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7.02 Discrete probability distributions

Worksheet
Discrete random variable probability distributions
1

State whether the following tables represent a discrete probability distribution. Explain your answer.

a
x24567
P \left(X = x\right)0.10.250.30.150.2
b
x- 2- 1403
P \left( X = x \right)- 0.40.050.150.20
2

State whether the following tables represent a discrete probability distribution:

a
x2468
p (x)0.20.40.60.8
b
x246810
p(x)0.20.20.20.20.2
c
x1234
p(x)-0.4-0 .30.80.9
d
x10203040
p(x)10\%20\%25\%45\%
3

Consider the function P \left(X=x\right) = \dfrac{x}{6} for x = 1, 2, 3.

a

Complete the given table:

b

State whether the table represents a discrete probability distribution. Explain your answer.

x123
P (X=x)
4

Consider the function P \left(X=x\right) = - \dfrac{x}{3} for x = 1, 2, 3.

a

Complete the given table:

b

State whether the table represents a discrete probability distribution. Explain your answer.

x123
P (X=x)
5

For each of the the following column graphs:

i

Identify which conditions for a discrete probability distribution are evident in the graph.

ii

Hence, state whether the graph represents a discrete probability distribution.

a
b
c
d
6

Consider the function P \left(X=x\right) = \dfrac{1}{8} x^{2} for x = 0, \dfrac{1}{4}, \dfrac{1}{2}, \dfrac{3}{4}, 1.

a

Complete the given table:

b

State whether the table represents a discrete probability distribution. Explain your answer.

x0\dfrac{1}{4}\dfrac{1}{2}\dfrac{3}{4}1
P (X=x)
7

A random variable X has the following probability distribution:

x5678912
P(X = x)\dfrac{1}{16}\dfrac{1}{16}\dfrac{3}{16}\dfrac{1}{4}\dfrac{5}{16}\dfrac{1}{8}

Find the following probabilities:

a

P \left( X = 8 \right)

b

P\left( X \text{ is even} \right)

c

P \left( X > 8 \right)

d

P \left( X \leq 7 \right)

e

P \left( 6 < X < 8 \right)

f

P \left( 6 \leq X < 12 \right)

8

The cumulative distribution for a discrete random variable is given in the below:

a

Complete the given table.

b

Find the following probabilities:

i

P\left(1 \lt X \leq 3 \right)

ii

P\left(X \leq 3 \vert X \gt 1\right)

x01234
P\left(X \leq x\right)0.10.30.650.951
P \left(X=x\right)
9

The cumulative distribution for a discrete random variable is given in the below:

a

Complete the given table.

b

Find the following probabilities correct to three decimal places.

i

P\left(X < 4\right)

ii

P\left(X \geq 8\right)

iii

P\left(X > 8 \cup X < 3\right)

iv

P\left(X \leq 7 \vert X \geq5\right)

xP \left(X\leq x \right)P \left(X= x \right)
00.001
10.011
20.055
30.172
40.377
50.623
60.828
70.945
80.989
90.999
101
10

A random variable X has the following probability distribution:

x123456
P \left( X = x \right)\dfrac{5}{60}\dfrac{7}{60}\dfrac{9}{60}\dfrac{11}{60}\dfrac{13}{60}\dfrac{15}{60}

The probability density function associated with this distribution is given by: P\left(X = x\right) = \dfrac{a x + b}{c}State the value of:

a

c

b

a

c

b

11

The following tables represent the probability distribution of a discrete random variable for all of the possible outcomes. For each table, determine the value of k:

a
x- 3- 1014
P \left(X=x\right)0.3k0.050.20.25
b
x- 2.8- 0.70.213.4
P \left(X=x\right)0.30.10.05k0.25
12

Given the probability distribution table for X below, find each of the following:

a

The value of k

b

P\left(X > 2\right)

c

P\left(1 \leq X<4\right)

d

P\left(X > 2 \vert X > 0\right)

e

P\left(X \leq 3 \vert X \geq 1\right)

x01234
P \left( X = x \right)2 kk4 k3 kk
13

For each of the probability functions for a discrete random variable, described below, determine the value of k:

a
P\left(X=x\right)=\begin{cases} \dfrac{k}{x}; \, x=2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 \\ 0, \text{ otherwise} \end{cases}
b
P\left(X=x\right)=\begin{cases} kx^2\left(5-x\right); \, x= 1, 2, 3, 4, 5\\ 0, \text{ otherwise} \end{cases}
c
P \left(X=x\right) = \begin{cases}\dfrac{x^{2}}{k}; \, x= -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2\\ 0, \text{ otherwise} \end{cases}
d
P \left(X=x\right) = \begin{cases}\dfrac{k x}{24}; \, x = \dfrac{1}{8}, \dfrac{1}{6}, 2, 4, 6, 8\\ 0, \text{ otherwise} \end{cases}
14

A random variable X can take any of the values 0, 1, 2 or 3. Given the following known facts about the distribution, construct a probability distribution table for each case below:

a
  • P \left( X = 0 \right) = P \left( X = 1 \right)
  • P \left( X=1 \right) = P \left( X=2 \right)
  • P \left( X=2 \right) = P \left( X=3 \right)
b
  • P \left( X = 0 \right) = \dfrac{1}{2} P \left( X = 1 \right)
  • P \left( X=1 \right) = 4 P \left( X=2 \right)
  • P \left( X=2 \right) = \dfrac{1}{5} P \left( X=3 \right)
c
  • P \left(X=2\right) = 2 P \left(X=0\right)
  • P \left(X=1\right) = P \left(X=2\right)
  • P \left(X=3\right) = 4 P \left(X=1\right)
d
  • P \left(X=3\right) = 3 P \left(X=0\right)
  • P \left(X=1\right) = 5 P \left(X=0\right)
  • P \left(X=1\right) + P \left(X=2\right) = \dfrac{5}{7}
15

Consider the following probability distribution table for X:

x01234
P(X = x)0.24a0.15b0.22
a

Find the value of a given that P\left(X<3\right) = 0.62.

b

Hence, determine the value of b.

16

Consider the following probability distribution table for X:

x12345
P(X = x)0.16abc0.17
a

Find the value of c given that P\left(X \geq4\right) = 0.39.

b

Find the value of a given that P\left(X\geq 2 | X<3\right) = 0.6.

c

Hence, determine the value of b.

17

The probability function for a discrete random variable is given by:

P\left(X=x\right)=\begin{cases} k\left(9-x\right); \, x= 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 \\ 0, \text{ otherwise} \end{cases}
a

Determine the value of k.

b

Construct a probability distribution table.

c

Find P\left(X < 7\right).

d

Find P\left(X \geq 6\right).

e

Find P\left(X < 6 \cup X > 7\right).

f

Find P\left(X \geq 5|X \leq 7\right).

18

The probability function for a discrete random variable is given by:P\left(X=x\right)=\begin{cases} ^5C_x\left(0.6\right)^x\left(0.4\right)^{5-x}; \, x=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 \\ 0, \text{ for all other values of }x \end{cases}

a

Construct a probability distribution table.

b

Describe the shape of the distribution.

c

Find P\left(X > 3\right).

d

Find P\left(X > 0\right).

e

Find P\left(X \leq 3|X > 0\right).

19

The probability function for a discrete random variable is given by:P\left(X = x\right) = \left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^{x} ; \, x = 1, 2, 3, \ldots

a

State whether the probabilities of this distribution form a geometric or arithmetic sequence.

b

State the common difference or ratio of this sequence.

c

State the first term of this sequence.

d

Find \sum_{x=0}^\infty P\left(X = x\right), to confirm P\left(X = x\right) describes a probability function..

e

Find P\left(2 < X \leq 5\right).

f

Find P\left(X \leq 7|X < 10\right).

Uniform distribution
20

Consider the function P \left(X=x\right) = \dfrac{1}{6} for x = 0,\, 2,\, 4,\, 6,\, 8,\, 10.

a

Complete the following table:

b

State whether the table represents a discrete probability distribution. Explain your answer.

x0246810
P (X=x)
21

The probability function for a uniform discrete random variable is shown in the following graph:

a

Find the value of k.

b

State the probability function that defines the uniform discrete random variable representated by the graph.

22

Given the probability distribution table for X below, find each of the following:

a

The value of k.

b

P \left( X > 3 \right)

c

P \left(1 \leq X < 5 \right)

d

P \left( X > 2 | X > 1 \right)

e

P \left( X \leq 4 | X \geq 2 \right)

x12345
P(X = x)kkkkk
23

The probability function for a uniform discrete random variable is given below:

P\left(X=x\right)=\begin{cases} k; x=1, 2, 3, 4 \\ 0, \text{ otherwise } \end{cases}
a

Find the value of k.

b

Find P\left(X < 3\right).

c

Find P\left(X \geq 2|X < 4\right).

d

Find m such that P\left(X \geq m\right) = 0.75.

Applications
24

A coin is weighted such that the probability of a tail appearing uppermost is 70\%. Let X represent the number of tails appearing uppermost in two tosses of the coin.

a

Construct a tree diagram for this situation.

b

Hence, complete the table:

x012
P(X = x)
c

State the three conditions that must be true for this to be a discrete probability distribution.

d

Hence, does this represent a discrete probability distribution?

25

A dog has three puppies. Let F represent the number of female puppies in this litter.

a

Represent all possible outcomes of male and female puppies born using a tree diagram.

b

Construct the probability distribution table for F.

c

Is the discrete probability distribution uniform or non-uniform?

26

A normal six-sided die is rolled 6000 times.

a

List the possible outcomes of each roll.

b

What shape do you expect the distribution resulting from the experiment to be? Explain your answer.

c

The results of the experiment are tabulated below:

x123456
\text{Frequency}996100599410059961004

Hence, complete the table below, leaving your answer as a fraction over 6000:

x123456
p \left( x \right)
d

Using the results, calculate the experimental probability p \left( X < 3 \right).

e

Find the percentage margin of error between the experimental and theoretical value of P \left( X < 3 \right).

27

Consider a normal and fair eight-sided die. We are interested in how long it takes for a 5 to appear uppermost on the die for the first time.

a

State the probability of:

i

A 5 appearing uppermost on the first roll of the die.

ii

A 5 first appearing uppermost on the third roll of the die.

iii

A 5 first appearing uppermost on the fourth roll of the die.

iv

A 5 first appearing uppermost on the seventh roll of the die.

b

Let X be the number of rolls of the die required to see a 5 for the first time. State the conditions that are required for a discrete probability distribution for X.

c

Hence, does this represent a discrete probability distribution?

28

A fair six-sided die is rolled. Let X be the number it lands on.

a

Construct a probability distribution table for X.

b

Find P \left( X \geq 5 \right).

c

Find P \left( X \geq 5 | X \leq 5 \right).

29

A six-sided die is weighted such that the probability of the die landing with any of the numbers on the die facing up is directly proportional to that number. For example, the probability of the die landing with 5 facing up, is 5 k, where k is a positive constant.

a

Find the value of k.

b

Let X be the number appearing facing upwards. Construct the probability distribution table for X.

30

Several boxes of fruit delivered to an office building were sampled. It was found that the number of fruit in each box wasn't always the same. The frequency of each observation is given in the table:

a

Let X be the number of fruit in a box. Construct a probability distribution table for X using the observations.

b

Use the experimental probabilities to estimate the following:

i

The probability that the next box delivered contains at least 40 fruit.

ii

The probability that the next box delivered contains less than 41 fruit.

Number of fruitFrequency
385
397
4024
418
4226
31

NetStan, an on-demand internet streaming provider, surveyed their customers asking them which TV programme convinced them to subscribe to NetStan. The results are summarised in the table on the right:

Does this table represent a discrete probability distribution? Explain your answer.

\text{Response}P \left(X=x\right)
\text{The Old Cafe}0.31
\text{Deadliest Animals Alive}0.12
\text{Attack of the} \\ \text{Killer Lawnchairs}0.27
\text{The Big Rash}0.3
32

The probability of being placed in a queue when calling your electricity provider is given by:p \left( x \right) = k \times \left(0.2\right)^{x} ; \, x =0, 1, 2, 3, \ldotsWhere x is how many customers are in the queue before you, and k is a positive constant.

a

Given the probability of there being 2 people in the queue before you is 0.032, find the value of k.

b

Find the probability that you are not placed in a queue at all.

c

Find the probability of you being 6th in line to be served.

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Outcomes

ACMMM136

understand the concepts of a discrete random variable and its associated probability function, and their use in modelling data

ACMMM137

use relative frequencies obtained from data to obtain point estimates of probabilities associated with a discrete random variable

ACMMM138

recognise uniform discrete random variables and use them to model random phenomena with equally likely outcomes

ACMMM139

examine simple examples of non-uniform discrete random variables

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