Lesson 5.

1: Random Variables and Related

Concepts Learning Activity
Perform as indicated:
1. A fair die is tossed twice. Define X = number of tosses resulting in a number
greater than 4.
a. Identify all possible values of X. Present the event associated with each x.
Events Associated
X fx=PX=x
with X = x
(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (1,4),
10 = 0.476
0 (2,2), (2,3), (2,4), (3,3),
21
(3,4), (4,4)
(1,5), (1,6), (2,5), (2,6), 8 = 0.381
1
(3,5), (3,6), (4,5), (4,6) 21
3 = 0.143
2 (5,5), (5,6), (6,6)
21

b. Construct the probability mass function of X by completing the table below.

x 0 1 2
f(x) = (X = x ) 10 = 0.476 8 = 0.381 3 = 0.143
21 21 21

2. It is useful for Fire Departments to have a model for X = number of direct injuries
occurring in a fire incident. They can use this to determine the level of medical
services to make available each time. Suppose the PMF of is as follows:
x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
f (x) .08 .09 .09 .14 .18 .16 .09 .06 .06 .05
Use this PMF to determine the probabilities of the following events:
a. Event that there will be at least 1 direct injury
P (x = > 1) = .09 + .09 + .14 + .18 + .16 + .09 + .06 + .05 = .92
b. Event that there will be more than 2 but less than 8 direct injuries
P ( 2 < X < 8) = 0.14 + 0.18 + O.16 + 0.09 + 0.06 = 0.63