GROUP (A) CLASS WORK PROBLEMS

1 1
8
= 1 C7
2 2

Q-1) A fair coin is tossed 8 times. Find the

probability that it shows heads
i)
exactly 5 times
ii)
a larger number of times than tails.
iii) at least once
Ans. n = 8
Let X be the number of heads.

= 1 (1)(1)

Q-2) A radar complex consists of eight units

that operate indepen den tly. Th e
probability that a unit detects an incoming
missile is 0.9. Find the probability that an
incoming missile will
i)
not be detected by any unit.

1
X B (n , p ) X B 8,
2

ii)
be detected by atmost four units.
Ans. Let X be the number of units that detects an

P(X = r) = nCrp r.qnr

P(exactly 5 heads) = P(X = 5)

incoming missile.
If the detection of a missile is treated as

5
3
8!
1
1 1
8
P(X = 5) = 8C 5 . =
5!3! 2
2 2

i)

8 7 6 5!
1

3 2 1 5! 256

87
7
=
=
0.21875
256
32
P(heads a larger number of times than
tails) = P(X 5) i.e. No. of heads can be 5 or
6 or 7 or 8

=
ii)

ii)

P(success), then p = 0.9, q = 0.1 and n = 8

X ~ B(8, 0.9)
P(X = 0) = 8C0 p0q0
= 8C0 (0.96)0(0.1)8
= (1)(1)(0.00000001) = 0.00000001 0
P(X 4) = P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2 or X = 3 or
X = 4)
= 8C0(0.9)0 (0.01)8 + 8C1 (0.9)1 (0.7)7 + 8C2 (0.9)2
(0.1)6 + 8C3 (0.9)3 (0.1)5 + 8C4 (0.9)4 (0.1)4

P(X 5) = P(X = 5) + P(X = 6) + P(X = 7) +

P(X = 8)
=

1
255
=
256
256

= 0.9960

1
1
P(success) = p = , q =
2
2

i)

1 1
1 1
C 5 + 8C6 +
2 2
2 2
7

1
9 1
+ 8
7 +
8
10
10 10
81 1
729 1
28
+ 56

5 +
6
100 10
1000 10

1 1
1 1
C 7 + 8C8
2
2

2 2

(1)(1)

6561 1
70
4
10000 10

iii)

(C
8

1
8
8
8
5 + C6 + C 7 + C8

1
93
= ( 56 + 28 + 8 +1)
=
256
256
= 0.3632
P(at least one head) = P(X 1)
P(X 1) = 1 P(no head) = 1 P(X < 1)
= 1 P(X = 0) = 1 8C 0 ( p )

1+ 72 + 2268 + 40824 + 459270

108

502435
108

(q )

= 0.005

Q-3) A student answered that the mean of a

binomial distribution is 18 and variance
is equal to 12. Check whether the answer

of the student is correct or not.

Ans. Mean = 18, Variance = 12

But, Mean = np and Variance = npq

np = 18 and npq = 12

Binomial Distribution

Mahesh Tutorials Science

(18)q = 12

X ~ B (14, 0.1)

2
1
and hence p = 1 9 =
3
3
Now, np = 18

P(machine will work) = P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2)

= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2)

q=

= 14C0 (0.1)0 (0.9)14 + 14C1 (0.1)1 (0.9)13 +

14
C2 (0.1)2(0.9)12

1
= 18
3
n = 54
Thus, answer of the student is correct.
n

= (1)(1)(0.9)14 + 14 (0.1)(0.9)13 + 91 (0.01)(0.9)12

= 0.8416

Q-4) A rat maze consists of a straight corridor,

GROUP (A) HOME WORK PROBLEMS

at the end of which the rats either right or

left turn. If 10 rats are placed in the maze

Q-1) The probability that a person picked at

one at a time and the radom variable X

denotes the number of right turns taken

random will support a constitutional

amendment requiring an annual balanced

by the rats then what is the probability

distribution of X ? Find the probability

budget is 0.8. If nine individuals are

interview ed
and
they
respon d

that atleast 9 rats will turn the same way.

Ans. Let X be the number of right turns taken by

independently, what is the probability that

at least two-thirds of them will support the

the rats.

1
1
, q = , n = 10
2
2
P(at least 9 rats take the same turn) = P(at
least 9 rats take the left or right turn)
= P(9 right turns or 10 right turns or 0 right
turn or 1 right turn)
= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 9) + P(X = 10)

P(sucess) = p =

10

1 1
C0
2 2

10

amendment?
Ans. Let X be the number of individuals who
support amendment.
n = 9, p = 0.8, q = 0.2
X ~ B(9, 0.8)
P (at least two-third will support amendment)
= P(X > 6)
= P(X = 6) + P(X = 7) + P(X = 8) + P(X = 9)

1 1
+ 10C1 + +
2 2
9

10

1 1
1
C 9 + 10C10
2 2
2

10

=
1

2

C6 (0.8)6 (0.2) 3 + 9C7 (0.8)7 (0.2)2

+ 9C8 (0.8)8 (0.2) + 9C9 (0.8)9

= 0.999

Q-2) It is possible for a computer to pick up an

=

(1+10 +10 +1)

22
1024

10

C 0 + 10C1 + 10C 9 + 10C10

1
= 10
2

erroneous signal that does not show up as

an error on the screen. The error is called

1
1024

a silent error. A particular terminal is

defective and when while using the system
word processor, it introduces a silent
paging error with probability 0.1. The word

11
= 0.0214
512

processor is used 20 times during a given

week.
i) Find the probability that no silent
paging error occur.

Q-5) A machin e h as fou rteen iden tical

components that function independently.
It will stop working if three or more
components fail. If the probability that a
component fails is equal to 0.1, find the
probability that the machine will be
working.
Ans. Let X be the number of failed components.
If failure of a compone nt is treate d as
success, then P(success) = p = 0.1, q = 0.9
and n = 14

Binomial Distribution

ii) Find the probability that at least one

silent error occurs.
Ans. Let X be the number of silent paging errors.
n = 20, p = 0.1, q = 0.9

X ~ B(20, 0.1)
i) P (no silent paging errors occur)
= P(X = 0)

Mahesh Tutorials Science

=

20

C0 (0.1)0 (0.9)20

= (1) (1) (0.9)

= (0.9)20

Ans. n = 10, p = a question is answered correctly

20

= 0.1215
ii) P (at least one silent error occurs)
= 1 P(No silent error occurs)
= 1 P(X = 0)

Let X be the number of questions which are

correctly answered.
1

X ~ B 10,
2

= 0.8784

p(X = r) = 10Cr pr. qnr , r = 0, 1, 2, 3 ..... 10

P(student passes the quiz)

Q-3) Let the p.m.f. of r.v. X be

x

4 5 4
p (x ) =
x 9 9

1
1
and q = 1 p =
2
2

= P(X > 7)
= P(X = 7) + P(X = 8) = P(X = 9) + P(X = 10)

4 x

, x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 .

Find E(X) and Var (X).

10

Ans. Let the p.m.f. of r.v. X be

x

4 5 4
p (x ) =
x 9 9
i.e. p(x) =

Comparing with Cx p q
p=

nx

, we get n = 4,

= 4
=

5
4

9
9

80
81

= 0.9876
Q-4) Give that X ~ B(n = 10, p). If E(X) = 8 find
the value of p.
Ans. X ~ B(n = 10, p) and E(X) = 8, n = 18
... (given)

1 1
C9 +
2 2

10

10

1
C10
2
1
210

, x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4

5
20
=
= 2.22
9
9

And, Var (X) = npq

1 1
C8
2 2

= (10C7 + 10C8 + 10C9 + 10C10)

4 x

5
5
,q=
9
9

E(X) = np = 4

10

, x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4

5 4
Cx
9 9

10

4x

1 1
C7 +
2 2

But, E(X) = np
8 = 10p
8
p=
= 0.8
10

Q-5) A student is given a quiz with 10 true or

false question and he answers by sheer

10 9 8 7! 10 9 8 ! 10 9! 10 !
3 2 1 7! + 2 1 8! + 9! + 10 !

1
1024
= (120 + 45 + 10 + 1)
=

176
1024

11
64

1
1024

= 0.1718

GROUP (B) CLASS WORK PROBLEMS

Q-1) A fair coin is tossed 9 times. Find the
probability that it shows heads
i) exactly 5 times
ii) in the first four tosses and tails in the
last five tosses.
Ans. Let X be the number of heads,
p outcome is head =

1
1
, q=
and n = 9
2
2

guessing. If X is number of question,

answered correctly, what is the probability

i) P (exactly 5 heads)

distribution of X ? If the student passes

the quiz by getting 7 or more correct

1 1
9
= C5 .
2 2

answers, what is the probability that the

student passes the quiz ?

Binomial Distribution

Mahesh Tutorials Science

9876
1

4 3 2 1 512

63 2
512

63
256

i) P(X = 1) =

= 10C1(0.2)(0.8)9
= 10 (0.2) (0.8)9
= 2(0.134217728)
= 0.2684
ii) P(X > 1) = 1 P(X = 0)
= 1 10C0(0.2)0(0.8)10

= 0.2461
ii) P (head in the first four tosses and tail

= 1 (0.1073741824)
= 0.8926

in last five tosses)

= (1) p4 q5
4

1 1
=
2 2
=

iii) P(X < 8) = 1 P(X = 9 or X = 10)

= 1 [P(X = 9) + P(X = 10)]

= 1[10C9(0.2)9(0.8)
+ 10C10(0.2)10(0.8)0]

40960 +1024

= 1
10

(10 )

1
512

= 0.00195

= 1 0.000004198
= 0.9999

Q-2) The probability that a lamp in a class room

will be burnt out is 0.3. Six such lamps are
fitted in the class room. If it known that
the class room in unusable if the number
of lamps burning in it is less than four, find

Q-4) Suppose that airplane engines operate

independently and fail with probability
equal to 0.4. Assuming that a plane makes
a safe flight if at least one-half of its

the probability that the class room cannot

be used on a random occasion.
Ans. Let X be the number of burnt out lamps.
p : lamp will be burnt = 0.3, q = 0.7, n = 6
P(room cannot be used)
= P(X < 4)

= P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2 or X = 3)
= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3)
=

C0(0.3)0 (0.7)6 + 6C1(0.3)1 (0.7)5

+ 6C2(0.3)2 (0.7)4 + 6C3(0.3)3 (0.7)3
2

(1)(1)( 343 )

+ 6 ( 3 )(16807 ) +15 ( 9 )( 2401)

+ 20 ( 27 )( 243 )
106

117649 + 302526 + 324135 +185220

106

939530
1000000

= 0.92953

Q-3) Let X B(n = 10, p = 0.2). Find

i)
P(X = 1)
ii)
iii)

c1p1qn1

P(X > 1)
P(X < 8)

Ans. Let X ~ B (n = 10, p = 0.2)

n = 10, p = 0.2 and q = 0.8

Binomial Distribution

engines run, determine whether 4-engine

plane or a 2-engine plane has the higher
probability for a successful flight.
Ans. Let X be the number of engines that operated

independently.
Probability for an engine to fail = 0.4
P(for engine to operate) = 0.6
P(success) = p = 0.6, q = 0.4

For a 4engine plane, we need X > half of 4

i.e. X > 2
P(successful flight)
= P(X > 2)

= P(X = 2 or X = 3 or X = 4)
= P(X = 2) + P(X = 3) + P(X = 4)
= 4 C2 p2 q 2 + 4 C3 p3 q 1 + 4 C4 p4 q 0
= 6(0.6)2(0.4)2 + 4(0.6)3(0.4) + 1(0.6)4 (1)
= 0.3456 + 0.3456 + 0.1296
= 0.8208
For a 2-engine plane, we need X > half of 2
i.e. X > 1
P(successful flight)
= P(X > 1)

= P(X = 1 or X = 2)
= P(X = 1) + P(X = 2)
=

C1 p1 q 1 + 2 C2 p2 q 0

Mahesh Tutorials Science

= 2(0.6)(0.4) + 1(0.6)2(1)

P(at most three men will surve in next 30

= 0.84
Thus, 2-engine plane has higher probability

years)
= P(X < 3)

than 4-engine plane and its probability is

0.84.

= P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2 or X = 3)
= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3)
=

Q-5) Find the probability of guessing correctly

C0 p0 q 5 + 5 C1 p1 q 4 + 5 C2 p2 q 3 + 5 C3 p3 q 2
5

2 1
+10
3 3

Ans. Let X be the number of correct answers.

n = 10, p =

1
1
,q=
2
2

P(X > 7)

= P(X = 7 or X = 8 or X = 9 or X = 10)
= P(X = 7) + P(X = 8) + P(X = 9) + P(X = 10)

1
10
40
80
+
+
+
243 243 243 243

131
243

10

1 1
C7 +
2 2

10

1 1
C8
2 2

10

1 1
C9 +
2 2

1
C10
2

= (10C7 + 10C8 + 10C9 + 10C10)

1
210

10 9 8 7 ! 10 9 8! 10 9! 10!
3 2 1 7 ! + 2 1 8 ! + 9! + 10!

1
1024
1
1024

176
=
1024

Q-7) Given X ~ N(0,1) . Find P (X > 0) and

P(X < 0)
Ans. X ~ N(0,1)

= (120 + 45 + 10 + 1)

= 0.5391
10

10

1
2 1
2
1
= 1 (1) + 5 +10
3
3
3
3


3

at least seven out of ten answers in a true

or false objective test.

Z =

X 0
1

P(X > 0) =

1
and
2

P(X < 0) =

1
2

as the distribution is symmetric about x = 0

11
64

= 0.1718

Q-6) An insurance agent insures lives of 5 men,

all of the same age and in good health. The
probability that a man of this age will
survive the next 30 years is known to be
2
Find the probability that in the next 30
3

X<0

X>0

years at most three men will survive.

Ans. Let X be the number of men who will survive
in the next 30 years.
If the man of this age will survive in the next
30 years, then P(success)
= p=

2
1
,q=
,n=5
3
3

Binomial Distribution

Mahesh Tutorials Science

P(at least one defective)

GROUP (B) HOME WORK PROBLEMS

= 1 P(No defective)
= 1 P(X = 0)

Q-1) The probability that a bomb will hit a

target is 0.8. Find the probability that out

= 1 20C0(0.03)0 (0.97)20
= 1 0.5438

of 10 bombs dropped, exactly 2 will miss

the target.
Ans. Let X be the number of times the target is
hit.

If the bomb hits a target, then P(success)

= p = 0.8, q = 0.2 and n = 10
P(X = 8) = 10C8(0.8)8(0.2)2

= 0.4562
Q-4) The probability that a certain kind of
component will survive a check test is 0.6.
Find the probability that exactly 2 of the
next 4 components tested survive.
Ans. X be the number of components survive a

check test.
p = 0.6, q = 0.4, n = 4

45 ( 4096 ) 4

10

(10 )

P(X = 2) = 4C2(0.6)2(0.4)2
= 6(0.36) (0.16)

301989880
=

10

(10 )

= 0.3019

= 0.3456
Q-5) Let X ~ B(n,p)
i) If n = 10, E(X) = 5, find p and Var (X).
ii) If E(X) = 5 and Var (X) = 2.5, find n and p.

Q-2) A lot of 100 items contains 10 defective

items. Five items selected at random from
the lot and sent to the retail store. What
is the probability that the store will receive
at most one defective item ?
Ans. Let X be the number of defective items.
P(an item is defective)

= p =

Ans. Let X ~ B(n,p)

i) n = 10, E(X) = 5

E(X) = np
5 = 10(p)

p=

10
= 0.1, q = 0.9, n = 5
100

1
1
and hence q = 1 p =
2
2

Var (X) = npq

P(at most one defective item)

= 10

= P(X < 1)
= P(X = 0 or X = 1)

1
1

2
2

= 10

1
4

= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1)
= 5C0(p)0q5 + 5C1p1(q)4

= 2.5
ii) E(X) = 5 and Var (X) = 2.5

= (1) (1) (0.9)5 + 5(0.1) (0.9)4

= 0.59049 + 0.32805
= 0.91854
Q-3) A large chain retailer purchases certain
k in of electronic device from a
manufacturer. The manufacturer indicates
that the defective rate of the device is 3%.
The inspector of the retailer picks 20 items
from a shipment. What is the probability
that there will be atleast one defective
item among these 20 ?
Ans. Let X be the number of defective items.
P(an item is defective)

= p = 0.03, q = 0.97, n = 20

Binomial Distribution

.... (given)

....(given)

E(X) = np = 5
Var (X) = npq = 2.5

5(q) = 2.5

q=

2.5
1
1
=
and hence p = 1 q =
5
2
2

But, np = 5

1
n = 5
2

n = 10

Mahesh Tutorials Science

Q-6) If the probability that a fluorescent light

has a useful life of at least 800 hours is
0.9, find the probabilities that among 20
such lights at least 2 will not have a useful
life of at least 800 hours.
Ans. Let X be the number of fluorescent light that
has a useful life of atleast 800 hours.

P(success) = p = 0.9, q = 0.1, n = 20

P(at least 2 will not have a useful life)
=
=
=
=

P(at most 18 will have useful life)

P(X < 18)
1 P(X = 19 or X = 20)
1 [P(X = 19) + P(X = 20)]

= 1 [20C19(0.9)19 (0.1) + 20C20(0.9)20]

= 0.60825
Q-7) Given X ~ N(4, 25) State mean, variance
and standard deviation of X.
Ans. X ~ N(4, 25)
We have X ~ N(,2)

Mean = 2 = 4 and Variance = 2 = 25

Standard deviation = =

25 = 5

Q-8) Given X ~ N (5, 16). Find P (X < 5).

Ans. X ~ N(5, 16)
= 5, = 16

P(X < 5) = P(X < )

1
2

as the distribution is symmetric about

i.e. 5.

X
X=5

Binomial Distribution