92 Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4

Other measures of central tendency

The median of a random variable , denoted by 1 , is given
2
by
1
1
2 2

The mode of a random variable , denoted by Mode , is

given by
Mode max if is discrete

Mode sup if is continuous

Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4

For each of the following multiple-choice questions, choose the best response
among those provided. Answers can be found in Appendix B.
S4.1 If is a discrete random variable with

1 0 1 1 3

Then the expected value of , , equals

(A) 0
(B) 1 3
(C) 1 2
(D) any of the values in the set 1 0 1
(E) none of the above are true.
S4.2 Suppose is a continuous random variable with cumulative distribution
function
0 if 0
2
if 0 1
1 if 1
Then 0 50 equals
(A) 0
Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4 93

(B) 0.25
(C) 0.50
(D) 0 50
(E) none of the above.
S4.3 Suppose is a random variable with cumulative distribution function
0 if 0
1 3 if 0 1
2 3 if 1 2
1 if 2
Then 2 equals
(A) 0
(B) 1/3
(C) 2/3
(D) 1
(E) none of the above.
S4.4 Suppose is a continuous random variable with probability density function
1 2 if 0
0 otherwise
Then the value of is
(A) 1/2
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D)
(E) none of the above.
S4.5 Let be a continuous random variable with probability density function
2
if 0
0 otherwise
The value of must equal
94 Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4

(A) 1 2
(B) 1
(C) 2
2
(D)
(E) none of the above.
S4.6
turn up is
1
(A) 2
1
(B) 4
3
(C) 8
2
(D) 3

(E) none of the above.

S4.7 Let be a random variable with cumulative distribution function .
Which of the following statements are always true:
(A) lim 0

(B) 1
(C) 0 1 for every
(D) all of the above are true
(E) none of the above are true.
S4.8 The length (in inches) of a steel rod is a random variable with probability
density function given by
9
if 9 11
2
0 otherwise

A rod is considered defective if its length is less than 10 inches. If 2

independent steel rods are examined, the probability that exactly one is
defective is
(A) 1 4
Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4 95

(B) 3 8
(C) 1 16
(D) 3 16
(E) none of the above.
S4.9 An airplane can hold 100 passengers. Passenger behavior has been exten-
sively studied over the years. It is known that the probability is 0 01 that a

Assume that a person decides independently whether or not to show up for

(A) 0
(B) 0 01
101
(C) 0 99
(D) 1
(E) none of the above.
S4.10 Let be a continuous random variable with probability density function

if 0
0 otherwise
2
If 1 , then must equal
(A) 1
(B) 1 2
(C) 1
(D) 2
(E) none of the above.
S4.11 Let be a continuous random variable with probability density function

2 if 0 2
0 otherwise

Then 1 equals
96 Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4

(A) 1 8
(B) 1 4
(C) 1 3
(D) 1 2
(E) none of the above.
S4.12 Let be a discrete random variable with probability mass function
1
for 0 1 2 ...
!
Then 1 equals
(A) 1

1
(B) 1
1
(C) 1 2
(D) 1
(E) none of the above.
S4.13 You have two light bulbs. The life length of each bulb (in hours) is a
continuous random variable with probability density function
2
2 if 0
0 otherwise

The two bulbs are allowed to burn independently of each other. The proba-
bility that both bulbs will each last at least one hour is
(A) 0
2 2
(B) 1
4
(C)
2
(D) 2
(E) none of the above.
Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4 97

S4.14 Let be a continuous random variable with cumulative distribution function

0 if 1
1
2 1 if 1 1
1 if 1

Let denote the probability density function for . The value of 0

is
(A) 0.00
(B) 0.50
(C) 0.75
(D) 1.00
(E) none of the above.
S4.15 Let be a random variable with cumulative distribution function .
Suppose 0 0 3 and 1 0 5. Then 0 1 equals
(A) 0
(B) 0.2
(C) 0.3
(D) 0.5
(E) none of the above.
S4.16 Let be a continuous random variable with probability density function
2
3 if 0 1
0 otherwise

Let denote the expected value of . The value of is

(A) 0
(B) 3/8
(C) 3/4
(D) 3/2
(E) none of the above.
98 Self-Test Exercises for Chapter 4

S4.17 Suppose that an integrated circuit has a life length (in units of 1000 hours)
that is a continuous random variable with probability density function
3
3 if 0
0 otherwise

An integrated circuit considered defective if its life length is less than 3000
hours. The life lengths of any two integrated circuits are independent random
variables. A batch of 100 integrated circuits are tested. The expected number
of defective items is
(A) 3

3
(B) 1
9
(C) 1
9
(D) 100 1
(E) none of the above.
S4.18 Let be a discrete random variable with cumulative distribution function,
, given by the following graph:

0.8

0.6
FX(a)

0.4

0.2

-2 -1 0 1 2 3
a

The value of 1 1 is
(A) 0 2
(B) 0 4
(C) 0 6
(D) 0 8
Questions for Chapter 4 99

(E) none of the above.

S4.19 An unfair coin is tossed 4 times. The probability of a head on one toss is
1 4. What is the probability of getting exactly two heads on 4 tosses?
4 2 2
1 3
(A) 2 4 4
2 2
1 3
(B) 4 4
2
1
(C) 4
2
3
(D) 1 4

(E) none of the above.

Questions for Chapter 4

4.1 Let be a continuous random variable having the probability density func-
tion
3 2
2 1 if 0 1
0 otherwise
(a) Compute and plot the cumulative distribution function for
.
(b) Find 05 .
(c) Find .
4.2 The angle of ascent of an erratic rocket is a random variable having the
cumulative distribution function given by

1 if 2
sin if 0 2
0 if 0

(a) Compute 8.
(b) Find the probability density function for .
(c) Find .