GROUP (A) CLASS WORK PROBLEMS 0 8

8 1 1
= 1 C7
2 2
Q-1) A fair coin is tossed 8 times. Find the
1 255
probability that it shows heads = 1 (1)(1) =
256 256
i) exactly 5 times = 0.9960
ii) a larger number of times than tails.
iii) at least once Q-2) A radar complex consists of eight units
Ans. n = 8 that operate indepen den tly. Th e
Let X be the number of heads. probability that a unit detects an incoming
1 1 missile is 0.9. Find the probability that an
P(success) = p = , q =
2 2 incoming missile will
1 i) not be detected by any unit.
X B (n , p ) X B 8, ii) be detected by atmost four units.
2
Ans. Let X be the number of units that detects an
P(X = r) = nCrp r.qnr
incoming missile.
i) P(exactly 5 heads) = P(X = 5)
If the detection of a missile is treated as
5 3
1 1 8! 1 P(success), then p = 0.9, q = 0.1 and n = 8
P(X = 5) = 8C 5 . = 8
2 2 5!3! 2
X ~ B(8, 0.9)
8 7 6 5! 1 i) P(X = 0) = 8C0 p0q0
=
3 2 1 5! 256 = 8C0 (0.96)0(0.1)8
87 7 = (1)(1)(0.00000001) = 0.00000001 0
= = = 0.21875 ii) P(X 4) = P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2 or X = 3 or
256 32
ii) P(heads a larger number of times than X = 4)
tails) = P(X 5) i.e. No. of heads can be 5 or = 8C0(0.9)0 (0.01)8 + 8C1 (0.9)1 (0.7)7 + 8C2 (0.9)2
6 or 7 or 8 (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) +
(1)(1)
1 9 1
P(X = 8) = 8
+ 8 7 +
10 10 10
5 3 6 2
8 1 1 1 1 81 1 729 1
= C 5 + 8C6 + 28 + 56
2 2 2 2 6 5 +
100 10 1000 10
7 8 0
8 1 1 1 1 6561 1
C 7 + 8C8 70 4

2 2 2 2 10000 10
8 1+ 72 + 2268 + 40824 + 459270
1 =
= (C 8 8 8 8
)
5 + C6 + C 7 + C8
2
108
502435
1 93 = = 0.005
= ( 56 + 28 + 8 +1) = 108
256 256
= 0.3632 Q-3) A student answered that the mean of a
iii) P(at least one head) = P(X 1) binomial distribution is 18 and variance
P(X 1) = 1 P(no head) = 1 P(X < 1)
is equal to 12. Check whether the answer
0 8
= 1 P(X = 0) = 1 8C 0 ( p ) (q ) 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
2 Mahesh Tutorials Science

(18)q = 12 X ~ B (14, 0.1)

2 1 P(machine will work) = P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2)
q= and hence p = 1 9 = = P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2)
3 3
Now, np = 18 = 14C0 (0.1)0 (0.9)14 + 14C1 (0.1)1 (0.9)13 +
14
1 C2 (0.1)2(0.9)12
n = 18
3 = (1)(1)(0.9)14 + 14 (0.1)(0.9)13 + 91 (0.01)(0.9)12
n = 54 = 0.8416
Thus, answer of the student is correct.

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 random will support a constitutional
denotes the number of right turns taken amendment requiring an annual balanced
by the rats then what is the probability budget is 0.8. If nine individuals are
distribution of X ? Find the probability interview ed and they respon d
that atleast 9 rats will turn the same way. independently, what is the probability that
Ans. Let X be the number of right turns taken by at least two-thirds of them will support the
the rats. amendment?
1 1 Ans. Let X be the number of individuals who
P(sucess) = p = , q = , n = 10
2 2 support amendment.
P(at least 9 rats take the same turn) = P(at n = 9, p = 0.8, q = 0.2
least 9 rats take the left or right turn)
X ~ B(9, 0.8)
= P(9 right turns or 10 right turns or 0 right
turn or 1 right turn) P (at least two-third will support amendment)
= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 9) + P(X = 10) = P(X > 6)
0 10 1 9 = P(X = 6) + P(X = 7) + P(X = 8) + P(X = 9)
10 1 1 1 1
= C0 + 10C1 + + = 9
C6 (0.8)6 (0.2) 3 + 9C7 (0.8)7 (0.2)2
2 2 2 2
+ 9C8 (0.8)8 (0.2) + 9C9 (0.8)9
9 1 10 0
10 1 1 1 1 = 0.999
C 9 + 10C10
2 2 2 2
Q-2) It is possible for a computer to pick up an
1
= ( 10
C 0 + 10C1 + 10C 9 + 10C10 ) = 10
2
erroneous signal that does not show up as
an error on the screen. The error is called
1 a silent error. A particular terminal is
= (1+10 +10 +1)
1024 defective and when while using the system
22 11 word processor, it introduces a silent
= = = 0.0214
1024 512 paging error with probability 0.1. The word
processor is used 20 times during a given
Q-5) A machin e h as fou rteen iden tical
week.
components that function independently.
i) Find the probability that no silent
It will stop working if three or more
paging error occur.
components fail. If the probability that a
ii) Find the probability that at least one
component fails is equal to 0.1, find the
silent error occurs.
probability that the machine will be
Ans. Let X be the number of silent paging errors.
working.
n = 20, p = 0.1, q = 0.9
Ans. Let X be the number of failed components.
X ~ B(20, 0.1)
If failure of a compone nt is treate d as
i) P (no silent paging errors occur)
success, then P(success) = p = 0.1, q = 0.9
= P(X = 0)
and n = 14

Binomial Distribution
Mahesh Tutorials Science 3

20
= C0 (0.1)0 (0.9)20 Ans. n = 10, p = a question is answered correctly
20
= (1) (1) (0.9) 1 1
= (0.9)20 = and q = 1 p =
2 2
= 0.1215 Let X be the number of questions which are
ii) P (at least one silent error occurs) correctly answered.
= 1 P(No silent error occurs)
1
= 1 P(X = 0) X ~ B 10,
2
= 0.8784
p(X = r) = 10Cr pr. qnr , r = 0, 1, 2, 3 ..... 10
Q-3) Let the p.m.f. of r.v. X be P(student passes the quiz)
4 5 4
x 4 x = P(X > 7)
p (x ) = , x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 . = P(X = 7) + P(X = 8) = P(X = 9) + P(X = 10)
x 9 9
7 3 8 2
Find E(X) and Var (X). 10 1 1 10 1 1
= C7 + C8
2 2 2 2
Ans. Let the p.m.f. of r.v. X be 9 10
10 1 1 10 1
x 4x + C9 + C10
4 5 4 2 2 2
p (x ) = , x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
x 9 9
1
= (10C7 + 10C8 + 10C9 + 10C10)
4 5 4
x 4 x
210
i.e. p(x) = Cx , x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
9 9
10 9 8 7! 10 9 8 ! 10 9! 10 !
Comparing with Cx p q n x nx
, we get n = 4, = 3 2 1 7! + 2 1 8! + 9! + 10 !

5 5 1
p= ,q= 1024
9 9
5 20 1
E(X) = np = 4 = = 2.22 = (120 + 45 + 10 + 1)
9 9 1024
5 4 176
And, Var (X) = npq = 4 =
9 9 1024
80 11
= =
81 64
= 0.9876 = 0.1718

Q-4) Give that X ~ B(n = 10, p). If E(X) = 8 find

the value of p. GROUP (B) CLASS WORK PROBLEMS
Ans. X ~ B(n = 10, p) and E(X) = 8, n = 18
... (given)
Q-1) A fair coin is tossed 9 times. Find the
But, E(X) = np
probability that it shows heads
8 = 10p
i) exactly 5 times
8
p= = 0.8 ii) in the first four tosses and tails in the
10
last five tosses.
Q-5) A student is given a quiz with 10 true or Ans. Let X be the number of heads,
false question and he answers by sheer 1 1
p outcome is head = , q= and n = 9
guessing. If X is number of question, 2 2
answered correctly, what is the probability i) P (exactly 5 heads)
distribution of X ? If the student passes 5 4
9 1 1
the quiz by getting 7 or more correct = C5 .
2 2
answers, what is the probability that the
student passes the quiz ?
Binomial Distribution
4 Mahesh Tutorials Science

9876 1 i) P(X = 1) = n
c1p1qn1
=
4 3 2 1 512 = 10C1(0.2)(0.8)9
= 10 (0.2) (0.8)9
63 2
= = 2(0.134217728)
512
= 0.2684
63
= ii) P(X > 1) = 1 P(X = 0)
256
= 1 10C0(0.2)0(0.8)10
= 0.2461 = 1 (0.1073741824)
ii) P (head in the first four tosses and tail = 0.8926
in last five tosses) iii) P(X < 8) = 1 P(X = 9 or X = 10)
= (1) p4 q5 = 1 [P(X = 9) + P(X = 10)]
4 5
1 1 = 1[10C9(0.2)9(0.8)
=
2 2 + 10C10(0.2)10(0.8)0]

1 40960 +1024
= = 1 10

512 (10 )
= 0.00195
= 1 0.000004198
Q-2) The probability that a lamp in a class room = 0.9999
will be burnt out is 0.3. Six such lamps are
Q-4) Suppose that airplane engines operate
fitted in the class room. If it known that
independently and fail with probability
the class room in unusable if the number
equal to 0.4. Assuming that a plane makes
of lamps burning in it is less than four, find
a safe flight if at least one-half of its
the probability that the class room cannot
engines run, determine whether 4-engine
be used on a random occasion.
plane or a 2-engine plane has the higher
Ans. Let X be the number of burnt out lamps.
probability for a successful flight.
p : lamp will be burnt = 0.3, q = 0.7, n = 6
Ans. Let X be the number of engines that operated
P(room cannot be used)
independently.
= P(X < 4)
Probability for an engine to fail = 0.4
= P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2 or X = 3)
P(for engine to operate) = 0.6
= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3)
6
P(success) = p = 0.6, q = 0.4
= C0(0.3)0 (0.7)6 + 6C1(0.3)1 (0.7)5
For a 4engine plane, we need X > half of 4
+ 6C2(0.3)2 (0.7)4 + 6C3(0.3)3 (0.7)3
i.e. X > 2
2
(1)(1)( 343 ) + 6 ( 3 )(16807 ) +15 ( 9 )( 2401) P(successful flight)
= + 20 ( 27 )( 243 ) = P(X > 2)
106 = P(X = 2 or X = 3 or X = 4)
= P(X = 2) + P(X = 3) + P(X = 4)
117649 + 302526 + 324135 +185220
= = 4 C2 p2 q 2 + 4 C3 p3 q 1 + 4 C4 p4 q 0
106
= 6(0.6)2(0.4)2 + 4(0.6)3(0.4) + 1(0.6)4 (1)
939530 = 0.3456 + 0.3456 + 0.1296
=
1000000 = 0.8208
= 0.92953 For a 2-engine plane, we need X > half of 2
i.e. X > 1
Q-3) Let X B(n = 10, p = 0.2). Find
P(successful flight)
i) P(X = 1)
= P(X > 1)
ii) P(X > 1)
= P(X = 1 or X = 2)
iii) P(X < 8)
= P(X = 1) + P(X = 2)
Ans. Let X ~ B (n = 10, p = 0.2) 2
= C1 p1 q 1 + 2 C2 p2 q 0
n = 10, p = 0.2 and q = 0.8

Binomial Distribution
Mahesh Tutorials Science 5

= 2(0.6)(0.4) + 1(0.6)2(1) P(at most three men will surve in next 30

= 0.84 years)
Thus, 2-engine plane has higher probability = P(X < 3)
than 4-engine plane and its probability is = P(X = 0 or X = 1 or X = 2 or X = 3)
0.84. = P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3)
5
= C0 p0 q 5 + 5 C1 p1 q 4 + 5 C2 p2 q 3 + 5 C3 p3 q 2
Q-5) Find the probability of guessing correctly
5 4 2 3
= 1 (1) + 5 +10
at least seven out of ten answers in a true 1 2 1 2 1
or false objective test.
3
3 3 3
3
3 2
Ans. Let X be the number of correct answers. 2 1
+10
1 1 3 3
n = 10, p = ,q=
2 2
1 10 40 80
P(X > 7) = + + +
243 243 243 243
= P(X = 7 or X = 8 or X = 9 or X = 10)
= P(X = 7) + P(X = 8) + P(X = 9) + P(X = 10) 131
=
243
7 3 8 2
10 1 1 10 1 1 = 0.5391
= C7 + C8
2 2 2 2
9 10
Q-7) Given X ~ N(0,1) . Find P (X > 0) and
10 1 1 10 1 P(X < 0)
+ C9 + C10
2 2 2

1 Ans. X ~ N(0,1)
= (10C7 + 10C8 + 10C9 + 10C10)
210 X
Z =
=

10 9 8 7 ! 10 9 8! 10 9! 10! X 0
=
3 2 1 7 ! + 2 1 8 ! + 9! + 10! 1

1 1
P(X > 0) = and
1024 2

1 1
= (120 + 45 + 10 + 1) P(X < 0) =
1024 2
as the distribution is symmetric about x = 0
176
=
1024
11 Y
=
64
= 0.1718

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

all of the same age and in good health. The X<0 X>0
probability that a man of this age will
survive the next 30 years is known to be
X
2
Find the probability that in the next 30
3
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)
2 1
= p= ,q= ,n=5
3 3 Binomial Distribution
6 Mahesh Tutorials Science

GROUP (B) HOME WORK PROBLEMS P(at least one defective)

= 1 P(No defective)
Q-1) The probability that a bomb will hit a = 1 P(X = 0)
target is 0.8. Find the probability that out = 1 20C0(0.03)0 (0.97)20
of 10 bombs dropped, exactly 2 will miss = 1 0.5438
the target. = 0.4562
Ans. Let X be the number of times the target is Q-4) The probability that a certain kind of
hit. component will survive a check test is 0.6.
If the bomb hits a target, then P(success) Find the probability that exactly 2 of the
= p = 0.8, q = 0.2 and n = 10 next 4 components tested survive.
P(X = 8) = 10C8(0.8)8(0.2)2 Ans. X be the number of components survive a
45 ( 4096 ) 4
2 check test.
= 10 p = 0.6, q = 0.4, n = 4
(10 )
P(X = 2) = 4C2(0.6)2(0.4)2
301989880 = 6(0.36) (0.16)
= 10
(10 ) = 0.3456

= 0.3019 Q-5) Let X ~ B(n,p)

i) If n = 10, E(X) = 5, find p and Var (X).
Q-2) A lot of 100 items contains 10 defective ii) If E(X) = 5 and Var (X) = 2.5, find n and p.
items. Five items selected at random from Ans. Let X ~ B(n,p)
the lot and sent to the retail store. What i) n = 10, E(X) = 5 .... (given)
is the probability that the store will receive E(X) = np
at most one defective item ? 5 = 10(p)
Ans. Let X be the number of defective items.
1 1
P(an item is defective) p= and hence q = 1 p =
2 2
10 Var (X) = npq
= p = = 0.1, q = 0.9, n = 5
100
1 1
P(at most one defective item) = 10
2 2
= P(X < 1)
= P(X = 0 or X = 1) 1
= 10
4
= P(X = 0) + P(X = 1)
= 2.5
= 5C0(p)0q5 + 5C1p1(q)4
ii) E(X) = 5 and Var (X) = 2.5 ....(given)
= (1) (1) (0.9)5 + 5(0.1) (0.9)4
E(X) = np = 5
= 0.59049 + 0.32805
Var (X) = npq = 2.5
= 0.91854
5(q) = 2.5
Q-3) A large chain retailer purchases certain 2.5 1 1
q= = and hence p = 1 q =
k in of electronic device from a 5 2 2
manufacturer. The manufacturer indicates But, np = 5
that the defective rate of the device is 3%.
1
The inspector of the retailer picks 20 items n = 5
2
from a shipment. What is the probability
n = 10
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
Mahesh Tutorials Science 7

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