2016/2017 Academic Year Semester III

MATH 2014
Assignment 1

Please answer all questions

The total marks for this paper is thirty (30). This accounts for 5% of your final grade.

1. A discrete random variable has the following probability distribution and can only take
the values tabulated.

1 3 6 n 12
Probability 0.1 0.3 k 0.25 0.15

(a) Find the value of k [2 marks]

Given the () = 6.0, find

(b) the value of n, [3 marks]
(c) the variance of X [3 marks]

2. In a test there are ten multiple choice questions. For each question there is a choice of
four answers, only one of which is correct. A student guesses each of the answers.

(a) Find the probability that he gets more than seven correct. [2 marks]

He needs to obtain over half marks to pass and each question carries equal weight.

(b) Find the probability that he passes the test. [3 marks]

MATH 2014-NETD LECTURER: STEVE SEETAHAL

 3. Flaws occur randomly in a roll of fabric at an average rate of 1.5 per metre length.

(a) Find the probability that in a randomly chosen one-metre length there are more than
two flaws [2 marks]

(b) Find the probability that in a randomly chosen two-metre length there are no flaws. [3
marks]

(c) What is the standard deviation of the number of flaws in a four-metre length? [2
marks]

4. The life of a certain make of electric light bulb is known to be normally distributed with a
mean life of 2000 hours and a standard deviation of 120 hours. Estimate the probability
that the life of such a bulb will be

(a) greater than 2150 hours [2 marks]

(b) greater than 1910 hours [2 marks]

(c) within the range 1850 hours to 2090 hours [2 marks]

5. The masses of a certain type of cabbage are normally distributed with a mean of 1000g
and a standard deviation of 0.15 kg.

In a batch of 800 cabbages, estimate how many have a mass between 750 g and 1290 g.
[4 marks]

{Hint: Be careful of the units you are working with (grams and kilograms). Make sure you
convert and work in one unit only}

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MATH 2014-NETD LECTURER: STEVE SEETAHAL