ECE 353 HOMEWORK 2

Winter 2014

1. A data source generates hexadecimal characters. Let X be the integer value corresponding to a
hexadecimal character. Suppose that the four binary digits in the character are independent and each is
equally likely to be 0 or 1.
a) Describe the sample space S (all possible outcomes) of this random experiment and specify the
probabilities of its outcomes.
b) Show the map from S to the set of values of X.
c) Find the probabilities for the various values of X.
2. Two transmitters send messages through bursts of radio signals to an antenna. During each time slot
each transmitter sends a message with probability 0.5. Simultaneous transmissions result in loss of the
messages. Let X be the number of time slots until the first message gets through.
a) Describe the underlying sample space S of this random experiment and specify the probabilities of
its outcomes.
b) Show the map from S to the values of X.
c) Find the probabilities for the various values of X.
3. A modem transmits over an error-prone channel, so it repeats every 0 or 1 bit transmission five
times. We call each such group of five bits a codeword. The channel changes an input bit to its
complement with probability 0.1 p = and it does so independently of its treatment of other input bits.
The modem receiver takes a majority vote of the five received bits to estimate the input signal. Find
the probability that the receiver makes the wrong decision.
4. Heat must be removed from a system according to how fast it is generated. Suppose the system has
eight components each of which is active with probability 0.25, independently of the others. The
design of the heat removal system requires finding the probabilities of the following events:
a) None of the systems is active.
b) Exactly one is active.
c) More than four are active.
d) More than two and fewer than six are active.
5. The cdf of the random variable X is given by
0,
1
0.5,
1 0
( )
1
,
0 1 2
1,
1
X
x
x
F x
x
x
x

<

s <
=

+

s <

>

a) Plot the cdf and identify the type of random variable.
b) Find ( 1) P X s , ( 1) P X = , ( 0.5 0.5) P X < < , and ( 1) P X > .
6. A random variable X has pdf
{ }
2
1 , 0 1
( )
0, elsewhere
X
cx x x
f x

s s

a) Find c and plot the pdf.
b) Plot the cdf of X.
c) Find ( 1) P X = and (0 0.5) P X < < .