Assignment #3

Chapter #3
Discrete Random Variables and Probability Distributions

3-1 (Tutorial)
Determine the range (possible values) of the following random variable. The random
variable is the number of nonconforming solder connections on a printed circuit board
with 1000 connections.

Solution
The range of X is {0,1,2,...,1000}

3-2 (Tutorial)
Determine the range (possible values) of the following random variable. In a voice
communications system with 50 lines, the random variable is the number of lines in use
at a particular time.

Solution
The range of X is {0,12
, ,...,50}

3-3 (Homework)
Determine the range (possible values) of the following random variable. An electronic
scale that displays weights to the nearest pound is used to weigh packages. The display
shows only five digits. Any weight greater than the display can indicate is shown as
99999. The random variable is the displayed weight.

Solution
The range of X is {0,12
, ,...,99999}

3-5 (Homework)
Determine the range (possible values) of the following random variable. A batch of 500
machined parts contains 10 that do not conform to customer requirements. Parts are
selected successively, without replacement, until a nonconforming part is obtained. The
random variable is the number of parts selected.

Solution
The range of X is {1,2,...,491} . Because 490 parts are conforming, a nonconforming
part must be selected in 491 selections.

1
3-15 (Tutorial)
Verify that the following function is probability mass function, and determine the
requested probabilities.
x -2 -1 0 1 2
f (x ) 1/8 2/8 2/8 2/8 1/8
(i) P( X £ 2) (iii) P(-1 £ X £ 1)
(ii) P( X > -2) (iv) P( X £ -1 or X = 2)

Solution
All probabilities are greater than or equal to zero and sum to one.
i. P(X £ 2)=1/8 + 2/8 + 2/8 + 2/8 + 1/8 = 1
ii. P(X > - 2) = 2/8 + 2/8 + 2/8 + 1/8 = 7/8
iii. P(-1 £ X £ 1) = 2/8 + 2/8 + 2/8 =6/8 = 3/4
iv. P(X £ -1 or X=2) = 1/8 + 2/8 +1/8 = 4/8 =1/2

3-16 (Homework)
Verify that the following function is probability mass function, and determine the
requested probabilities.
f ( x) = (8 / 7)(1 / 2) x , x = 1,2,3
(i) P( X £ 1) (iii) P(2 < X < 6)
(ii) P( X > 1) (iv) P( X £ 1 or X > 1)

Solution
All probabilities are greater than or equal to zero and sum to one.
i. P(X£ 1)=P(X=1)=0.5714
ii. P(X>1)= 1-P(X=1)=1-0.5714=0.4286
iii. P(2<X<6)=P(X=3)=0.1429
iv. P(X£1 or X>1)= P(X=1)+ P(X=2)+P(X=3)=1

3-35 (Tutorial)
Verify that the following function is a cumulative distribution function, and determine the
probability mass function and the requested probabilities.
ì0 x <1
ï
F ( x ) = í0.5 1 £ x < 3
ï1 3£ x
î
a) P( X £ 3) c) P(1 £ X £ 2)
b) P( X £ 2) d) P( X > 2)

Solution
The sum of the probabilities is 1 and all probabilities are greater than or equal to zero;
pmf: f(1) = 0.5, f(3) = 0.5
a) P(X £ 3) = 1
b) P(X £ 2) = 0.5
c) P(1 £ X £ 2) = P(X=1) = 0.5
d) P(X>2) = 1 - P(X£2) = 0.5

2
3-36 (Homework)
Verify that the following function is a cumulative distribution function, and determine the
probability mass function and the requested probabilities.
Errors in an experimental transmission channel are found when the transmission is
checked by a certifier that detects missing pulses. The number of errors found in an eight-
bit byte is a random variable with the following distribution:

Solution
The sum of the probabilities is 1 and all probabilities are greater than or equal to zero;
pmf: f(1) = 0.7, f(4) = 0.2, f(7) = 0.1
a) P(X £ 4) = 0.9
b) P(X > 7) = 0
c) P(X £ 5) = 0.9
d) P(X>4) = 0.1
e) P(X£2) = 0.7

3- 41(Tutorial)
Determine the mean and variance of the random variable for the following probability
density function:
x -2 -1 0 1 2
f (x ) 1/8 2/8 2/8 2/8 1/8
Solution
m = E ( X ) = -2 f (-2) - 1 f (-1) + 0 f (0) + 1 f (1) + 2 f (2)
= -2(1 / 8) - 1(2 / 8) + 0(2 / 8) + 1(2 / 8) + 2(1 / 8) = 0
V ( X ) =-2 2 f (-2) - 12 f (-1) + 0 2 f (0) + 12 f (1) + 2 2 f (2) - m 2
=4(1 / 8) + 1(2 / 8) + 0(2 / 8) + 1(2 / 8) + 4(1 / 8) - 0 2 =1.5

3
3- 42 (Homework)
Determine the mean and variance of the random variable for the following probability
density function:
f ( x) = (8 / 7)(1 / 2) x , x = 1,2,3
Solution

m = E ( X ) = 1 f (1) + 2 f (2) + 3 f (3)

3- 71 (Tutorial)

Solution

Let X denote the number of times the line is occupied. Then, X has a binomial
distribution with
n = 10 and p = 0.4
æ 10ö
a.) P ( X = 3) = ç ÷ 0.4 3 (0.6) 7 = 0.215
è 3ø
b.) P( X ³ 1) = 1 - P( X = 0) = 1 - ( )0.4 0.6
10
0
0 10
= 0.994
c.) E ( X ) = 10(0.4) = 4

4
3- 120 (Homework)
Let X denote the number of bits received in error in a digital communication channel,
and assume that X is a binomial random variable with p = 0.001 . If 1000 bits are
transmitted, determine the following:
a) P( X = 1) c) P( X £ 2)
b) P( X ³ 1) d) mean and variance of X

Solution
æ1000 ö
= 1) = çç
a) P ( X ÷÷0.0011 (0.999) 999 = 0.3681
è 1 ø
æ1000 ö
b) P( X ³ 1) = 1 - P( X = 0) = 1 - çç ÷÷0.0010 (0.999)999 = 0.6319
è 0 ø
æ1000 ö æ1000 ö æ1000 ö
c) P( X £ 2) = çç ÷÷0.0010 (0.999 )1000 + çç ÷÷0.0011 (0.999)999 + çç ÷÷0.0012 0.999 998
è 0 ø è 1 ø è 2 ø
= 0.9198
d) E ( X ) = 1000(0.001) = 1
V ( X ) = 1000(0.001)(0.999) = 0.999

3- 114 (Tutorial)

Solution
a) Let X denote the number of flaws in one square meter of cloth. Then, X is a Poisson random variable
e -0.1 (0.1)2
with l = 0.1. P( X = 2) = = 0.0045
2!
b) Let Y denote the number of flaws in 10 square meters of cloth. Then, Y is a Poisson random variable
e -111
with l = 1. P(Y = 1) = = e -1 = 0.3679
1!
c) Let W denote the number of flaws in 20 square meters of cloth. Then, W is a Poisson random variable
P(W = 0) = e -2 = 0.1353
with l = 2.
d) P(Y ³ 2) = 1 - P(Y £ 1) = 1 - P(Y = 0) - P(Y = 1)
= 1 - e -1 - e -1
= 0.2642

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3- 110 (Homework)
The number of telephone calls that arrive at a phone exchange is often modeled as a
Poisson random variable. Assume that on average there are 10 calls per hour.
a) What is the probability that there are exactly 5 calls in one hour?
b) What is the probability that there are 3 or less calls in one hour?
c) What is the probability that there are exactly 15 calls in two hours?
d) What is the probability that there are exactly 5 calls in 30 minutes?

Solution
a) Let X denote the number of calls in one hour. Then, X is a Poisson random variable with l = 10.
e -10 105
P( X = 5) = = 0.0378 .
5!
e -10 10 e -10 10 2 e -10 10 3
b) P( X £ 3) = e -10 + + + = 0.0103
1! 2! 3!
c) Let Y denote the number of calls in two hours. Then, Y is a Poisson random variable with
e -20 2015
l = 20. P( Y = 15) = = 0.0516
15!
d) Let W denote the number of calls in 30 minutes. Then W is a Poisson random variable with
e -5 55
l = 5. P( W = 5) = = 01755
.
5!