CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions

1. Which of the following is a characteristic of an 6. Which of the following is a required condition for a
experiment where the binomial probability distribution is discrete probability function?
applicable? a. ∑f(x) = 0 for all values of x
a. The experiment has at least two possible b. f(x) 1 for all values of x
outcomes
c. f(x) < 0 for all values of x
b. Exactly two outcomes are possible on each
d. ∑f(x) = 1 for all values of x
trial
c. The trials are dependent on each other
7. A measure of the average value of a random variable
d. The probabilities of the outcomes changes is called a(n)
from one trial a. variance.
b. standard deviation.
2. A numerical description of the outcome of an c. expected value.
experiment is called a d. coefficient of variation.
a. descriptive statistic.
b. probability function. 8. Which of the following is a required condition for a
c. variance. discrete probability function?
d. random variable. a. f(x) 0 for all values of x
b. ∑f(x) = 1 for all values of x
3. A probability distribution showing the probability of x c. ∑f(x) = 0 for all values of x
successes in n trials, where the probability of success d. ∑f(x) 1 for all values of x
does not change from trial to trial, is termed a
a. uniform probability distribution.
b. binomial probability distribution. 9. A weighted average of the values of a random
variable, where the probability function provides
c. hypergeometric probability distribution. weights, is known as
d. normal probability distribution. a. the probable value.
b. the median value.
4. A continuous random variable may assume c. the expected value.
a. any numerical value in an interval or d. the variance.
collection of intervals.
b. finite number of values in a collection of
intervals. 10. An experiment consists of determining the speed of
automobiles on a highway by the use of radar
c. an infinite sequence of values. equipment. The random variable in this experiment is a
a. discrete random variable.
d. only the positive integer values in an interval.
b. continuous random variable.
c. mixed type random variable.
d. multivariate random variable.
5. A description of the distribution of the values of a
random variable and their associated probabilities is
called a
a. probability distribution.
b. empirical discrete distribution.
c. bivariate distribution.
d. table of binomial probability.

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CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions
11. The number of customers that enter a store during 15. In the textile industry, a manufacturer is interested in
one day is an example of the number of blemishes or flaws occurring in each 100
aa continuous random variable. feet of material. The probability distribution that has the
. greatest chance of applying to this situation is the
a. Normal distribution.
ba discrete random variable. b. Binomial distribution.
. c. Poisson distribution.
d. Uniform distribution.
ceither a continuous or a discrete random variable,
. depending on whether odd or even number of the
customers enter. 16. The Poisson probability distribution is a
deither a continuous or a discrete random variable, a. continuous probability distribution.
. depending on the gender of the customers. b. discrete probability distribution.
c. uniform probability distribution.
d. normal probability distribution.
12. The weight of an object is an example of
a a continuous random variable.
. 17. The binomial probability distribution is used with
a. a continuous random variable.
b a discrete random variable.
. b. a discrete random variable.
c either a continuous or a discrete random c. a uniform random variable.
. variable, depending on the nature of the object. d. an intermittent random variable.
d either a continuous or a discrete random
. variable, depending on the unit of measurement.
18. The expected value of a discrete random variable

13. Four percent of the customers of a mortgage ais the most likely or highest probability value for
company default on their payments. A sample of five . the random variable.
customers is selected. What is the probability that
exactly two customers in the sample will default on their bwill always be one of the values x can take on,
payments? . although it may not be the highest probability
a. 0.2592 value for the random variable.
b. 0.0142 cis the average value for the random variable over
c. 0.9588 . many repeats of the experiment.
d. 0.7408
d is the value it is expected to assume in the next
. trial.
14. Twenty percent of the students in a class of 100 are
planning to go to graduate school. The standard
deviation of this binomial distribution is
a. 20.
b. 16.
c. 4.
d. 2.

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CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions
19. Which of the following is not a characteristic of an 23. The Poisson probability distribution is used with
experiment where the binomial probability distribution is a. a continuous random variable.
applicable? b. a discrete random variable.
a The experiment has a sequence of n identical
. trials
c. either a continuous or discrete random
b Exactly two outcomes are possible on each trial variable.
.
d. any random variable.
c The trials are dependent
.
d The probabilities of the outcomes do not
. change from one trial to another 24. The variance Var(x) for the binomial distribution is
given by equation
a. np(n - 1).
20. The expected value of a random variable is b. np(1 - np).
a the value of the random variable that should be
c. n(1 - p).
. observed on the next repeat of the experiment
d. np(1 - p).
bthe value of the random variable that occurs
. most frequently
c the square root of the variance 25. The expected value for a binomial distribution is
. given by equation
dNone of these alternatives is correct. a. (n - 1)(1 - p).
. b. n(1 - p).
c. np.
21. Which of the following is not a property of a d. (n - 1)p.
binomial experiment?
a The experiment consists of a sequence of n
. identical trials 26. A production process produces 2% defective parts. A
sample of five parts from the production process is
b Each outcome can be referred to as a success or selected. What is the probability that the sample contains
. a failure exactly two defective parts?
c The probabilities of the two outcomes can a. 0.0004
. change from one trial to the next
b. 0.0038
d The trials are independent
c. 0.10
.
d. 0.02

22. In a binomial experiment

27. When dealing with the number of occurrences of an
a the probability does not change from trial to event over a specified interval of time or space, the
. trial. appropriate probability distribution is a
a. Binomial distribution.
bthe probability changes from trial to trial.
. b. Poisson distribution.
c the probability could change from trial to trial, c. Normal distribution.
. depending on the situation under consideration. d. Hypergeometric probability distribution.
dthe probability could change depending on the
. number of outcomes.

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CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions
28. The key difference between the binomial and 33. The following represents the probability distribution
hypergeometric distribution is that, with the for the daily demand of computers at a local store.
hypergeometric distribution
a. the probability of success must be less than Demand Probability
0.5. 0 0.1
1 0.2
b. the probability of success changes from trial 2 0.3
to trial. 3 0.2
c. the trials are independent of each other. 4 0.2

d. the random variable is continuous. The expected daily demand is

a. 1.0
b. 2.2
c. 2.0
29. Assume that you have a binomial experiment with p
= 0.4 and a sample size of 50. The variance of this d. 4.0
distribution is
a. 20. 34. The following represents the probability distribution
b. 12. for the daily demand of computers at a local store.
c. 3.46.
Demand Probability
d. 144. 0 0.1
1 0.2
2 0.3
30. In a binomial experiment the probability of success
3 0.2
is 0.06. What is the probability of two successes in seven
4 0.2
trials?
a. 0.0036 The probability of having a demand for at least two
b. 0.0600 computers is
c. 0.0555 a. 0.7
d. 0.2800 b. 0.3
c. 0.4
d. 1.0
31. Random variable x has the probability function f(x) =
X/6, for x = 1, 2 or 3
The expected value of x is 35. The student body of a large university consists of
a. 0.333. 60% female students. A random sample of 8 students is
b. 0.500. selected. What is the probability that among the students
c. 2.000. in the sample exactly two are female?
a. 0.0896
d. 2.333.
b. 0.2936
c. 0.0413
32. A random variable that may take on any value in an d. 0.0007
interval or collection of intervals is known as a
a. continuous random variable.
b. discrete random variable.
c. mixed type random variable.
d. multivariate random variable.

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CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions
36. The student body of a large university consists of 39. Roth is a computer-consulting firm. The number of
60% female students. A random sample of 8 students is new clients that they have obtained each month has
selected. What is the probability that among the students ranged from 0 to 6. The number of new clients has the
in the sample at least 7 are female? probability distribution that is shown below.
a. 0.1064
Number of
b. 0.0896 New Clients Probability
c. 0.0168 0 0.05
d. 0.8936 1 0.10
2 0.15
3 0.35
37. The student body of a large university consists of 4 0.20
60% female students. A random sample of 8 students is 5 0.10
selected. What is the probability that among the students 6 0.05
in the sample at least 6 are male?
a. 0.0413 The variance is
a. 1.431
b. 0.0079
b. 2.047
c. 0.0007
c. 3.05
d. 0.0499
d. 21

38. Roth is a computer-consulting firm. The number of

new clients that they have obtained each month has 40. Roth is a computer-consulting firm. The number of
ranged from 0 to 6. The number of new clients has the new clients that they have obtained each month has
probability distribution that is shown below. ranged from 0 to 6. The number of new clients has the
probability distribution that is shown below.
Number of
New Clients Probability Number of
0 0.05 New Clients Probability
1 0.10 0 0.05
2 0.15 1 0.10
3 0.35 2 0.15
4 0.20 3 0.35
5 0.10 4 0.20
6 0.05 5 0.10
6 0.05
The expected number of new clients per month is
a. 6 The standard deviation is
a. 1.431
b. 0
b. 2.047
c. 3.05
c. 3.05
d. 21
d. 21

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CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions
41. Forty percent of all registered voters in a national 45. A sample of 2,500 people was asked how many cups
election are female. A random sample of 5 voters is of coffee they drink in the morning. You are given the
selected. following sample information.
The probability that the sample contains 2 female voters Cups of Coffee Frequency
is 0 700
a. 0.0778 1 900
b. 0.7780 2 600
3 300
c. 0.5000 2,500
d. 0.3456
The expected number of cups of coffee is
a. 1
42. Forty percent of all registered voters in a national b. 1.2
election are female. A random sample of 5 voters is
selected. The probability that there are no females in the c. 1.5
sample is d. 1.7
a. 0.0778
b. 0.7780 46. A sample of 2,500 people was asked how many cups
c. 0.5000 of coffee they drink in the morning. You are given the
d. 0.3456 following sample information.
Cups of Coffee Frequency
0 700
43. Consider the probability distribution below. 1 900
x f(x) 2 600
10 .2 3 300
20 .3 2,500
30 .4
40 .1 The variance of the number of cups of coffee is
a. .96
The expected value of x equals b. .9798
a. 24
c. 1
b. 25
d. 2.4
c. 30
d. 100
47. The probability that Pete will catch fish when he
goes fishing is .8. Pete is going to fish 3 days next
44. Consider the probability distribution below. week. Define the random variable x to be the number of
x f(x) days Pete catches fish. The probability that Pete will
10 .2 catch fish on exactly one day is
20 .3 a. .008
30 .4 b. .096
40 .1
c. .104
The variance of x equals d. .8
a. 9.165
b. 84
c. 85
d. 93.33

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CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions
48. The probability that Pete will catch fish when he 52. The random variable x is the number of occurrences
goes fishing is .8. Pete is going to fish 3 days next of an event over an interval of ten minutes. It can be
week. Define the random variable x to be the number of assumed that the probability of an occurrence is the same
days Pete catches fish. The probability that Pete will in any two-time periods of an equal length. It is known
catch fish on one day or less is that the mean number of occurrences in ten minutes is
a. .008 5.3. The appropriate probability distribution for the
b. .096 random variable is
a discrete.
c. .104
.
d. .8
b continuous.
.
49. The probability that Pete will catch fish when he c either discrete or continuous depending on how
goes fishing is .8. Pete is going to fish 3 days next . the interval is defined.
week. Define the random variable x to be the number of d binomial.
days Pete catches fish. The expected number of days .
Pete will catch fish is
a. .6
b. .8 76. For the following probability distribution:
x f(x)
c. 2.4 0 0.01
d. 3 1 0.02
2 0.10
3 0.35
50. The probability that Pete will catch fish when he 4 0.20
goes fishing is .8. Pete is going to fish 3 days next 5 0.11
week. Define the random variable x to be the number of 6 0.08
days Pete catches fish. The variance of the number of 7 0.05
days Pete will catch fish is 8 0.04
a. .16 9 0.03
b. .48 10 0.01
c. .8
a. Determine E(x).
d. 2.4 b. Determine the variance and the standard deviation.

51. The random variable x is the number of occurrences 77. A random variable x has the following probability
of an event over an interval of ten minutes. It can be distribution:
assumed that the probability of an occurrence is the same
in any two-time periods of an equal length. It is known x f(x)
that the mean number of occurrences in ten minutes is 0 0.08
5.3. Which of the following discrete probability 1 0.17
distributions' properties are satisfied by random variable 2 0.45
x? 3 0.25
4 0.05
a. Normal a. Determine the expected value of x.
b. Poisson b. Determine the variance.
c. Binomial
d. Hypergeometric

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CH 05 - Discrete Probability Distributions
102. The number of bad checks received per day by a
store and the respective probabilities are shown below.

Number of Bad Checks

Received Per Day Probability
0 0.04
1 0.06
2 0.10
3 0.30
4 0.20
5 0.15
6 0.10
7 0.05
What is the expected number of bad checks received
a.
per day?
Determine the variance in the number of bad checks
b.
received per day.
c. What is the standard deviation?

114. To compute the probability that in a random sample

of n elements, selected without replacement, we will
obtain x successes, we would use the
a. binomial probability distribution.
b. Poisson probability distribution.
c. hypergeometric probability distribution.
d. exponential probability distribution.

115. Experimental outcomes that are based on

measurement scales such as time, weight, and distance
can be described by _____ random variables.
a. discrete
b. continuous
c. uniform
d. intermittent

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