16MECH40C

Tutorial 6: Continuous Random Variables

1. Suppose that

f (x) = ex for 0 < x.

Determine the following:

(a) P(1< X) (b) P(1< X < 2.5)

(c) P(X = 3) (d) P(X < 4) (e) P(3 X)
(f) x such that P(x < X) = 0.10
(g) x such that P(X x) = 0.10

2. The diameter of a particle of contamination (in micrometers) is

modeled with the probability density function
f (x) = 2 x3 for x > 1.
Determine the following:
(a) P(X < 2)
(b) P(X > 5)
(c) P(4 < X < 8)
(d) P(X < 4 or X > 8)
(e) x such that P(X < x) = 0.95

3. A test instrument needs to be calibrated periodically to prevent

measurement errors. After some time of use without calibration, it is
known that the probability density function of the measurement error
is
f (x) = 1 0.5x
for 0 < x < 2 millimeters.
(a) If the measurement error within 0.5 millimeters is acceptable, what is
the probability that the error is not acceptable before calibration?
(b) What is the value of measurement error exceeded with probability
0.2 before calibration?
(c) What is the probability that the measurement error is exactly 0.22
millimeters before calibration?
4. The gap width is an important property of a magnetic recording head.
In coded units, if the width is a continuous random variable over the
range from 0 < x < 2 with f (x) = 0.5x, determine the cumulative
distribution function of the gap width.

5. The probability density function of the time you arrive at a terminal (in
minutes after 8:00 a.m.) is
f (x) = 0.1 exp( 0.1x) for 0 < x.
Determine the probability that
(a) You arrive by 9:00 a.m.
(b) You arrive between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
(c) You arrive before 8:40 a.m. on two or more days of five days. Assume
that your arrival times on different days are independent.