A Level CIE Maths 4 hours 33 questions

2.3 Continuous
Random Variables
2.3.1 Probability Density Function / 2.3.2 E(X) & Var(X) (Continuous) / 2.3.3
Continuous Uniform Distribution

Easy (9 questions) /46

Medium (9 questions) /55 Scan here to return to the course

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Hard (8 questions) /56

Very Hard (7 questions) /61

Total Marks /218

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Easy Questions
1 If f (x ) is the probability density function for a random variable, X then the area under
the graph of the probability density function must equal 1.

State, with a reason, whether each of the following could be graphs of probability density
functions.

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)

(4 marks)

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2 Iff (x ) is the probability density function for a random variable, X which takes values in
the interval ( a ,b ) then:

∫a
b
f (x ) dx = 1

Use integration to decide whether the following functions could represent probability
distribution functions.

(i) ⎧⎪ 2x 0 ≤x ≤1
f (x ) = ⎪⎨⎪
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎧⎪
(ii) ⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ x 2 1 ≤x ≤4
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 3
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

⎧⎪
(iii) ⎪⎪ 4
⎪⎪ (x 3 + 1) −1 ≤x ≤2
f (x ) = ⎪⎪ ⎨ 27
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(6 marks)

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3 (a) The continuous random variable, X , has probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ (x 3 + 2) 1 ≤x ≤3
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 24
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

The value of P ( a < X < b ) is equal to

∫a
b
f (x ) dx

Find P (1 < X < 2) .

(2 marks)

(i) 1 3
∫
3
(b) Explain why P (X > 2 . 5) = (x + 2) dx
2 .5
24

(ii) Hence find P (X > 2 . 5)

(3 marks)

(c) State, with a reason, the value of

(i) P (5 < X < 10)

(ii) P (X = 2)

(2 marks)

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4 The graph below shows the probability density function of a continuous random
variable, X .

By finding relevant areas under the graph, find:

(i) P (0 < X < 0 . 1)

(ii) P (X > 0 . 15)
(iii) P (0 . 05 < X < 0 . 12)

(4 marks)

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5 (a) Evaluate the following definite integral, giving your answer in terms of k .

∫3 k (x 2 + 3) dx
9

(2 marks)

(b) Hence find the value of k given that f (x ) is a probability density function where

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ k (x 2 + 3) 3 ≤x ≤9
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise

(2 marks)

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6 (a) The continuous random variable X has probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 3
⎪⎪ (x 2 − 1) 2 ≤x ≤3
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 16
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

3
Find ∫ 16
x (x 2 − 1) dx

(2 marks)

(b) Hence find the value of E (X ) using the formula

∫
E (X ) = x f (x ) dx

(1 mark)

3
(c) Find ∫ 16 x ² (x 2 − 1) dx

(2 marks)

(d) Hence find the value of E (X 2) using the formula

∫
E (X 2) = x 2 f (x ) dx

(1 mark)

(e) Hence find the value of Var (X ) using the formula Var (X ) = E (X 2) − (E (X )) 2 .

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 (1 mark)

7 The mode of a continuous random variable X , where it exists, is a value for X where the
probability density function is at its maximum.

State the mode, where it exists, of the continuous random variables which have
probability density functions show in the graphs below.

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)

(4 marks)

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8 The median, m , of a continuous random variable X , is the value for X which splits the
under the graph of the probability density function exactly in half, such that
P (X < m ) = 0 . 5 .

Find the value of the median of the continuous random variables which have probability
density functions show in the graphs below.

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)

(6 marks)

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9 (a) The continuous uniform (rectangular) distribution over the interval ( a ,b ) has probability
density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ a <x <b
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ b − a
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

The random variable X follows a rectangular distribution over the interval (2, 18) .

The graph below shows the probability density function of X . Write down the values of
a , b and c .

(1 mark)

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(b) Write down

(i) the median of X

(ii) the value of E (X )

(iii) P (14 < X < 18)

(3 marks)

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Medium Questions
1 State, with a reason, whether each of the following could be graphs of probability density
functions.

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)

This is a semicircle.

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 (6 marks)

2 State, with a reason, whether the following functions could represent probability
distribution functions.

⎧⎪
(i) ⎪⎪ 3(x 5 − 2x 3) 1 ≤x ≤2
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎧⎪
(ii) ⎪⎪ 3
⎪⎪ (x + 1) 2 −1 ≤x ≤1
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 8
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(iii)
⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 6
⎪ −3 ≤x ≤ −2
f (x ) = ⎪⎨⎪⎪ x 2
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(6 marks)

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3 (a) The continuous random variable, X , has probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ k (3x 4 − 2x ) 1 ≤x ≤2
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise

5
Show that k = .
78

(2 marks)

(b) (i) Find P (1 . 2 < X < 1 . 8)

(ii) Find P (X < 1 . 5)

(4 marks)

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4 (a) The continuous random variable X has probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪ k (2 + x ) 4 ≤x ≤9
f (x ) = ⎪⎨⎪⎪
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise

3
Show that k = .
68

(2 marks)

(b) Find E (X ) .

(2 marks)

(c) Find Var (X ) .

(3 marks)

5 Find the mode of the continuous random variable, X , which has probability density
function defined by:

⎧⎪
(i) ⎪⎪ 2
⎪⎪ x 2 ≤x ≤5
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 21
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(ii)

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 ⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ (4 − (x + 1) 2) −2 ≤x ≤1
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 9
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

⎧⎪
(iii) ⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ sin(x ) 0 ≤x ≤π
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 2
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(4 marks)

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6 (a) The continuous random variable, X , has probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 5
⎪⎪ x3 1 ≤x ≤4
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 62
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

Find an expression, in terms of m , for

5
∫1
m
x 3 dx
62

(2 marks)

(b) Hence find the median of X .

(3 marks)

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7 (a) The continuous random variable X follows a continuous uniform distribution over the
interval (3, 28) so that its probability density function is
⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ 3 ≤ x ≤ 28
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 25
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

Find

(i) P (X < 15)

(ii) P (20 < X < 30)
(iii) P (X = 25)

(3 marks)

(b) (i) Write down E (X ) .

(ii) Find Var (X ) .

(3 marks)

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8 (a) May calls her nephew Peter each day to check on him. May enjoys talking so much so
that Peter has programmed his phone to disconnect from a call after 15 minutes. The
length of a call, in minutes, between May and Peter is denoted by the continuous
random variable T . It is modelled by the probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ t2 0 < t < 15
f (t ) = ⎪⎪ ⎨ 1125
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

Find the mean length of a call.

(2 marks)

(b) Find the standard deviation of the lengths of calls.

(3 marks)

(c) Find the probability that a random call between May and Peter will last longer than 10
minutes.

(2 marks)

(d) Out of the next 100 calls between May and Peter, estimate the number of them that will
last less than 10 minutes.

(1 mark)

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9 (a) The mass, in kilograms, of a wrestler in a local club is denoted by the continuous random
variable M . It is modelled by the probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ k − ( m − 80) ² 70 < m < 100
f ( m ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 9000
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

4
Show that k = .
90

(2 marks)

(b) Wrestlers who weigh less than 85 kg can enter Heavy Middleweight competitions.

Find the probability that a randomly selected wrestler can enter Heavy Middleweight
competition.

(2 marks)

(c) Wrestlers who weigh less than 80 kg can enter Middleweight competitions.

Given that a wrestler can enter Heavy Middleweight competitions, find the probability
that they can also enter Middleweight competitions.

(3 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 State, with a reason, whether the following functions could represent probability
distribution functions.

⎧⎪
(i) ⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ (x 2 − 2) 1 ≤x ≤2
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 3
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(ii)
⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 4
⎪ x ≥1
f (x ) = ⎪⎨⎪⎪ x 5
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(iii)
⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 2
⎪ −1 ≤x ≤2
f (x ) = ⎪⎨⎪⎪ x 2
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(5 marks)

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2 (a) The continuous random variable, X , has probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ x (x − 1) (x + 1) 1 ≤x ≤k
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 4
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

Find the exact value for k .

(4 marks)

(b) Find P (X < E (X )) .

(4 marks)

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3 (a) Harry is trying to draw specific lengths without measuring equipment. He draws a
straight line and stops when he thinks it is 10 cm long. The actual length of Harry’s line,
L cm, can be modelled by the probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 20
⎪⎪ (l − 10. 5) 4 8 ≤ l ≤ 12
f (l ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 421
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

Estimate the lower quartile of the lengths of Harry’s lines.

(4 marks)

(b) Harry tries to draw a 10 cm line 80 times.

Write down how many of Harry’s line you would expect to be less than the lower quartile.

(1 mark)

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4 (a) The diagram below shows the probability density function, f (x ) , of a random variable X .
f (x ) = k when 0 ≤ x ≤ a , otherwise f (x ) = 0 .

Write down an expression for k in terms of a .

(1 mark)

(b) Write down an expression for E (X ) in terms of a .

(1 mark)

(c) Find a simplified expression for Var (X ) in terms of a .

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 (3 marks)

(d) Given that P (X > 5) = 0 . 6 find the value of a .

(2 marks)

5 Find the mode of the continuous random variable, X , which has probability density
function defined by:

⎧⎪
(i) ⎪⎪ 3
⎪⎪ (5 − 6x − x 2) −4 ≤x ≤0
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 140
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

⎧⎪
(ii) ⎪⎪ 3
⎪⎪ (10 − (x − 2) 2) 3 ≤x ≤5
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 34
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

⎧⎪
(iii) ⎪⎪ 1 π
⎪⎪ (sin(x ) + cos(x )) 0 ≤x ≤
f (x ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 2 2
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

(6 marks)

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6 (a) The diagram below shows the probability density function, f (x ) , of a random variable X .

Find the value of k .

(1 mark)

(b) Find P (X > 0 . 4)

(2 marks)

(c) Find the median of X .

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 (4 marks)

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7 (a) The diagram below shows the probability density function, f (t ) , of a random variable T .

3
For a ≤ t ≤ b , f (t ) = (10t − t 2 − 21) , elsewhere f (t ) = 0 .
32

Find the values of a and b .

(2 marks)

(b) State the value of E (T ) and find Var (T ) .

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 (4 marks)

(c) Find P ( − 2 ≤ T ≤ 5) .

(1 mark)

11
(d) Given that P (4 ≤ T ≤ 6) = , find P (T ≥ 6) .
16

(2 marks)

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8 (a) Geoff is taking part in a quiz where he has 4 seconds to answer each question. The time,
in seconds, it takes Geoff to answer a question is denoted T which can be modelled by
the probability density function, f (t ) shown below.

Find the probability that Geoff answers a question in less than 2 seconds.

(2 marks)

(b) Find the mean time it takes Geoff to answer a question.

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 (4 marks)

(c) There are 10 questions in the quiz. Find the probability that for at least one of the
questions Geoff takes longer than 3 seconds.

(3 marks)

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Very Hard Questions
1 (a) The diagram below shows the probability density function, f (x ) , of a random variable X .

Find the value of k .

(2 marks)

(b) Find P (X ≤ 6) .

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 (2 marks)

(c) Find the interquartile range of X .

(4 marks)

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2 (a) A computer takes T seconds to start up. The random variable, T , can be modelled by
the probability distribution, f (t ) , shown below.

1
For a ≤ t ≤ b , f (t ) = (12t − t 2 − 20) , elsewhere f (t ) = 0 .
8π

Find the values of a and b .

(2 marks)

(b) State the mean time for the computer to start up.

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 (1 mark)

(c) Find probability that the computer takes between 6 and 15 seconds to start up.

(1 mark)

3 1
(d) Given that P (4 ≤ T ≤ 8) = + , find the exact value of P (T > 8) .
2π 3

(2 marks)

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3 (a) The diagram below shows the probability density function, g (y ) , of a random variable Y
.

Find the value of k .

(1 mark)

(b) Find P (5 < Y < 6) .

(3 marks)

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(c) Find the median of Y .

(2 marks)

(d) Find E (Y ) .

(4 marks)

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4 (a) The random variable, U , follows a continuous uniform distribution on the interval [a , b ] .
The probability density function g is defined by:

⎧⎪ k a ≤u ≤b
g (u ) = ⎪⎨⎪
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise

(i) Write down an expression for k in terms of a and b .

(ii) Write down an expression for E (U ) in terms of a and b .
(iii) (b − a ) ²
Show that Var (U ) = .
12

(5 marks)

(b) Given that E (U ) = 8 . 5 and Var (U ) = 6 . 75 , find the values of a and b .

(3 marks)

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5 (a) A meeting at a company lasts T hours. The random variable T can be modelled by the
probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 3
⎪⎪ t (t − 2) 2 0 ≤t ≤2
f (t ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 4
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

Find the mean time of a meeting and find the standard deviation of times.

(6 marks)

(b) Show that the median length of a meeting is 0.771 hours, correct to 3 significant figures.

(4 marks)

(c) By using differentiation, find the mode of the times.

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 (4 marks)

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6 (a) The continuous random variable X has probability density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ k
⎪ 2 ≤x ≤ a
f (x ) = ⎪⎨⎪⎪ x 3
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

8a ²
Show that k = .
a2 − 4

(3 marks)

20
(b) Given that E (X ) = show that a = 5 and hence find the value of k .
7

(5 marks)

(c) Find the exact value of Var (X ) .

(3 marks)

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7 (a) Paul is travelling around France to try to find the perfect baguette. The random variable
C represents the cost, in euros, of a baguette. It can be modelled by the probability
density function

⎧⎪
⎪⎪ 1
⎪⎪ ( 14c − c 2 − 40) 4 ≤ c ≤ 10
f ( c ) = ⎨⎪⎪ 36
⎪⎩ 0 otherwise
⎪⎪

Sketch the graph of y = f ( c ) .

(1 mark)

(b) Explain why the mean price of a baguette is €7.

(1 mark)

25
(c) Given that P ( C < 9) = , find the value of P (5 < C < 9) .
27

(2 marks)

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