Statistics for Data Science-1

Week-9 Graded Assignment

1. A discrete random variable X can take the values 1, 2, 3, · · · , n. For these values the
cumulative distribution function is defined by:
x2 + k
F (x) = P (X ≤ x) = ; x = 1, 2, 3, · · · , n
m
Find the value of k.
Answer: k = m − n2
Solution:
F (n) = P (X ≤ n) = 1
n2 + k
=⇒ =1
m
Hence, k = m − n2
Suppose, we substitute values of n and m as 3 and 40 respectively, then

32 + k
=1
40
k = 31

2. An organization in Texas organizes a lucky draw this month. n thousand tickets are
sold for m$ each. Each has an equal chance of winning. x tickets will win a$, y tickets
will win b$ and z tickets will win c$. Let, the random variable X denote the net gain
from purchase of one ticket. What is the probability that X takes a value less than b?
(Enter the answer correct to 4 decimal place)
n × 1000 − x
Answer:
n × 1000
Solution:
X can take values −m, c − m, b − m and a − m
P (X < b) = P (X = b − m) + P (X = c − m) + P (X = −m)
y z n × 1000 − x − y − z
P (X < b) = + +
n × 1000 n × 1000 n × 1000
n × 1000 − x
P (X < b) =
n × 1000
Suppose, we substitute values of n, m, x, a, y, b, z and c as 5, 1, 1, 1000, 2 500,
10 and 100 respectively, then
2 10 4987
P (X < 500) = P (X = 499) + P (X = 99) + P (X = −1) = + +
5000 5000 5000
4999
Therefore, P (X < 500) = = 0.9998
5000
1
3. In a group of n people, x are photographers and n − x are journalists. m people are
randomly picked from a group of these n people. Let, Y be a random variable which
represents the number of photographers. How many possible values can the random
variable Y take?
Answer: m + 1
Solution:
Possible values of Y are 0, 1, 2, ..., m.
Hence, the number of possible values Y can take is m + 1.
Suppose, we substitute values of m, x and n as 8, 240 and 15 respectively, then
possible values of Y are 0, 1, 2, ..., 8
Hence, the number of possible values Y can take is 9.

4. Which of the following is/are discrete random variables?

a. Number of tires produced in an automotive tire factory every 30 minutes.

b. The number of kernels(pieces) of popcorn in a 1 kg container.
c. The time between customers entering a checkout lane at a retail store.
d. The amount of rain recorded at an airport one day.
e. The amount of liquid in a 2 litres bottle of soft drink.
f. The number of no-shows for every 1000 reservations made with a commercial airline.

Answer: a, b, f
Solution:
The number of tires produced in an automotive tire factory every 30 minutes can have
countable possible values, and hence it denotes a discrete random variable.
Hence, option (a) is correct.

The number of kernels of popcorn in a 1 kg container also have countable possible val-
ues, it cannot take all values between some interval and hence it is a discrete random
variable. So option (b) is correct.

The time between customers entering a checkout lane at a retail store can take any
values between some interval. Hence, it is a continuous random variable.
So, option (c) is incorrect.

Again, the amount of rain recorded at an airport one day and the amount of liquid in
a 2 litres bottle of soft drink can take any values between some interval. Hence, they
are continuous random variable.
So, option (d) and (e) are incorrect.

2
 The number of no-shows for every 1000 reservations made with a commercial airline
can have countable possible values, and hence it denotes a discrete random variable.
Hence, option (f) is correct.

5. A biased coin with probability of heads 0.75 is tossed three times. Let X be a random
variable that represents the number of head runs, a head run being defined as a con-
secutive occurrence of at least two heads. Then the probability mass function of X is
given by:

a. (
0.375 for x = 0
P (X = x) =
0.625 for x = 1
b. (
0.297 for x = 0
P (X = x) =
0.703 for x = 1
c. 

 0.016 for x = 0

0.140 for x = 1
P (X = x) =
0.422
 for x = 2


0.422 for x = 3
d. 
0.016 for x = 0

P (X = x) = 0.844 for x = 1

0.140 for x = 2


Answer: b
Solution:

Possible outcomes X P (X = x)
HHH 1 0.422
HHT 1 0.141
HTH 0 0.141
HTT 0 0.047
THH 1 0.141
THT 0 0.047
TTH 0 0.047
TTT 0 0.016

Table 9.1

3
 Hence, the probability mass function of X is given by:
(
0.297 for x = 0
P (X = x) =
0.703 for x = 1

6. Nina has n music sessions in a week. She attends the sessions n days a week x% of
the time, n − 1 days y% of the time, one day z% of the time, and no days p% of the
time. Let, X be a discrete random variable representing the number of sessions she
attends in a week. Suppose one week is randomly selected, what is the probability that
the random variable X takes the value at most n − 1?(Enter the answer correct to 2
decimal places)
x
Answer: 1 −
100
Solution:
The pmf of random variable X is given by:
 x
 for k = n
100






 y



 for k = n − 1
 100

P (X = k) =
 z
for k = 1






 100


 p


for k = 0

100

P (X ≤ n − 1) = P (X = 0) + P (X = 1) + P (X = n − 1)
p z y
= + +
100 100 100
p+y+z
=
100
x
=1−
100

Suppose, we substitute values of n, x, y, z and p as 5, 50, 20, 10 and 20 respectively,

then
The pmf of random variable X is given by:


 0.5 for k=5

0.2 for k=4
P (X = k) =


 0.1 for k=1

0.2 for k=0

4
 P (X ≤ 4) = P (X = 0) + P (X = 1) + P (X = 4)
= 0.2 + 0.1 + 0.2
= 0.5
 m x
7. Find the value of k for which k ( x = 0, 1, 2, ...) is a pmf. (Enter the answer
n
correct up to 2 decimal places)
n−m
Answer:
n
Solution:   
m 0  m 1  m 2
For pmf: k + + + ··· = 1
n n n
1
=⇒ k. m =1
1−
n
n
=⇒ k. =1
n−m
n−m
Therefore, k = .
n
For example: "  #
0  1  2
3 3 3
Take m = 3 and n = 8. For pmf: k + + + ··· = 1
8 8 8
1
=⇒ k. =1
3
1−
8
8
=⇒ k. = 1
5
5
Therefore, k = .
8

8. Using the information in the previous question, calculate P (X = 2). (Enter the answer
correct up to 2 decimal places)
(n − m)  m 2
Answer: .
n n
Solution:
(n − m)  m 2
P (X = 2) = . .
n n
For example: "  #
0  1  2
3 3 3
Take m = 3 and n = 8. For pmf: k + + + ··· = 1
8 8 8

5
 1
=⇒ k. =1
3
1−
8
8
=⇒ k. = 1
5
5
Therefore, k = .
8  2
5 3
And, P (X = 2) = . = 0.09.
8 8

9. From a box A containing 3 white and 6 black balls, 5 balls are transferred into an
empty box B. Let X be a random variable that represents the number of white balls
which are transferred from A to B. What value of random variable will have the least
probability?
Answer: 0
Solution:
Let us define the following cases:
Transfer of 0 white and 5 black balls.
Transfer of 1 white and 4 black balls.
Transfer of 2 white and 3 black balls.
Transfer of 3 white and 2 black balls.
Probabilities for all cases:
6
C5
(i) P (X = 0) = 9 = 0.048
C5
3
C 1 6C 4
(ii) P (X = 1) = 9 = 0.357
C5
3
C 2 6C 3
(iii) P (X = 2) = 9 = 0.476
C5
3
C 3 6C 2
(iv) P (X = 3) = 9 = 0.119
. C 5

Thus, X = 0 has the least probability.

10. The probability mass function of a random variable X is given by:


2
3k − 3k for x = 0

P (X = x) = 2k 2 − 1 for x = 1

0 otherwise


Determine the value of k given k > 0.

Answer:1
Solution:

6
From properties of pmf,

p(0) + p(1) = 1
3k 2 − 3k + 2k 2 − 1 = 1
5k 2 − 3k − 2 = 0
5k 2 − 5k + 2k − 2 = 0
5k(k − 1) + 2(k − 1) = 0
(5k + 2)(k − 1) = 0
−2
k= or k = 1
5
As k > 0, therefore k = 1.