SAMPLE 1

1. In a large corporation, 80% of the employees are men and 20% are women. The highest
levels of education obtained by the employees are graduate training for 10% of the men,
undergraduate training for 30% of the men, and high school training for 60% of the men.
The highest levels of education obtained are also graduate training for 15% of the women,
undergraduate training for 40% of the women, and high school training for 45% of the
women.

a. (1 mark) What is the probability that a randomly chosen employee will have
graduate training?

A: the employee is male

B: the employee is female

C: the highest level of education obtained by the employee is graduate training

D: the highest level of education obtained by the employee is undergraduate training

E: the highest level of education obtained by the employee is high school training

𝑃(𝐴) = 0.8; 𝑃(𝐵) = 0.2

𝑃(𝐶|𝐴) = 0.1; 𝑃(𝐷|𝐴) = 0.3; 𝑃(𝐸|𝐴) = 0.6

𝑃(𝐶|𝐵) = 0.15; 𝑃(𝐷|𝐵) = 0.4; 𝑃(𝐸|𝐵) = 0.45

𝑃(𝐶 ) = 𝑃(𝐶|𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐴) + 𝑃(𝐶|𝐵) × 𝑃(𝐵) = 0.1 × 0.8 + 0.15 × 0.2 = 0.11

b. (1 mark) What is the probability that a randomly chosen employee who has graduate
training is a man?

𝑃(𝐶|𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐴) 0.1 × 0.8

𝑃(𝐴|𝐶 ) = = = 0.73
𝑃 (𝐶 ) 0.11
2. A company specializes in installing and servicing central-heating furnaces. In the
prewinter period, service calls may result in an order for a new furnace. The following table
shows estimated probabilities for the numbers of new furnace orders generated in this way
in the last two weeks of September.

Weight 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
in
pounds
Proporti 0,04 0,13 0,21 0,29 0,20 0,1 0,03
on of
bags

a. (0,5 marks) Calculate the cumulative probability distribution.

X 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

P(X) 0,04 0,13 0,21 0,29 0,20 0,1 0,03

F(X) 0,04 0,17 0,38 0,67 0,87 0,97 1

(𝑋 8.41 3.61 0.81 0.01 1.21 4.41 9.61

− 𝜇 )2

b. (0,5 marks) What is the probability that a randomly chosen bag will contain more
than 45 and less than 49 pounds?

𝑃(45 < 𝑋 < 49) = 𝑃(𝑋 = 46) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 47) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 48) = 0,21 + 0,29 + 0,2 = 0,7

c. (1 mark) Compute the mean and standard deviation of the weight per bag.

𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 44 × 0,04 + 45 × 0,13 + 46 × 0,21 + 47 × 0,29 + 48 × 0,2 + 49 × 0,1

+ 50 × 0,03 = 46.9
 𝜎 2 = (44 − 46.9)2 × 0.04 + (45 − 46.9)2 × 0.13 + (46 − 46.9)2 × 0.21
+ (47 − 46.9)2 × 0.29 + (48 − 46.9)2 × 0.2 + (49 − 46.9)2 × 0.1
+ (50 − 46.9)2 × 0.03 = 1.95 ⟹ 𝛿 = √1.95

3. Records indicate that, on average, 3.2 breakdowns per day occur on an urban highway
during the morning rush hour. Find the probability that on any given day there will be
more than 4 breakdowns on this highway during the morning rush hour.

X = the number of breakdowns on this highway in a given day

𝑋~𝑃(𝜆) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝜆 = 3.2

𝑃 (𝑋 > 4) = 1
𝑒 −3.2 × 3.20 𝑒 −3.2 × 3.21 𝑒 −3.2 × 3.22 𝑒 −3.2 × 3.23
−[ + + +
0! 1! 2! 3!
𝑒 −3.2 × 3.24
+ ]
4!
16 −3.2 128 −3.2 2043 −3.2 8192 −3.2
= 1 − (𝑒 −3.2 + 𝑒 + 𝑒 + 𝑒 + 𝑒 )
5 25 375 1875
= 1 − 0.78 = 0.22

4. Given the probability density function of a random variable X

1; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ∈ [0,1]
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = {
0; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ∉ [0,1]

a. Find the probability that X is between 0,2 and 0,8

0,8 0,8
𝑃(0,2 < 𝑋 < 0,8) = ∫ 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 1𝑑𝑥 = 0.6
0,2 0,2

b. Compute the mean of X

 +∞ 0 1 +∞
𝐸 (𝑋 ) = ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞ −∞ 0 1
1
= 0 + ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑥 + 0 = 0.5
0

5. The number of hits per day on the Web site of Professional Tool,Inc., is normally
distributed with a mean of 700 and a standard deviation of 120.

a. What proportion of days has between 730 and 820 hits?

X = the number of hits per day on the Web site of Professional Tool,Inc.,

𝜇 = 700
𝑋~𝑁(𝜇, 𝜎 2 ) → {
𝜎 = 120

𝑏−𝜇 𝑎−𝜇 820 − 700 730 − 700

𝑃(730 < 𝑋 < 820) = 𝐹 ( )−𝐹( ) = 𝐹( )−𝐹( )
𝜎 𝜎 120 120
= 𝐹 (1) − 𝐹 (0.25) = 0.8413 − 0.5987 = 0.2426

b. Find the number of hits such that only 5% of the days will have the number of hits
below this number.

𝑏 − 700
𝑃(𝑋 < 𝑏) = 0.05 ⇔ 𝑃(−∞ < 𝑋 < 𝑏) = 0.05 ⇔ 𝐹 ( ) − 𝐹 (−∞) = 0.05
120
𝑏 − 700 𝑏 − 700 𝑏 − 700
⇔ 𝐹( ) = 0.05 ⇔ 𝐹 ( ) = 𝐹 (−1.65) ⇔
120 120 120
= −1.65 ⇔ 𝑏 = 502

6. There are 3 identical boxes. The first box contains 10 products including 4 defective
products, the second box contains 15 products including 5 defective products, the third box
contains 20 products, including 5 defective products. Take a box at random and from there
take a product at random. Find the probability of getting the defective product.
SAMPLE 2
1. An insurance company estimated that 30% of all automobile accidents were partly caused
by weather conditions and that 20% of all automobile accidents involved bodily injury.
Further, of those accidents that involved bodily injury, 40% were partly caused by weather
conditions.

a. (1 mark) What is the probability that a randomly chosen accident both was partly
caused by weather conditions and involved bodily injury?

A: the accident was partly caused by weather conditions

B: the accident involved bodily injury

𝑃(𝐴) = 0.3; 𝑃(𝐵) = 0.2; 𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) = 0.4

𝑃 (𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) × 𝑃(𝐵) = 0.4 × 0.2 = 0.08

b. (1 mark) If a randomly chosen accident was partly caused by weather conditions,

what is the probability that it involved bodily injury?

𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) × 𝑃(𝐵) 0.08

𝑃(𝐵|𝐴) = = = 0.267
𝑃 (𝐴 ) 0.3

c. What is the probability that a randomly chosen accident both was not partly caused
by weather conditions and did not involve bodily injury?

𝑃(𝐵̅|𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐴)
𝑃(𝐴̅ ∩ 𝐵̅) = 𝑃(𝐴̅|𝐵̅) × 𝑃(𝐵̅) = (1 − 𝑃(𝐴|𝐵̅)) × 𝑃(𝐵̅) = (1 − ) × 𝑃(𝐵̅)
𝑃 (𝐵̅)
= 𝑃(𝐵̅ ) − 𝑃(𝐵̅|𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐴) = 1 − 𝑃(𝐵) − (1 − 𝑃(𝐵|𝐴)) × 𝑃(𝐴)
= 1 − 0.2 − (1 − 0.267) × 0.3 = 0.58

2. A box has 10 products, including 4 defective products. Pick 2 products at random. Let X
be the number of defective products taken out.
a. (1 mark) Establish a probability distribution table of X.

X = the number of defective products taken out

X 0 1 2
P(X) 𝐶26 1 𝐶14× 𝐶16 8 𝐶24 2
= = =
𝐶210 3 10
𝐶2 15 𝐶210 15
(𝑋 − 𝜇 )2 0.64 0.04 1.44

b. (1 mark) Calculate the mean and variance of X.

1 8 2 4
𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 𝜇 = 0 × +1× +2× = = 0.8
3 15 15 5

1 8 2
𝑉 (𝑋 ) = 𝜎 2 = 0.64 × + 0.04 × + 1.44 × = 0.43
3 15 15

3. A state senator believes that 25% of all senators on the Finance Committee will strongly
support the tax proposal she wishes to advance. Suppose that this belief is correct and that
5 senators are approached at random.

a. (1 mark) What is the probability that at least 1 of the 5 will strongly support the
proposal?

X = the number of strong supporting the proposal from senator

• Approaching 5 senators randomly = 5 identical experiments

𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 = 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
• Each senator → {
𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 = 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒
➔ X ~ B(5, 0.25)

𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 1) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑋 = 0) = 1 − (𝐶05 × 0.250 × (1 − 0.25)5−0 ) = 0.763

b. (1 mark) What is the probability that all of the 5 will strongly support the proposal?

𝑃(𝑋 = 5) = 𝐶55 × 0.255 × (1 − 0.25)5−5 = 0.0009765625

4. An author receives a contract from a publisher, according to which she is to be paid a
fixed sum of $10,000 plus $1.50 for each copy of her book sold. Her uncertainty about total
sales of the book can be represented by a random variable with a mean of 30,000 and a
standard deviation of 8,000. Find the mean and standard deviation of the total payments
she will receive.

X = The total payment received

The total sales for the book: Y = 10,000 + 1.5X

𝐸 (𝑌) = 𝜇𝑌 = 10,000 + 1.5𝐸 (𝑋 ) ⟺ 𝜇𝑌 = 10,000 + 1.5 × 30,000 = 55,000

𝑉 (𝑌) = 𝜎𝑌2 = 1.52 × 𝜎𝑋2 = 2.25 × 8,0002 = 144,000,000 ⇒ 𝜎 = 12,000

5. A contractor has concluded from his experience that the cost of building a luxury home
is a normally distributed random variable with a mean of $500,000 and a standard deviation
of $50,000.

a. (1 mark) What is the probability that the cost of building a home will be between
$460,000 and $540,000?

X = the cost of building a home

𝜇 = 500,000
𝑋~𝑁(𝜇, 𝜎 2 ) → {
𝜎 = 50,000

540,000 − 500,000 460,000 − 500,000

𝑃(460,000 < 𝑋 < 540,000) = 𝐹 ( )−𝐹( )
50,000 50,000
= 𝐹 (0.8) − 𝐹 (−0.8) = 0.7881 − (1 − 0.7881) = 0.5762

b. (1 mark) The probability is 0.2 that the cost of building will be less than what
amount?
 𝑏 − 500,000
𝑃(𝑋 < 𝑏) = 0.2 ⟺ 𝑃(−∞ < 𝑋 < 𝑏) = 0.2 ⟺ 𝐹 ( ) − 𝐹 (−∞) = 0.2
50,000
𝑏 − 500,000 𝑏 − 500,000
⟺ 𝐹( ) = 𝐹 (−0.84) ⟺ = −0.84 ⟺ 𝑏
50,000 50,000
= 458,000

6. The probability of a target being hit by a person is 0.8. That person was given each bullet
until it hit the target. Find the probability distribution of the number of missed bullets?
SAMPLE 3
1. Staff, Inc., a management consulting company, is surveying the personnel of Acme Ltd.
It determined that 35% of the analysts have an MBA and that 40% of all analysts are over
age 35. Further, of those who have an MBA, 30% are over age 35.

a. What is the probability that a randomly chosen analyst who is over age 35 does not
have an MBA?

A is the event that the analyst has an MBA

B is the event that the analyst is over age 35

𝑃(𝐴) = 0.35; 𝑃(𝐵) = 0.4; 𝑃(𝐵|𝐴) = 0.3

𝑃(𝐴̅ ∩ 𝐵) 𝑃(𝐵) − 𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 0.4 − 0.3 × 0.35

𝑃(𝐴̅|𝐵) = = = = .7375
𝑃 (𝐵 ) 𝑃 (𝐵 ) 0.4

b. Are the events MBA and over age 35 independent?

Events A and B are independent if 𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐵)

It holds: 𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 0.105 ≠ 0.14 = 0.35 × 0.4

→ Events A and B are not independent

c. Are the events MBA and over age 35 mutually exclusive?

Events A and B are mutually exclusive if 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = ∅

It holds: 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = 0.105 ≠ ∅

→ Events A and B are not mutually exclusive

2. A municipal bus company has started operations in a new subdivision. Records were kept
on the numbers of riders on one bus route during the early-morning weekday service. The
accompanying table shows proportions over all weekdays.
 Number of 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
riders
Proportion 0,02 0,12 0,23 0,31 0,19 0,08 0,03 0,02

a. Calculate the cumulative probability distribution.

X = the number of riders

X 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
P(X) 0,02 0,12 0,23 0,31 0,19 0,08 0,03 0,02
F(X) 0.02 0.14 0.37 0.68 0.87 0.95 0.98 1

b. What is the probability that on a randomly chosen weekday there will be at least 24
riders from the subdivision on this service?

𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 24) = 𝑃(𝑋 = 24) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 25) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 26) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 27)
= 0.19 + 0.08 + 0.03 + 0.02 = 0.32

c. If the cost of a ride is $1.50, find the mean and standard deviation of the total
payments of riders from this subdivision on this service on a weekday.

The total cost of ride: 𝑌 = 1.5𝑋

Y 30 31.5 33 34.5 36 37.5 39 40.5

P(Y) 0,02 0,12 0,23 0,31 0,19 0,08 0,03 0,02
(𝑌 − 𝜇 ) 2 20.12 8.91 2.21 0.000225 2.3 9.1 20.4 36.2

𝐸 (𝑌) = 𝜇𝑌 = 30 × 0.02 + 31.5 × 0.12 + 33 × 0.23 + 34.5 × 0.31 + 36 × 0.19

+ 37.5 × 0.08 + 39 × 0.03 + 40.5 × 0.02 = 34.485

𝑉 (𝑌) = 𝜎𝑌2 = 20.12 × 0.02 + 8.91 × 0.12 + 2.21 × 0.23 + 0.000225 × 0.31
+ 2.3 × 0.19 + 9.1 × 0.08 + 20.4 × 0.03 + 36.2 × 0.02 = 4.481 → 𝜎𝑌
= 2.12
3. Customers arrive at a photocopying machine at an average rate of 2 every five minutes.
Assume that these arrivals are independent, with a constant arrival rate, and that this
problem follows a Poisson model. Find the probability that more than two customers
arrive in a 5-minute period.

X = the number of customers arriving in a 5-minute period

𝑋~𝑃(𝜆) ⇒ 𝜆 = 2

The probability that more than two customers arrive in a 5-minute period

𝑃(𝑋 > 2) = 1 − [𝑃(𝑋 = 0) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 1) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 2)]

𝑒 −2 × 20 𝑒 −2 × 21 𝑒 −2 × 22
=1−( + + ) = 1 − 5𝑒 −2 = 0.3233
0! 1! 2!

4. Given the density function of a random variable X

5(1 − 𝑥)4 ; 𝑥 ∈ (0,1)

𝑓 (𝑥 ) = {
0; 𝑥 ∉ (0,1)

a. Find the probability that X is greater than 0.5

1 ∞ 1
𝑃(𝑋 > 0.5) = 𝑃(0.5 < 𝑋 < +∞) = ∫ 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 5(1 − 𝑥)4 𝑑𝑥 + 0
0.5 1 0.5

1
= = 0.03125
32

b. Find the expected value of X

 +∞ 0 1 +∞
𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 𝜇 = ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞ −∞ 0 1
1
1
= 0 + ∫ 𝑥 × 5(1 − 𝑥)4 𝑑𝑥 + 0 = = 0.167
0 6

5. Scores on an achievement test are known to be normally distributed with a mean of 420
and a standard deviation of 80.

a. For a randomly chosen person taking this test, what is the probability of a score
between 400 and 480?

480 − 420 400 − 420

𝑃(400 < 𝑋 < 480) = 𝐹 ( )−𝐹( ) = 𝐹 (0.75) − 𝐹 (−0.25)
80 80
= 0.7734 − (1 − 0.5987) = 0.3721

b. What is the minimum test score needed in order to be in the top 10% of all people
taking the test?

𝑏 − 420 𝑏 − 420
𝑃(𝑋 > 𝑏) = 0.1 ⇔ 𝐹 (+∞) − 𝐹 ( ) = 0.1 ⇔ 1 − 𝐹 ( ) = 0.1
80 80
𝑏 − 420 𝑏 − 420 𝑏 − 420
⇔ 𝐹( ) = 0.9 ⇔ 𝐹 ( ) = 𝐹 (1.28) ⇔ = 1.28
80 80 80
⇔ 𝑏 = 522.4

6. A box contains 15 light bulbs, including 9 new bulbs and 6 used bulbs. The first time,
people randomly take 3 balls from 15 balls to use, then return them to the box. The second
time, randomly select 3 bulbs from these 15 bulbs. Find the probability that the number
of new bulbs in the second time is one.
SAMPLE 4
1. A restaurant manager classifies customers as regular, occasional, or new, and finds that
of all customers 50%, 40%, and 10%, respectively, fall into these categories. The manager
found that wine was ordered by 70% of the regular customers, by 50% of the occasional
customers, and by 30% of the new customers.

a. What is the probability that a randomly chosen customer orders wine?

A is the event that customer is regular

B is the event that customer is occasional

C is the event that customer is new

D is the event that customer orders wine

𝑃(𝐴) = 0.5 𝑃(𝐷|𝐴) = 0.7

𝑃(𝐵) = 0.4 𝑃(𝐷|𝐵) = 0.5

𝑃(𝐶 ) = 0.1 𝑃(𝐷|𝐶 ) = 0.3

𝑃 (𝐷 ) = 𝑃 ( 𝐴 ∩ 𝐷 ) + 𝑃 (𝐵 ∩ 𝐷 ) + 𝑃 (𝐶 ∩ 𝐷 )
= 𝑃(𝐷|𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐴) + 𝑃(𝐷|𝐵) × 𝑃(𝐵) + 𝑃(𝐷|𝐶 ) × 𝑃(𝐶 )
= 0.7 × 0.5 + 0.5 × 0.4 + 0.3 × 0.1 = 0.58

b. If wine is ordered, what is the probability that the person ordering is an occasional
customer?

𝑃(𝐷|𝐵) × 𝑃(𝐵 ) 0.5 × 0.4

𝑃 (𝐵|𝐷 ) = = = 0.345
𝑃 (𝐷 ) 0.58
2. A factory manager is considering whether to replace a temperamental machine. A review
of past records indicates the following probability distribution for the number of
breakdowns of this machine in a week.

Number of 0 1 2 3 4
breakdowns
Probability 0.1 0.26 0.42 0.16 0.06

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of the number of weekly breakdowns.

X 0 1 2 3 4
𝑃 (𝑋 ) 0.1 0.26 0.42 0.16 0.06
(𝑋 − 𝜇 )2 3.3124 0.6724 0.0324 1.3924 4.7524

𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 𝜇𝑋 = 0 × 0.1 + 1 × 0.26 + 2 × 0.42 + 3 × 0.16 + 4 × 0.06 = 1.82

𝑉 (𝑋 ) = 𝜎𝑋2 = 3.3124 × 0.1 + 0.6724 × 0.26 + 0.0324 × 0.42 + 1.3924 × 0.16

+ 4.7524 × 0.06 = 1.0276 ⇒ 𝜎 = 1.014

b. It is estimated that each breakdown costs the company $1,500 in lost output. Find
the mean and standard deviation of the weekly cost to the company from breakdowns
of this machine.

The weekly cost to the company from breakdowns of this machine: 𝑌 = 1,500 × 𝑋

Y 0 1,500 3,000 4,500 6,000

𝑃 (𝑌 ) 0.1 0.26 0.42 0.16 0.06
(𝑌 − 𝜇 ) 2 7,452,900 1,512,900 72,900 3,132,900 10,692,900

𝐸 (𝑌) = 𝜇𝑌 = 0 × 0.1 + 1,500 × 0.26 + 3,000 × 0.42 + 4,500 × 0.16 + 6,000 × 0.06
= 2,730

𝑉 (𝑌) = 𝜎𝑌2 = 7,452,900 × 0.1 + 1,512,900 × 0.26 + 72,900 × 0.42

+ 3,132,900 × 0.16 + 10,692,900 × 0.06 = 2,312,100 ⇒ 𝜎
= 1520.559108
3. A company receives a very large shipment of components. A random sample of 16 of
these components will be checked, and the shipment will be accepted if fewer than 2 of
these components are defective. Suppose that the shipment has a 15% defect rate. What is
the probability of accepting a shipment?

X = The number of defective components

• 16 components → 16 identical experiments

𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
• Each component → {
𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒

𝑋~𝐵(16 , 0.15)

𝑃 (𝑋 < 2) = 𝑃 (𝑋 = 0) + 𝑃 (𝑋 = 1)
= 𝐶016 × 0.150 × (1 − 0.15)16−0 + 𝐶116 × 0.151 × (1 − 0.15)16−1
= 0.0743 + 0.2097 = 0.284

4. Given the density function of a random variable X

4𝑥 3 𝑖𝑓 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = {
0 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ∉ [0,1]

a. Find the probability that X is less than 0.25

0 0.25 0.25
𝑃(𝑋 < 0.25) = 𝑃(−∞ < 𝑋 < 0.25) = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 0 + ∫ 4𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
−∞ 0 0

1
=
256

b. Find the mean of X

 +∞ 0 1 +∞
𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 𝜇𝑋 = ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞ −∞ 0 1
1
4
= 0 + ∫ 𝑥 × 4𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 + 0 = = 0.8
0 5

5. A company services copiers. A review of its records shows that the time taken for a
service call can be represented by a normal random variable with a mean of 75 minutes and
a standard deviation of 20 minutes.

a. (1 mark) What proportion of service calls takes less than 1 hour?

X = time spent on service calls

𝜇 = 75
𝑋~𝑁(𝜇, 𝜎 2 ) → {
𝜎 = 20

60 − 75
𝑃(𝑋 < 1) = 𝑃 (−∞ < 𝑋 < 60) = 𝐹 ( ) − 𝐹 (−∞) = 𝐹 (−0.75) − 0
20
= 1 − 0.7734 = 0.2266

b. (1 mark) The probability is 0.1 that a service call takes more than how many
minutes?

𝑏 − 75 𝑏 − 75 𝑏 − 75
𝑃(𝑋 > 𝑏) = 0.1 ⇔ 𝐹 (+∞) − 𝐹 ( ) = 0.1 ⇔ 1 − ( ) = 0.1 ⇔
20 20 20
= 1.28 ⇔ 𝑏 = 100

6. A sealed box contains 4 red cards, 4 black cards and 6 white cards. Randomly take 3
cards from the box. Suppose that you will get +1 point for each red card, -1 point for each
black card, 0 point for each white card. Find the probability that you will get only 1
point.
SAMPLE 6
1. A device has 2 parts with probabilities of broken of the first part and second are 0,1; 0,2.
The probability that both parts are broken is 0.04. Find probability to:

a. There is at least one part that works well.

A is the event that first part is broken

B is the event that second part is broken

𝑃(𝐴) = 0.1

𝑃(𝐵) = 0.2

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 0.04

E1 = At least one part works well → 1 – Both parts broken

𝑃(𝐸1) = 1 − 0.04 = 0.96

b. Only the first part works well.

E2 = Only the first part works well → Part 1 works well – Both parts work well

𝑃(𝐸2) = 1 − (1 − 𝑃(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵)) = 0.9 − (1 − (0.1 + 0.2 − 0.04)) = 0.16

c. Part 1 works well if part 2 is broken.

𝑃(𝐴̅ ∩ 𝐵) 𝑃(𝐵) − 𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 0.2 − 0.04 4

𝑃(𝐴̅|𝐵) = = = = = 0.8
𝑃 (𝐵 ) 𝑃 (𝐵 ) 0.2 5

2. An automobile dealer calculates the proportion of new cars sold that have been returned
a various numbers of times for the correction of defects during the warranty period. The
results are shown in the following table.

Number of 0 1 2 3 4
returns
 Proportion 0,28 0,36 0,23 0,09 0,04

a. Calculate the cumulative probability distribution.

𝑋 0 1 2 3 4
𝑃 𝑋)
( 0,28 0,36 0,23 0,09 0,04
𝐹 (𝑋 ) 0,28 0,64 0,87 0,96 1

b. Find the mean of the number of returns of an automobile for corrections for defects
during the warranty period.

𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 𝜇 = 0 × 0.28 + 1 × 0.36 + 2 × 0.23 + 3 × 0.09 + 4 × 0.04 = 1.25

c. Find the variance of the number of returns of an automobile for corrections for
defects during the warranty period.

𝑉 (𝑋 ) = 𝜎𝑋2 = 1.5625 × 0.28 + 0.0625 × 0.36 + 0.5625 × 0.23 + 3.0625 × 0.09

+ 7.5625 × 0.04 = 1.1675

3. A public interest group hires students to solicit donations by telephone. After a brief
training period students make calls to potential donors and are paid on a commission basis.
Experience indicates that early on, these students tend to have only modest success and that
70% of them give up their jobs in their first two weeks of employment. The group hires 6
students, which can be viewed as a random sample. What is the probability that at least
2 of the 6 will give up in the first two weeks?

X = the number of students giving up their jobs in their first two weeks of employment

• 6 students → 6 identical experiments

𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑗𝑜𝑏𝑠 = 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
• Each student → {
𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑝 = 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒

𝑛=6
𝑋~𝐵(6, 0.7) → {
𝑝 = 0.7
 𝑃(𝑋 = 2) = 𝐶26 × 0.72 × (1 − 0.7)6−2 = 0.059535

4. Given the density function of a random variable X.

5(1 − 𝑥)4 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ∈ (0,1)

𝑓 (𝑥 ) = {
0 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ∉ (0,1)

a. Find the probability that X is greater than 0.5

1 +∞ 1
1
𝑃(𝑋 > 0.5) = ∫ 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 5(1 − 𝑥)4 𝑑𝑥 + 0 = = 0.03125
0.5 1 0.5 32

b. Let 𝒀 = 𝟑 − 𝟐𝑿. Calculate the expected value of Y

5 5
𝑉 (𝑌) = 𝜎𝑌2 = (−2)2 × 𝜎𝑋2 = 4 × 𝜎𝑋2 = 4 × =
252 63
+∞ 0 1 +∞
𝜇𝑋 = ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞ −∞ 0 1
1
1
= 0 + ∫ 𝑥 × 5(1 − 𝑥)4 𝑑𝑥 + 0 =
0 6

+∞
𝜎𝑋2 =∫ (𝑋 − 𝜇)2 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞
0 1
= ∫ (𝑋 − 𝜇 )2 × 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ (𝑋 − 𝜇)2 × 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞ 0
+∞
1 2 1
5
+∫ (𝑋 − 𝜇 )2 × 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 0 + ∫ (𝑥 − ) × 5(1 − 𝑥)4 𝑑𝑥 + 0 =
1 0 6 252

5. It has been found that times taken by people to complete a particular tax form follow a
normal distribution with a mean of 100 minutes and a standard deviation of 30 minutes.
a. What is the probability that a randomly chosen person takes less than 85 minutes
to complete this form?

b. Five percent of all people take more than how many minutes to complete this form?

6. A sealed box contains 4 red cards, 4 black cards and 6 white cards. Suppose that you will
get +1 point for each red card, -1 point for each black card, 0 point for each white card.
Now you will toss a coin. If the outcome of the tossing is a head, you will randomly take 3
cards from the box. On the other hand, if the outcome of the coin flip is a tail, 4 cards will
be taken from the box at random. Find the probability that you will get only 1 point? If
you get 1 point, what is the most likely outcome of the coin flip?
SAMPLE 7
1. In a campus restaurant it was found that 35% of all customers order vegetarian meals and
that 50% of all customers are students. Further, 25% of all customers who are students order
vegetarian meals.

a. What is the probability that a randomly chosen customer both is a student and
orders a vegetarian meal?

A is the event that customer orders a vegetarian meal

B is the event that customer is a student

𝑃(𝐴) = 0.35

𝑃(𝐵) = 0.5

𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) = 0.25

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) × 𝑃(𝐵 ) = 0.25 × 0.5 = 0.125

b. If a randomly chosen customer orders a vegetarian meal, what is the probability

that the customer is a student?

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 𝑃(𝐴|𝐵 ) × 𝑃(𝐵) 0.125

𝑃(𝐵|𝐴) = = = = 0.357
𝑃 (𝐵 ) 𝑃 (𝐴 ) 0.35

c. Are the events “customer orders a vegetarian meal” and “customer is a student”
independent?

Event A and B are independent if 𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐵)

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 0.125

𝑃(𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐵) = 0.35 × 0.5 = 0.175

𝑃 (𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ) ≠ ( 𝐴 ) × 𝑃 (𝐵 )

→ Event A and B are not independent.

2. Students in a large accounting class were asked to rate the course by assigning a score of
1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to the course. A higher score indicates that the students received greater value
from the course. The accompanying table shows proportions of students rating the course
in each category.

Rating 1 2 3 4 5
Proportion 0.07 0.19 0.28 0.3 0.16

a. Determine the probability that a rating is less than 4.

X = the rating number on the course

𝑃(𝑋 < 4) = 1 − [𝑃(𝑋 = 1) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 2) + 𝑃(𝑋 = 3)] = 1 − (0.07 + 0.19 + 0.28)

= 0.46

b. Find the mean and standard deviation of the ratings.

𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 𝜇 = ∑ 𝑥𝑖 × 𝑝𝑖 = 1 × 0.07 + 2 × 0.19 + 3 × 0.28 + 4 × 0.3 + 5 × 0.16

= 3.29

𝑉 (𝑋 ) = 𝜎𝑋2 = ∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝜇)2 × 𝑝𝑖

= 5.2441 × 0.07 + 1.6641 × 0.19 + 0.0841 × 3 + 0.5041 × 0.3

+ 9.7969 × 0.16 = 2.6543 ⇒ 𝜎𝑋 = √2.6543 ≈ 1.63

3. Your computer is in serious need of repair. You have estimated that the breakdowns occur
on average 3.5 times per week. Calculate the probability that for an entire week your
computer will get 5 shutdowns.

X = the number of shutdowns your computer experiences in an entire week

𝑋~𝑃(𝜆) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝜆 = 3.5

 𝑒 −3.5 × 3.55
𝑃 (𝑋 = 5) = ≈ 0.1322
5!

4. The random variable X has probability density function as follows:

𝑥; 𝑖𝑓 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { 2 − 𝑥; 𝑖𝑓 1 < 𝑥 ≤ 2
0; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑥

a. Find the probability that X takes a value between 0,2 and 1,2
1.2 1 1.2
𝑃(0.2 < 𝑋 < 1.2) = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
0.2 0.2 1
1 1.2
= ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑥 + ∫ (2 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 0.66
0.2 1

b. Find the mean of Y where Y = 2X

+∞
𝐸 (𝑋 ) = 𝜇𝑋 = ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞
0 1 2 +∞
= ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥𝑓 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−∞ 0 1 2
1 2
2
= ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑥 (2 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 1
0 1

⟹ 𝐸 (𝑌) = 𝜇𝑌 = 2 × 𝜇𝑋 = 2

5. Scores on an achievement test are known to be normally distributed with a mean of 420
and a standard deviation of 80.

a. For a randomly chosen person taking this test, what is the probability of a score
between 400 and 480?

X = scores on an achievement test

 𝜇 = 420
𝑋~𝑁(𝜇, 𝜎 2 ) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 {
𝜎 = 80

480 − 420 400 − 420

𝑃(400 < 𝑋 < 480) = 𝐹 ( )−𝐹( ) = 𝐹 (0.75) − 𝐹 (−0.25) =
80 80

b. What is the minimum test score needed in order to be in the top 10% of all people
taking the test?

6. A multiple-choice test has nine questions. For each question there are four possible
answers from which to select. Two points are awarded for each correct answer, and one
point is subtracted for incorrect answers. A student who has not studied for this test decides
to choose an answer for each question at random. Find the expected total score on the test
for this student? Suppose the instructor awards three bonus points if the students spell their
name correctly. Given the probability that a student spell his name correctly is 0,6. Calculate
the probability that the total score on the test for a student is 12?

SAMPLE 8
A corporation was concerned with the basic educational skills of its workers and decided
to offer a selected group of them separate classes in reading and practical mathematics. Of
these workers, 40% signed up for the reading classes and 50% for the practical mathematics
classes. Of those signing up for the reading classes 30% signed up for the mathematics
classes.

a. (1 mark) What is the probability that a randomly selected worker signed up for
both classes?

A is the event that worker signed up for reading classes

B is the event that worker signed up for mathematics classes

P (A) = 0.4

P (B) = 0.5

P (B|A) = 0.3

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐵|𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐴) = 0.3 × 0.4 = 0.12 = 12%

b. (0,5 marks) What is the probability that a randomly selected worker who signed up
for the mathematics classes also signed up for the reading classes?

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 0.12
𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) = = = 0.24 = 24%
𝑃 (𝐵 ) 0.5

c. (0,5 marks) What is the probability that a randomly chosen worker signed up for at
least one of these two classes?

𝑃(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐴) + 𝑃(𝐵) − 𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) = 0.4 + 0.5 − 0.12 = 0.78 = 78%

SAMPLE 9
It is known that 20% of all farms in a state exceed 160 acres and that 60% of all farms in
that state are owned by persons over 50 years old. Of all farms in the state exceeding 160
acres, 55% are owned by persons over 50 years old.

a. (1 mark) What is the probability that a randomly chosen farm in this state both
exceeds 160 acres and is owned by a person over 50 years old?

A is the event that farm in a state exceeds 160 acres

B is the event that farm in a states is owned by persons over 5- years old

P(A) = 0.2

P(B) = 0.6
P(B|A) = 0.55

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐵|𝐴) × 𝑃(𝐴) = 0.55 × 0.2 = 0.11 = 11%

b. (0,5 marks) What is the probability that a farm in this state either is bigger than
160 acres or is owned by a person over 50 years old (or both)?

𝑃(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) = 𝑃(𝐴) + (𝐵) − 𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 0.2 + 0.6 − 0.11 = 0.69 = 69%

c. (0,5 marks) What is the probability that a farm in this state, owned by a person over
50 years old, exceeds 160 acres?

𝑃(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 0.11
𝑃(𝐴|𝐵) = = = 0.183 = 18.3%
𝑃(𝐵) 0.6