Math 447 - October 21, 2011 - Quiz 21 Solutions

Name:

1. The length of time (in hours) required for students to complete a one-hour exam is a
continuous random variable with density function given by
(
cy 2 + y, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1
f (y) =
0, otherwise.

State a condition that the density function must satisfy. Use this to find c and give a formula
for the associated cumulative distribution function F (y).

The density function f must satisfy

Z ∞
f (y) dy = 1.
−∞

For the given f , this simplifies to

Z 1
cy 2 + y dy = 1.
0

The integral is 1
1
cy 2 y 2 
Z
2 c 1
cy + y dy = + = + ,
0 3 2 0 3 2
so we obtain the equation
c 1
+ = 1.
3 2
Solving, we have c = 3/2.
The cumulative distribution function F must satisfy
Z b
f (y) dy = F (b) − F (a).
a

Integrate cy 2 + y to obtain 3c y 3 + 12 y 2 + C, and


1 3 1 2
2y + 2y
 0≤y≤1
F (y) = 0, y≤0

1, y≥1

Choosing the constant C = 0 as we have done above satisfies the other requirements of a
distribution function: continuity, and the correct limits at infinity.