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Families of Discrete Random Variables

The document is a lecture on families of discrete random variables, covering definitions, probability mass functions (pmf), expected values, and variances for various distributions including Bernoulli, Binomial, Geometric, Uniform, and Poisson. It includes examples of probability calculations related to component survival, patient recovery, defective items, and radioactive particle counts. References for further reading are provided at the end.

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20 views4 pages

Families of Discrete Random Variables

The document is a lecture on families of discrete random variables, covering definitions, probability mass functions (pmf), expected values, and variances for various distributions including Bernoulli, Binomial, Geometric, Uniform, and Poisson. It includes examples of probability calculations related to component survival, patient recovery, defective items, and radioactive particle counts. References for further reading are provided at the end.

Uploaded by

mabdullah.gmial.com
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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3/28/2024

Lecture 8:
Families of Discrete Random
Variables
CPE251 Probability Methods in Engineering
Dr. Zaid Ahmad, MIEEE
Advisor, IEEE CUI Lahore
COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus

Some Families of DRV


Family Definition of 𝑋 pmf of 𝑋 𝐸(𝑋) 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋)
Bernoulli Probability of a single 1−𝑝 𝑥=0 𝑝 𝑝(1 − 𝑝)
success (let 𝑥 = 1) 𝑝 =𝑝 𝑥 = 𝑝 𝑥=1
0 elsewhere
Binomial Probability of 𝑘 𝑛 𝑛𝑝 𝑛𝑝(1 − 𝑝)
𝑝 = 𝑝 (𝑥) = 𝑝 (1 − 𝑝)
successes 𝑘
Geometric No. of failures before or 𝑝 =𝑝 1−𝑝 (1 − 𝑝)⁄𝑝 (1 − 𝑝)/𝑝
including first success or or
𝑝 =𝑝 1−𝑝 1⁄𝑝
Discrete Equiprobable values of 𝑝 (𝑥) 𝐾+𝐿 (𝐿 − 𝐾)(𝐿 − 𝐾 + 2)⁄12
Uniform 𝑋 1⁄ 𝐿 − 𝐾 + 1 𝑋 ∈ 𝐾, 𝐿 , 𝐾 < 𝐿 2
=
0 elsewhere
Poisson Random number of 𝛼 𝛼 𝛼
outcomes/arrivals in 𝑝 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑋≥0
𝑘!
time/space 𝛼 = 𝜆𝑡
𝛼 = average number of arrivals
𝜆 =rate of arrival
𝑡 = interval of time or space

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Examples
1. The probability that a certain kind of component will survive a shock test is 3/4. Find the probability that
exactly 2 of the next 4 components tested survive.
2. The probability that a patient recovers from a rare blood disease is 0.4. If 15 people are known to have
contracted this disease, what is the probability that (a) at least 10 survive, (b) from 3 to 8 survive, and (c)
exactly 5 survive?
3. For a certain manufacturing process, it is known that, on the average, 1 in every 100 items is defective. What
is the probability that the fifth item inspected is the first defective item found?
4. During a laboratory experiment, the average number of radioactive particles passing through a counter in 1
millisecond is 4. What is the probability that 6 particles enter the counter in a given millisecond?
5. Probability of a chess card picked up at random

Examples
1. The probability that a certain kind of component will survive a shock test is 3/4. Find the
probability that exactly 2 of the next 4 components tested survive.

2. The probability that a patient recovers from a rare blood disease is 0.4. If 15 people are known to
have contracted this disease, what is the probability that (a) at least 10 survive, (b) from 3 to 8
survive, and (c) exactly 5 survive?

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3. A large chain retailer purchases a certain kind of electronic device from a


manufacturer. The manufacturer indicates that the defective rate of the device is
3%. (a) The inspector randomly picks 20 items from a shipment. What is the
probability that there will be at least one defective item among these 20? (b)
Suppose that the retailer receives 10 shipments in a month and the inspector
randomly tests 20 devices per shipment. What is the probability that there will be
exactly 3 shipments each containing at least one defective device among the 20
that are selected and tested from the shipment?
a)
b) Consider a) a s a Bernoulli trial with 𝑝 = 𝑃[𝑋 ≥ 1]

4. For a certain manufacturing process, it is known that, on the average, 1 in every


100 items is defective. What is the probability that the fifth item inspected is the
first defective item found?
5. During a laboratory experiment, the average number of radioactive particles
passing through a counter in 1 millisecond is 4. What is the probability that 6
particles enter the counter in a given millisecond?

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References
1. Walpole, R.E., Myers, R.H., Myers, S.L. and Ye, K. (2007) Probability &
Statistics for Engineers & Scientists. 9th Edition, Pearson Education, Inc.
2. Leon-Garcia, A. (2008). Probability, Statistics, and Random Processes for
Electrical Engineering. 3rd Edition, Pearson/Prentice Hall.

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