NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CALICUT.

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
MA2004E MATHEMATICS III, MONSOON SEMESTER – 2024-2025
Tutorial Sheet I
1. A coin is tossed three times. If X is the random variable giving the number of heads that arise,
construct a table showing the probability distribution of X.
2. Accidentally, two depleted batteries got into a set of five batteries. To remove the two depleted
batteries, the batteries are tested one by one without replacement in a random order. Let the random
variable X denote the number of batteries that must be tested to find the two depleted batteries.
What is the probability mass function of X?
3.For what value of c, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐(1⁄4)𝑥 , 𝑥 = 0, 1, 2 … can serve as a probability distribution of X?
Hence find (a) 𝑃(𝑋 < 2) (𝑏) 𝑃(𝑋 > 1) (𝑐) 𝑃(3 ≤ 𝑋 < 5)
4.The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is given by

X -2 -1 0 1 2 3
P(X=x) 0.1 k 0.2 2k 0.3 k
Find (a) the value of k. (b) Mean of X (c) Variance of X (d) 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2) (𝑒)𝑃(𝑋 < 2)
(𝑓) 𝑃(−1 < 𝑋 < 3) and (g) Distribution function of X.
5. Let X be a discrete random variable taking the values from S = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4} and let the
4! 4
probability mass function be 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥!(4−𝑥)! (1⁄2) . Find P(A) if A={0,1}.
𝑥+1
, 2≤𝑥≤4
6. The p.d.f of a continuous random variable X is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = { 𝑘 .
0 otherwise
(a) Find k. (b) Obtain the distribution function F(x) (c) Using F(x) compute P( X ≥ 3)
(d) Find Mean and Variance of X (e) Using F(x) find P (2.5 < X < 3).
𝑥, 0<𝑥<1
7. If the p.d.f of a random variable X is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = { 2 − 𝑥, 1≤𝑥≤𝑐 .
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Find (i) c (ii) F(x), the distribution function and (iii) P (0.8 < X < 0.6c)
8. The p.d.f of random variable X is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑥 2 , 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 and 𝑓(𝑥) = 0,
otherwise. If E(X)=3/5, find 𝑎 and 𝑏.
9. The distribution function of a continuous random variable X is given by
0, 𝑥<1
1 3 𝑥3
𝐹(𝑥) = { + (𝑥 − ), − 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 . Find (i) the pdf 𝑓(𝑥) (𝑖𝑖)𝑃(−0.5 < 𝑋 < 0.7).
2 4 3
1, 𝑥 > 1.
 1
1<𝑥<∞
10. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑥 2 be the p.d.f of X and 𝐴 = { 1 < 𝑋 < 2 } 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 = { 4 < 𝑋 < 5},
0 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Find (i) P(A) (ii) P(B) (iii) P(A∪ B) and (iv) P(A∩ B).
2
, 1<𝑥<∞
11.A continuous random variable X have p.d.f 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑥 3 .
0 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Find the distribution function F(x).
12. The distribution function of a random variable X is given by
1 − (1 + 𝑥)𝑒 −𝑥 , 𝑥≥0
𝐹(𝑥) = { .
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Find the corresponding density function of X.
13. A continuous random variable has the probability density function given by
𝑘𝑥𝑒 −𝑘𝑥 , 𝑥≥0
𝑓(𝑥) = { . Determine (i) k (ii) Mean and (iii) Variance.
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑥, 0≤𝑥≤1
14. Obtain the m.g.f. of a random variable X having p.d.f 𝑓(𝑥) = {2 − 𝑥, 1≤𝑥 ≤2.
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
15. Let X be a discrete random variable and its pdf 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑏 𝑥 where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are positive such
that 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 1, and X takes values 0, 1, 2, … . Find the m.g.f. of X.
16. The random variable X denotes the number obtained when a fair die is thrown. Prove that the
Chebyshev’s inequality gives 𝑃{|𝑋 − 3.5| ≥ 2.5} ≤ 0.47 . Compare this with the actual probability.
1
17. Let X be a continuous random variable having 𝑓(𝑥) = , −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3 and 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, otherwise.
4

Prove that Chebyshev’s inequality gives 𝑃{|𝑋 − 1| < 2} ≥ 2⁄3 . Compare this with the actual
probability.
18. If 𝐸(𝑋) = 17 and 𝐸(𝑋 2 ) = 298. Use Chebyshev’s theorem to determine;
(i) a lower bound for 𝑃(10 < 𝑋 < 24) (ii) an upper bound for 𝑃(|𝑋 − 17| ≥ 16).
19. The mean and variance of a Binomial Variate X with parameters n and p are 16 and 0.8
respectively. Find (i) 𝑃(𝑋 = 0) (ii) 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2).
20. Find p of the Binomial distribution if 𝑛 = 6 and 𝑃(𝑋 = 4) = 𝑃(𝑋 = 2).
21. If X has a Poisson distribution with parameter 𝜆 > 0. Find (i) P(X is even) (ii) P(X is odd).
4 5
22. If X has a Poisson distribution such that 7
𝑃(X = 2) = 9 𝑃(𝑋 = 4). Find the mean and variance

of X. Also find 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 1).

24. Six dice are thrown 729 times. How many times do you expect at least 3 dice show a 5 or 6?
25. In sampling a large number of parts manufactured by a machine, the mean number of defectives
in a sample of 20 is 2. Out of 2000 such samples how many would be expected to contain at least
3 defectives?
26. A production process is known to produce 20% defectives. The manager decides to stop the
process for adjustment if a random sample of 5 units yields 2 or more defectives. What is the
probability that the process will be stopped even when the rate of defectives remains the same?
27. Records show that the probability is 0.004 that a car will breakdown while driving through a
certain tunnel. Find the probability that among 200 cars driving through the tunnel (i) Exactly 10
(ii) at most 3 (iii) at least 2 will break down.
28. A shipment of 80 burglar alarms contains 5 that are defective. If 4 of these are randomly
selected and shipped to a customer, find the probability that the customer will get (i) exactly two
defectives (ii) at least three defectives (iii) at most one defective by using Hyper Geometric
distribution and Binomial distribution (as an approximation to Hyper Geometric distribution).
29. The probability that a driver must stop at any one traffic light coming to a city is 0.2. There are
15 sets of traffic lights on the journey. (a) What is the probability that a person must stop at exactly
2 of the 15 sets of traffic lights? (b) What is the probability that a person will be stopped at 1 or
more of the 15 sets of traffic lights?
30. A radioactive source emits 4 particles on average during a five-second period. (a) Calculate the
probability that it emits 3 particles during a 5-second period. (b) Calculate the probability that it
emits at least one particle during a 5- second period.
31. The number of typing mistakes made by a secretary has a Poisson distribution. The mistakes
are made independently at an average rate of 1.65 per page. Find the probability that a three-page
letter contains no mistakes.
32. If the light bulbs in a house fail according to a Poisson law, and over the last 15 weeks there
have been 5 failures, find approximately, the probability that there will not be more than one failure
next week.
33. Obtain the m.g.f of the Geometric distribution with p.d.f (𝑥) = 𝑝𝑞 𝑥−1 .
𝑥 = 1, 2, … , 0 < 𝑝 < 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝 + 𝑞 = 1 . Hence find mean and variance.
34. Find the m.g.f of Uniform distribution with parameters α and β, where α < β.
35. Bits are sent over a communication channel in packets of 12. If the probability of a bit being
corrupt over the channel is 0.1 and such errors are independent. Find the probability that no more
than two bits in a packet are corrupted.
36. Let X be a random variable having Exponential distribution with parameter 𝛽. (i) Prove that
𝑃(𝑋 > 𝑥 + 𝑎/𝑋 > 𝑎) = 𝑃(𝑋 > 𝑥), where 𝑎 > 0.(ii) Obtain the mean and variance of X.
37. In certain experiment the error made in determining the density of a substance is a random
variable having Uniform density with α = -0.015 and β=0.015. Find the probability that
(i) such an error will be between -0.01 and 0.02. and (ii) such an error will exceed 0.005.
38.Let X be a Normal random variable with mean 105 and variance 25. Find (i) 𝑃( 𝑋 ≤ 112.5)
( ii) 𝑃(𝑋 > 100) (𝑖𝑖𝑖) 𝑃(110.5 < 𝑋 < 111.25)
39. Let X be Normal with mean 14 and variance 4. Determine c in each case such that
(i) 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 𝑐) = 0.05 (ii) 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 𝑐) = 0.02 (𝑖𝑖𝑖) 𝑃(−𝑐 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 𝑐) = 0.99.
40. The monthly breakdowns of a computer system is a random variable X having Poisson
distribution with E(X2) =12. Find the probability that the computer will function for a month (i) without
breakdown (ii) with exactly one breakdown.
41. Find the probability that 200 tosses of a fair coin will result in (i) Between 80 and 120 heads (ii)
Less than 90 heads. (iii) Exactly 100 heads. (Use Normal approximation to Binomial distribution).
42.The amount of time that a watch will run without having to be reset is a random variable having
Exponential distribution with mean 𝜇 = 50 days. Find the probability that such a watch will (i) have
to be reset in less than 20 days. (ii) not have to be reset in at least 60 days. (iii) run without a reset
an additional 30 days given that the watch has run without a reset for the last 40 days.
43.Prove that Var(𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏) = 𝑎2 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋) , where a and b are constants.
44.The mean and variance of a Uniform distribution are 5 and 3. Obtain the Uniform distribution.
Hence find P(X > 6 ).
45. If a random variable X has the gamma distribution with α = 2, β = 3. Find the mean and standard
deviation of this distribution.
𝑥+𝑦 , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1, 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1
46. Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = {
0 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒
(i) Find marginal density function of X and Y. (ii) Find the mean of X.
1 1
(iii) Find 𝑃 (𝑋 ≥ , 𝑌 ≥ ).
2 2

47. A service facility operates with two service lines. On a randomly selected day, let X be the
proportion of time that the first line is in use and let Y be the proportion of time that the second line
is in use. If the joint density function for (X, Y ) is

3
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1, 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = {2 ,
0 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒

(i) Compute the probability that neither line is busy more than half of the time.
(ii) Find the probability that first line is busy more than 75% of the time.
 −(𝑥+𝑦)
48. Given the joint density function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = {𝑥𝑦𝑒 , 𝑥 ≥ 0, 𝑦 ≥ 0
0 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒
(i) Examine whether X and Y are independent. (ii) Find P(X < 1). (iii) Find P(X < 1, Y < 1).
49.The probability distribution function of a discrete random variable X is f(x )= 2 -x , x = 1,2,3…..and
0, otherwise. Find the probability distribution function for the random variable Y=X4+1.
50. If the random variables X and Y have joint density function f(x,y) = xy/96, 0 < x < 4, 1< y< 5,
then find the density function of U = X +2Y.
51. Two points are selected at random in the interval 0 < x <1. Determine the probability that the
sum of their squares is less than 1.
52. Two people agree to meet at a time uniformly distributed between 2:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. on
a particular day, with the understanding that each will wait no longer than 15 minutes for the other.
What is the probability that they will meet?
53. Determine how many times a fair coin must be tossed in order that the probability will be at least
0.90 that the ratio of the observed number of heads to the number of tosses will lie between 0.4 and
0.6.
54. A box contains 2𝑛 tickets of which 𝑛𝐶𝑟 tickets bear the number 𝑟 (𝑟 = 0,1,2,3, … , 𝑛). Two tickets
are drawn from the box. Find the expectation of the sum of their numbers.
55. The joint probability distribution of random variables 𝑋 and 𝑌 is given by ;
24𝑥𝑦 𝑥 > 0, 𝑦 > 0, 𝑥 + 𝑦 ≤ 1
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = { . Find the conditional mean and variance of 𝑌 given 𝑋.
0 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒
56. The joint probability function for the random variables X and Y is given in the following table (a)
Find the marginal probability functions of X and Y. (b) Find P(1 < X ≤ 3, Y > 1 ).
(c) Determine whether X and Y are independent.

Y 0 1 2
X
0 1/18 1/9 1/6
1 1/9 1/18 1/9
2 1/6 1/6 1/18

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