Chapter 5 Discrete Probability Distributions

Exam A
1) Identify the given random variable as being discrete or continuous.
The time for a medication to take effect.
A) Discrete
B) Continuous
Answer: B

2) Match the following values as a A) discrete random variable, B) continuous random variable, or C)
not a random variable:

Exact weights of newborn babies

Shoe sizes of humans
Gender classification of adults in the United States

A) B, A, C
B) C, A, B
C) A, B, C
D) A, C, B
Answer: A
3) In a certain town, 22% of voters favor the construction of a new hospital. For groups of 21 voters,
find the variance for the number who favor the new hospital.
A) 3.6 voters2
B) 4.6 voters2
C) 1.9 voters2
D) 13 voters2
Answer: A

4) Find the standard deviation, σ, for the binomial distribution with n = 503 and p = 0.7.
A) σ = 14.40
B) σ = 10.28
C) σ = 7.87
D) σ = 13.55
Answer: B
5) Find the mean, μ, for the binomial distribution with n = 676 and p =0.7
A) μ = 474.9
B) μ = 473.2
C) μ = 474.5
D) μ = 471.7
Answer: B

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6) Find the standard deviation, σ, for the binomial distribution with n = 38 and p = 2/5.
A) σ = 0.61
B) σ = 6.29
C) σ = 3.02
D) σ = 7.14
Answer: C
7) A pharmaceutical company claims that its new medication results in side effects for 20% of those
people who take it. A sample of 100 consumers of that medication is randomly selected. Find the
mean and standard deviation for the number of patients that experience side effects in such groups of
100.
A) μ = 20; σ = 4.0
B) μ = 20; σ = .20
C) μ = .020; σ = .20
D) μ = .20; σ = 4.0
Answer: A
8) The accompanying table shows the probability distribution for x, the number that shows up when a
loaded die is rolled. Find the mean value that shows up when that die is rolled.

A) μ = 3.9
B) μ = 0.2
C) μ = 3.5
D) μ = 3.8
Answer: A

9) On a multiple choice test with 17 questions, each question has four possible answers, one of which is
correct. For students who guess at all answers, find the mean for the number of correct answers.
A) 8.5 questions
B) 12.8 questions
C) 4.3 questions
D) 5.7 questions
Answer: C

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10) A die is rolled nine times and the number of times that two shows on the upper face is counted. If this
experiment is repeated many times, find the mean for the number of twos.
A) 7.5 twos
B) 1.5 twos
C) 2.25 twos
D) 3 twos
Answer: B
11) In a poll of randomly selected adults, 66% said that they worry about getting cancer. For a group of
1013 adults, the mean of those who do not worry about getting cancer is closest to:
A) 34 adults
B) 66 adults
C) 669 adults
D) 344 adults
Answer: D

12) Determine whether the given procedure results in a binomial distribution. If not, state the reason why.
Counting the number of defects in each of 500 blood pressure monitors
A) Not binomial: the trials are not independent.
B) Not binomial: there are more than two outcomes for each trial.
C) Not binomial: there are too many trials.
D) The procedure results in a binomial distribution.
Answer: B

13) Select the procedure that does NOT result in a binomial distribution.
A) Surveying dental patients and asking them if they experienced anxiety during their appointment
B) Surveying dental patients and asking them if they did or did not floss before their appointment
C) Surveying dental patients and asking them if they have dental insurance
D) Surveying dental patients and asking them how their teeth feel after their appointment
Answer: D
14) Assume that a procedure yields a binomial distribution with a trial repeated n = 30 times. Use the
binomial probability formula to find the probability of x = 5 successes given the probability p = 1/5 of
success on a single trial. Round to three decimal places.
A) 0.172
B) 0.067
C) 0.198
D) 0.421
Answer: A
15) Select the procedure that does NOT result in a Poisson distribution.
A) Researching the Northern Spotted Owls' number of feedings per month
B) Researching the Barred Owls' wingspan in inches
C) Researching the Snowy Owls' number of migrations over 20 years
D) Researching the number of Sooty Owls' deaths per year
Answer: B

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16) Suppose that weight of adolescents is being studied by a health organization and that the
accompanying tables describes the probability distribution for three randomly selected adolescents,
where x is the number who are considered morbidly obese. Is it significant to have no obese subjects
among three randomly selected adolescents?

A) Yes
B) No
Answer: B
17) The probability that a call received by a certain switchboard will be a wrong number is 0.02. Use the
Poisson distribution to approximate the probability that among 150 calls received by the switchboard,
there are at least two wrong numbers. Round your answer to four decimal places.
A) 0.8009
B) 0.7760
C) 0.2240
D) 0.1991
Answer: A
18) Use the given values of n = 93 and p = 0.24 to find the minimum value that is not significantly low, μ
- 2σ, and the maximum value that is not significantly high, μ + 2σ. Round your answer to the nearest
hundredth unless otherwise noted.
A) Minimum: 30.56; maximum: 14.08
B) Minimum: 14.08; maximum: 30.56
C) Minimum: 18.2; maximum: 26.44
D) Minimum: -11.61; maximum: 56.25
Answer: B
19) Find the mean, μ, for the binomial distribution with n = 48 and p = 3/5. Round your answer to the
nearest hundredth.
A) μ = 29.7
B) μ = 3.4
C) μ = 48.6
D) μ = 28.8
Answer: D

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 20) According to a survey, 51% of adults prefer wearing contacts to glasses for vision correction. If nine
adults are selected, what is the probability that exactly 3 adults prefer wearing contacts? Assume that
each person's preference is independent of the others.
A) 0.154
B) 0.00184
C) 0.133
D) 0.0635
Answer: A
Exam B
1) The probability that there will be a medical emergency while on a two-hour flight is 0.00005. Use the
Poisson distribution to approximate the probability that among 14,000 two-hour flights, exactly two
will have a medical emergencies onboard. Round your answer to four decimal places.
A) 0.1460
B) 0.8783
C) 0.1217
D) 0.1947
E) 0.1703
Answer: C
2) A die is rolled nine times and the number of times that two shows on the upper face is counted. If this
experiment is repeated many times, find the mean for the number of twos.
A) 1.5 twos
B) 3 twos
C) 7.5 twos
D) 2.25 twos
Answer: A
3) Select the procedure that does NOT result in a binomial distribution.
A) Surveying cardiology patients and asking them if they experienced stress during their
appointment
B) Surveying cardiology patients and asking them if they did or did not eat a bacon cheese
hamburger before their appointment
C) Surveying cardiology patients and asking them if they have health insurance
D) Surveying cardiology patients and asking them how their heart feels after their appointment
Answer: D

4) Determine whether the given procedure results in a binomial distribution. If not, state the reason why.
Rolling a single die 26 times, keeping track of the numbers that are rolled.
A) Not binomial: the trials are not independent.
B) The procedure results in a binomial distribution.
C) Not binomial: there are more than two outcomes for each trial.
D) Not binomial: there are too many trials.
Answer: C

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5) According to a college survey, 22% of all students work full time. Find the mean for the number of
students who work full time in samples of size 16.
A) 3.5 students
B) 2.8 students
C) 4.0 students
D) 0.2 students
Answer: A
6) In one large city, the number of fatal car crashes in a week has a Poisson distribution with a mean of
1.9 burglaries. Find the probability that in a randomly selected week the number of fatal car crashes is
at least three. Use the Poisson Distribution to find the indicated probability.
A) 0.1710
B) 0.1253
C) 0.7037
D) 0.2963
Answer: D
7) Determine whether the given procedure results in a binomial distribution. If not, state the reason why.
Rolling a single die 53 times, keeping track of the "fives" rolled.
A) Not binomial: there are more than two outcomes for each trial.
B) Not binomial: there are too many trials.
C) The procedure results in a binomial distribution.
D) Not binomial: the trials are not independent.
Answer: C
8) A certain rare form of cancer occurs in 37 children in a million, so its probability is 0.000037. In the
city of Normalville there are 74,090 children. A Poisson distribution will be used to approximate the
probability that the number of cases of the disease in Normalville children is more than 2. Find the
mean of the appropriate Poisson distribution (the mean number of cases in groups of 74,090
children).
A) 27,400
B) 2.7
C) 274
D) 0.000037
Answer: B
9) Use the given values of n = 1205 and p = 0.98 to find the minimum value that is not significantly low,
μ - 2σ, and the maximum value that is not significantly high, μ + 2σ.
Round your answer to the nearest hundredth unless otherwise noted.
A) Minimum: 1171.18; maximum: 1190.62
B) Minimum: 1176.04; maximum: 1185.76
C) Minimum: 1190.62; maximum: 1171.18
D) Minimum: 1174.03; maximum: 1187.77
Answer: A

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10) According to a survey, 51% of adults prefer wearing contacts to glasses for vision correction. If nine
adults are selected, what is the probability that exactly 3 adults prefer wearing contacts? Assume that
each person's preference is independent of the others.
A) 0.154
B) 0.00184
C) 0.133
D) 0.0635
Answer: A
11) A survey for brand recognition is done and it is determined that 68% of consumers have heard of
MedExpress. A survey of 800 randomly selected consumers is to be conducted. For such groups of
800, would it be significant to get 634 consumers who recognize the MedExpress company name?
Consider as significant any result that differs from the mean by more than 2 standard deviations. That
is, significant values are either less than μ - 2σ or greater than μ + 2σ.
A) Yes
B) No
Answer: A
12) Select the procedure that does NOT result in a Poisson distribution.
A) Researching the Scarlet Snakes' number of feedings per month
B) Researching the number of bands on the Gray-banded Kingsnake
C) Researching the Racer Snakes' number of eggs laid over the breeding season
D) Researching the number of Mud Snakes' deaths per year
Answer: B
13) Identify the given random variable as being discrete or continuous.
The cost of a randomly selected orange.
A) Discrete
B) Continuous
Answer: A
14) Find the standard deviation, σ, for the binomial distribution with n = 38 and p = 0.4.
A) σ = 7.14
B) σ = 6.29
C) σ = 3.02
D) σ = 0.61
Answer: C
15) Based on a survey, there is a 0.8 probability that a randomly selected adult will visit their primary
doctor first for a high fever, instead of a specialist, urgent care, etc. Assume that seven adults are
randomly selected. Find the probability that fewer than three of the selected adults visit their primary
doctor first for a high fever.
A) 0.00430
B) 0.000358
C) 0.00467
D) 0.0512
Answer: C

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16) A test consists of 10 true/false questions. To pass the test a student must answer at least 6 questions
correctly. If a student guesses on each question, what is the probability that the student will pass the
test? Round to three decimal places.
A) 0.828
B) 0.172
C) 0.377
D) 0.205
Answer: C
17) In a certain college, 33% of the biology majors belong to ethnic minorities. If 10 students are selected
at random from the biology majors, what is the probability that no more than 6 belong to an ethnic
minority? Round to three decimal places.
A) 0.982
B) 0.913
C) 0.055
D) 0.985
Answer: A
18) A company manufactures wheelchair batteries in batches of 6 and there is a 3% rate of defects. Find
the mean number of defects per batch.
A) 5.8 defects
B) 1.8 defects
C) 0.2 defects
D) 18 defects
Answer: C
19) The following table describes the results of digital scales that are three years old. The random variable
x represents the number of scales that failed to weigh accurately among six that were tested for
accuracy of weight measurement:

x P(x)
0 0.377
1 0.399
2 0.176
3 0.041
4 0.005
5 0+
6 0+

Find the probability of getting three or more scales that failed to weigh accurately among six scales
that were tested.
A) 0.005
B) 0.046
C) 0.048
D) 0.222
Answer: B

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 20) The following table describes the results of digital scales that are three years old. The random variable
x represents the number of scales that failed to weigh accurately among six that were tested for
accuracy of weight measurement:

x P(x)
0 0.377
1 0.399
2 0.176
3 0.041
4 0.005
5 0+
6 0+

Is the probability of getting three or more scales that fail among six scales that were tested significant,
determined by a cutoff value of 0.05?
A) Yes
B) No
Answer: A
Exam C

Use the distribution below to answer the following question(s). A medical journal researcher surveyed adult
males about the number of times they have experienced tinnitus (ringing ears) in the last four days. The
following distribution, gives the probability values for x, the number of days an adult male experienced tinnitus.

1) Identify the random variable for the tinnitus distribution.

Answer: The number of days an adult male experienced tinnitus out of the last four days
2) Identify the random variable as either discrete or continuous.
Answer: Discrete

3) Determine whether a probability distribution is given in the tinnitus distribution. If not, identify the
requirements that are not satisfied.
Answer: No; Requirement NOT satisfied: ΣP(x) = 1

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Use the probability distribution below to answer the following question(s). Biologists researching a certain type
of hawk, Accipiter spp., found the following probability values for x, the number of offspring.

x P(x)
0 .05
1 .19
2 .32
3 .21
4 .12
5 .08
6 .03

4) Find the mean of the probability distribution for offspring of Accipiter spp.
Answer: 2.5 offspring

5) Find the standard deviation of the probability distribution for offspring of Accipiter spp.
Answer: 1.4 offspring

6) Referring to the probability distribution for offspring of Accipiter spp., find the probability of having
exactly three offspring.
Answer: 0.21
7) Referring to the probability distribution for offspring of Accipiter spp., find the probability of having
more than three offspring.
Answer: 0.23
8) Using probability values, determine if it is unusual for Accipiter spp. to have six offspring.
Answer: Yes; .03 < .05

9) Find the expected value of the probability distribution for offspring of Accipiter spp.
Answer: 2.5

10) State the requirements for using the Poisson distribution as an approximation to the binomial
distribution. If the requirements are satisfied, what is value that we use for the mean for the Poisson
distribution as an approximation to the binomial.
Answer: n ≥ 100; np ≤ 10. The mean for the Poisson distribution as an approximation to the
binomial: μ = np
11) Helene claimed that the expected value when rolling a fair die was 3.5. Steve said that wasn't
possible. He said that the expected value was the most likely value in a single roll of the die, and
since it wasn't possible for a die to turn up with a value of 3.5, the expected value couldn't possibly be
3.5. Who is right?
Answer: Helene is right. The expected value is not the most likely value in a single trial, it is the
mean value obtained from infinitely many trials. The expected value is the mean we would
expect to get if the die could be rolled infinitely many times, which is 3.5.

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Use the binomial distribution below to answer the following question(s). A doctor knows from experience that
10% of the patients to whom she gives a certain medication will experience undesirable side effects. Assume
the doctor gives medication to the next 12 patients.

12) Referring to the binomial distribution for the medication, find the probability that exactly three of
these patients will experience undesirable side effects.
Answer: 0.0852

13) Referring to the binomial distribution for the medication, find the probability that at most two of
these patients will experience undesirable side effects.
Answer: 0.889
14) Referring to the binomial distribution for the medication, find the probability that exactly five of
these patients will experience undesirable side effects.
Answer: 0.00379

15) Find the mean from the binomial distribution for the medication.
Answer: 1.2 patients

16) Find the standard deviation from the binomial distribution for the medication.
Answer: 1.04 patients

17) Referring to the binomial distribution for the medication, use the range rule of thumb to determine if
it is unusual for four patients to have undesirable side effects.
Answer: Yes; 4 > 3.28 (max unusual value)
Use the following Poisson distribution for the next question(s). An allergist determined the average number of
fire ants per square centimeter of a mound is six.

18) Find the probability of eight fire ants in a square centimeter of a mound.
Answer: 0.103

19) Find the probability that no fire ants are in a square centimeter of a mound.
Answer: 0.00248
20) Find the probability that at most four fire ants are in a square centimeter of a mound.
Answer: 0.285

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