6-Discrete Random variables

Jan 2023(3)
3. The probability distribution of the discrete random variable X is given by
1.
x 2 3 4

P(X = x) a 0.4 0.6 – a

where a is a constant.
(a) Find, in terms of a, E(X)
(2)
(b) Find the range of the possible values of E(X)
(3)
Given that Var(X) = 0.56
(c) find the possible values of a
(6)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

10
*P72072A01024* 
 Oct 2022(4)
4. The cumulative distribution function of the discrete random variable W, which takes
2.
only the values 6, 7 and 8, is given by

( w + 3)( w − 1)
F(W ) = for w = 6, 7, 8
77
Find E(W )
(4)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

14
*P72154A01428* 
 Oct 2022(7)
7. Adana selects one number at random from the distribution of X which has the following
3.
probability distribution.

x 0 5 10

P(X = x) 0.1 0.2 0.7

(a) Given that the number selected by Adana is not 5, write down the probability it is 0
(1)
(b) Show that E(X 2 ) = 75
(1)
(c) Find Var(X )
(3)
(d) Find Var(4 – 3X )
(2)
Bruno and Charlie each independently select one number at random from the
distribution of X
(e) Find the probability that the number Bruno selects is greater than the number
Charlie selects.
(3)
Devika multiplies Bruno’s number by Charlie’s number to obtain a product, D
(f) Determine the probability distribution of D
(4)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

24
*P72154A02428* 
 May 2022(5)
5. A red spinner is designed so that the score R is given by the following
4.
probability distribution.

r 2 3 4 5 6

P(R = r) 0.25 0.3 0.15 0.1 0.2

(a) Show that E(R 2) = 15.8

(1)
Given also that E(R) = 3.7
(b) find the standard deviation of R, giving your answer to 2 decimal places.
(2)
A yellow spinner is designed so that the score Y is given by the probability distribution
in the table below. The cumulative distribution function F( y) is also given.

y 2 3 4 5 6

P(Y = y) 0.1 0.2 0.1 a b

F( y) 0.1 0.3 0.4 c d

(c) Write down the value of d

(1)
Given that E(Y) = 4.55
(d) find the value of c
(5)
Pabel and Jessie play a game with these two spinners.
Pabel uses the red spinner.
Jessie uses the yellow spinner.
They take turns to spin their spinner.
The winner is the first person whose spinner lands on the number 2 and the game ends.
Jessie spins her spinner first.
(e) Find the probability that Jessie wins on her second spin.
(2)
(f) Calculate the probability that, in a game, the score on Pabel’s first spin is the same
as the score on Jessie’s first spin.
(3)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

18
*P71200A01824* 
 Leave
Jan 2022(4) blank
4. The random variable W has a discrete uniform distribution where
5.
1
P(W = w) = for w = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
5
(a) Find P(2  W < 3.5)
(1)
The discrete random variable X = 5 – 2W
(b) Find E(X )
(3)
(c) Find P(X < W )
(2)
1
The discrete random variable Y =
W
(d) Find
(i) the probability distribution of Y
(ii) Var(Y ), showing your working.
(5)
(e) Find Var(2 – 3Y )
(2)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

14
*P66652A01428* 
 Leave
Jan 2022(7) blank
7. A bag contains n marbles of which 7 are green.
6.
From the bag, 3 marbles are selected at random.
The random variable X represents the number of green marbles selected.
The cumulative distribution function of X is given by

x 0 1 2 3

37
F(x) a b 1
38

(a) Show that n(n – 1)(n – 2) = 7980

(4)
(b) Verify that n = 21 satisfies the equation in part (a).
(1)
Given that n = 21
(c) find the exact value of a and the exact value of b
(6)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

26
*P66652A02628* 
 Leave
Oct 2021(4) blank
4.
7. Three bags A, B and C each contain coloured balls.

Bag A contains 4 red balls and 2 yellow balls only.

Bag B contains 4 red balls and 1 yellow ball only.
Bag C contains 6 red balls only.

In a game
Mike takes a ball at random from bag A, records the colour and places it in bag C.
He then takes a ball at random from bag B, records the colour and places it in bag C.
Finally, Mike takes a ball at random from bag C and records the colour.

(a) Complete the tree diagram on the page opposite, to illustrate the game by adding the
remaining branches and all probabilities.
(3)

1
(b) Show that the probability that Mike records a yellow ball exactly twice is
10
(3)

Given that Mike records exactly 2 yellow balls,

(c) find the probability that the ball drawn from bag A is red.
(2)

Mike plays this game a large number of times, each time starting with the bags containing
balls as described above. The random variable X represents the number of yellow balls
recorded in a single game.

(d) Find the probability distribution of X

(3)

(e) Find E(X )

(2)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

12
*P71284A01224* 
 Leave
blank
Question 4 continued

Bag A Bag B Bag C

4
5 Red

2
Red
3
Yellow

Red
Yellow
Red
Yellow
Yellow

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

13
 *P71284A01324* Turn over
 Leave
May 2021(5) blank
5.
8. The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution

x −2 −1 0 1 4
P(X = x) a b c b a

Given that E(X ) = 0.5

(a) find the value of a.

(2)

Given also that Var(X ) = 5.01

(b) find the value of b and the value of c.

(5)

The random variable Y = 5 − 8X

(c) Find (i) E(Y )

(ii) Var(Y )
(3)

(d) Find P(4X > Y )

2

(5)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

14
*P63150A01420*
 Leave
Jan 2021(4) blank
4.
9. A spinner can land on the numbers 10, 12, 14 and 16 only and the probability
of the spinner landing on each number is the same.
The random variable X represents the number that the spinner lands on when
it is spun once.
(a) State the name of the probability distribution of X.
(1)

(b) (i) Write down the value of E(X )

(1)

(ii) Find Var(X )

(2)
A second spinner can land on the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only.
The random variable Y represents the number that this spinner lands on when
it is spun once. The probability distribution of Y is given in the table below

y 1 2 3 4 5
4 9 6 5 6
P(Y = y)
30 30 30 30 30

(c) Find (i)   E(Y )

(2)

(ii)  
Var(Y )
(3)
The random variable W = aX + b, where a and b are constants and a > 0
Given that E(W ) = E(Y ) and Var(W ) = Var(Y )
(d) find the value of a and the value of b.
(5)
Each of the two spinners is spun once.
(e) Find P(W = Y )
(2)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

10
*P65795A01020*
 Leave
Oct 2020(1) blank
1.
10. The discrete random variable X takes the values −1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 only.

Given that

8−x
P(X = x) = for x = −1, 2, 3, 4 and 7
k

find the value of E(X )

(5)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2
*P65761A0224*
 Leave
Oct 2020(6) blank
6. The random variable A represents the score when a spinner is spun.
11. The probability
distribution for A is given in the following table.

a 1 4 5 7
P(A = a) 0.40 0.20 0.25 0.15

(a) Show that E(A) = 3.5

(2)

(b) Find Var (A)

(3)

The random variable B represents the score on a 4-sided die. The probability distribution
for B is given in the following table where k is a positive integer.

b 1 3 4 k
P(B = b) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25

(c) Write down the name of the probability distribution of B.

(1)

(d) Given that E(B) = E(A) state, giving a reason, the value of k.
(1)

The random variable X ~ N( μ, σ 2)

Sam and Tim are playing a game with the spinner and the die.

They each spin the spinner once to obtain their value of A and each roll the die once to
obtain their value of B.
Their value of A is taken as their value of μ and their value of B is taken as their value of σ.
The person with the larger value of P(X > 3.5) is the winner.

(e) Given that Sam obtained values of a = 4 and b = 3 and Tim obtained b = 4
find, giving a reason, the probability that Tim wins.
(2)

(f) Find the largest value of P(X > 3.5) achievable in this game.
(4)

(g) Find the probability of achieving this value.

(2)

20
*P65761A02024*
 Leave
Jan 2020(1) blank
1.
12. The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution

x –2 –1 1 3 4
P(X = x) 0.15 a b c 0.15

where a, b and c are probabilities.

The mean value of X is 1 and F(1) = 0.63

Find the value of a, the value of b and the value of c.

(5)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2
*P60578A0224*
 Leave
Oct 2019(7) blank
7.
13. The number of cakes, X, bought by customers at a particular shop has probability
distribution

x 1 2 3 4 5 6 6

P(X = x) 0.35 a a 0.15 b b 0

where a and b are constants.

Given that E(X ) = 2.5

(a) (i) show that a = 0.2

(ii) find the value of b

(5)

(b) Calculate Var(4X + 3)

(4)

The cost to produce each cake is 20 cents and the shopkeeper sells each cake for 80 cents.

(c) Find the expected profit made by the shopkeeper for a randomly selected customer
buying cakes.
(2)

The shopkeeper decides to run a promotion where she gives 1 free cake to all customers
who buy 4 or more cakes. During the promotion the number of cakes, Y, taken away by
a customer buying cakes has the following probability distribution

y 1 2 3 4 5 6

3 4 3 22 8
P(Y = y) 0
40 40 40 40 40

(d) Find the expected profit made by the shopkeeper for a randomly selected customer
buying cakes during the promotion.
(4)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

24
*P58493A02428*
 Leave
May 2019(5) blank
5.
14. The discrete random variable X represents the score when a biased spinner is spun. The
probability distribution of X is given by

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

x í í 0 2 3
1
P(X = x) p p q p
4

where p and q are probabilities.

(a) Find E(X ).

(2)

Given that Var (X ) = 2.5

(b) find the value of p.

(5)

(c) Hence find the value of q.

(1)

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

Amar is invited to play a game with the spinner.
The spinner is spun once and X1 is the score on the spinner.

If X1  0 Amar wins the game.

If X1 = 0 Amar loses the game.
If X1  0 the spinner is spun again and X2 is the score on this second spin and if
X1 + X2  0 Amar wins the game, otherwise Amar loses the game.

(d) Find the probability that Amar wins the game.

(4)

Amar does not want to lose the game.

He says that because E(X )  0 he will play the game.

(e) State, giving a reason, whether or not you would agree with Amar.
(2)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

16
*P56169A01624*
 Leave
Jan 2019(2) blank
2.
15. The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

x −2 −1 0 1 3
P(X = x) 0.15 a b a 0.4

(a) Find E(X ).

(2)

Given that E(X 2) = 4.54

(b) find the value of a and the value of b.

(5)

The random variable Y = 3 − 2X

(c) Find Var(Y ).

(3)
___________________________________________________________________________

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

___________________________________________________________________________ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4
*P54879A0420*
 Leave
Jan 2019(5) blank
5.
16. Some children are playing a game involving throwing a ball into a bucket. Each child has
3 throws and the number of times the ball lands in the bucket, x, is recorded. Their results
are given in the table below.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

x 0 1 2 3
Frequency 16 36 24 4

(a) Find x
(1)

Sandra decides to model the game by assuming that on each throw, the probability of the
ball landing in the bucket is 0.4 for every child on every throw and that the throws are all
independent. The random variable S represents the number of times the ball lands in the
bucket for a randomly selected child.

(b) Find P(S = 2)

(2)

(c) Complete the table below to show the probability distribution for S.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
s 0 1 2 3
P(S = s) 0.432 0.064
(1)

Ting believes that the probability of the ball landing in the bucket is not the same for each
throw. He suggests that the probability will increase with each throw and uses the model

. pi = 0.15i + 0.10
where i = 1, 2, 3 and pi is the probability that the ith throw of the ball, by any particular
child, will land in the bucket.
The random variable T represents the number of times the ball lands in the bucket for a
randomly selected child using Ting’s model.

(d) Show that

(i) P(T = 3) = 0.055

(ii) P(T = 1) = 0.45

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

(5) DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

(e) Complete the table below to show the probability distribution for T, stating the exact
probabilities in each case.

t 0 1 2 3
P(T = t) 0.45 0.055
(3)

(f) State, giving your reasons, whether Sandra’s model or Ting’s model is the more
appropriate for modelling this game.
(3)

12
*P54879A01220*
 May 2023(5)


5. A discrete random variable Y has probability function
17.






k (3 y ) y = 1, 2



DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA


k ( y 2 8) y = 3, 4, 5
P (Y y)



k y=6



0 otherwise

where k is a constant.

1
(a) Show that k =
30
(2)
Find the exact value of
(b) P (1  Y - 4)
(2)
(c) E (Y )
(2)

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

The random variable X = 15 – 2Y
(d) Calculate P (Y . X)
(3)
(e) Calculate Var (X )
(4)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

16
*P72904A01628* „„„
„„