For each of the problems below, x is a random variable.

Do the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Verify that f(x) is indeed a probability distribution

Calculate the probability requested
Calculate F(x)
Calculate E(X)

Problem #1:
f(x) = 4x 3

(0 x 1)

P(0.50 X 0.75) = ?

Problem #2:
f(x) = 3 x -4

(1 x )

P(2 X 5) = ?

Problem #3
f(x) (0.19) x ( -0.5 )

(16 x 44)

P(16 X 30) = ?
Problem #3 is an actual formula derived directly from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) data concerning alcohol-related traffic fatalities. The
formula was derived on US drivers aged 16 years to 44 years, inclusive. The variable x
represents age [16, 44], and f(x) is the relative frequency (i.e., empirical probability) of
an alcohol-related fatality given that there was an alcohol related fatality and the driver
was 16 to 44 years old.

Solutions are found on the next three pages.

f(x) = 4x 3

(0 x 1)

(4x ) dx =
1

(x )
4

(1) ( 0) =1
P(0.50 X 0.75) =

(4x ) dx =
0.75

0.50

(x ) =
(0.75 ) (0.50 ) 0.25
4

0.75
0.50
4

P(0.50 X 0.75) 0.25

F(x) =

(4x ) dx =
x

(x ) =
(x ) (0) = (x )
F(x) = (x )
4

E(X) =

x (4x ) dx =
1

(4x ) dx =
1

4x 5

=
0

4
( 0 ) = 0.80
5
E(X) = 0.80

f(x) = 3x -4

(1 x )

3x -4 dx =

3 3
x
- 3
1

( ) 3

1
3
x

=
1

1
3
(1)

=
1

( 0) ( 1)

P(2 X 5) =

3x -4 dx =
5

1 1

( 5) 3 ( 2 ) 3

2
P(2 X 5) = 0.117

1
3
x

0.117

1 x 3

F(x) =

3x -4 dx =

1
3
x

=
1

(x) 3

1
3
(1)

F(x) = 1 x 3

E(X) =

x 3x -4 dx

3 2

x
- 2

=
1

1.5 1.5

( ) 2 (1) 2

E(X) = 1.5

3x -3 dx =

1.5
2
x
=

=
1

( 0) ( 1.5)

1.5

f(x) (0.19) x ( -0.5)

44

16

(16 x 44)

(0.19) x ( -0.5 ) dx =
44

0.19 0.5

x
0.5

(0.38

( 0.38)

16

) (

44 0.38 16

44

0.5

16

2.52 1.52

0.56

P(16 X 30) =

30

16

(0.19) x ( -0.5 ) dx =
30

0.19 0.5

x
0.5

(0.38

( 0.38)

16

) (

30 0.38 16

30

x 0.5

16

2.08 1.52

F(x) =

16

(0.19) x ( -0.5 ) dx =
x

0.19 0.5

x
0.5

(0.38

( 0.38)

16

) (

x 0.38 16

F(x) = 0.38

x 0.5

16

(0.38

x 1.52

x 1.52

E(X) =

44

16

x (0.19) x ( -0.5 ) dx

0.19 1.5

x
1.5

44

( 0.1267 )

44

16

(0.19) x ( 0.5 ) dx

x 1.5

16

(0.1267 (44) ) (0.1267 (16) )

1.5

E(X) = 28.86 29

1.5

44
16

36.97 8.11

28.86