x ) dx = dx +  −  dx
0 2 1  3 6 
all x
1 4
 x3   x2 x3  1 16 32 1 1  1 3 5 2
=  + −  = + − − +  = + = =1
 6  0  3 18  1 6  3 9 3 18  6 2 3 3

The same result can easily be obtained from

the graphics calculator in the RUN menu.

1 4
 2x 2 x 3 
∫ ∫ ∫
x3
c. ( )
E X 2
= x ƒ ( x ) dx =
2

2
dx +  −  dx
0 1  3 6 
all x
1 4
 x4   2x 3 x 4  1 128 32 2 1  1 27 7 1
=  + −  = + − − +  = + = =3
 8 0  9 24  1 8  9 3 9 24  8 8 2 2

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 The same result can easily be obtained from
the graphics calculator in the RUN menu.

2
7  5  13
d. ( )
Var ( X ) = E X 2 − E 2 ( X ) = − =
2  3  18

e. For 0 ≤ x ≤ 1
t t
 x2 
∫
x t2 t2 1
F (x ) = dx =   = − 0 = Note: F (1) =
0 2  4 0 4 4 4
For 1 ≤ x ≤ 4
t t
1  2x x 2  1  2t t 2 2 1 
∫
1 2 x
F (x ) = +  − dx = +  −  = + − − + 
4 1 3 6  4  3 12  1 4  3 12 3 12 
2t t 2 1 8 4 1
= − − Note: F ( 4 ) = − − = 1
3 12 3 3 3 3
Now writing out F ( x ) in terms of x we have

y y =1
0 x<0
 4 1
x 0 ≤ x ≤1
4
F (x ) =  2 2x x 2 1
 2x − x − 1 1 ≤ x ≤ 4 y= − −
 3 12 3 3 12 3

1 x≥4 1
4 x2
y=
4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
x
f. See sketch of y = F ( x )

1
g. Note that the median is the domain of 1 ≤ x ≤ 4 as F (1) =
4
2m m 2 1 1 m2 2 5
Now for the median F ( m ) = 0.5 ⇒ − − = ⇒ − m+ =0
3 12 3 2 12 3 6
2
⇒ m − 8m + 10 = 0 ⇒ m = 1.55

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Question 9

Find the mode of the following continuous probability function ƒ ( x ) , where

(
 2 −4 + 5 x − x 2

) 1≤ x ≤ 4
ƒ (x ) =  9
0 otherwise


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Solution to question 9

(
 2 −4 + 5 x − x 2

) 1≤ x ≤ 4
ƒ (x ) =  9
0 otherwise


To find the mode we must find the maximum point.

2 (5 − 2 x )
ƒ' ( x ) =
9
5
For maximum ƒ' ( x ) = 0 ⇒ 5 − 2 x = 0 ⇒ x =
2
2 ( −2 ) 1
ƒ" ( x ) = < 0 for all real x so x = 2 is a maximum by the 2nd derivative test.
9 2

1
The mode is x = 2 .
2

Or by using the graphics calculator in the GRAPH menu, enter the function and
set the view window as shown. Press EXIT followed by F6 DRAW. Then press F5
G-Solv followed by F2 MAX.

The mode is again

1
x=2 .
2

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