VEL TECH MULTI TECH DR RANGARAJAN DR SAKUNTHALA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

(An Autonomous Institution)

191MA401 – PROBABILITY AND RANDOM PROCESSES

QUESTIONS BANK

UNIT – I PROBABILITY AND RANDOM VARIABLES

PART - A (1 MARKS)

1 In a housing society, half of the families have a single child per family, while the CO-1.1 K2
remaining half have two children per family. The probability that a child picked at
random has a sibling is ______.

a). 0.66 b). 0.066 c). 0.55 d). 0.055 (GATE 2014 Set 1)

2 Three fair cubical dice are thrown simultaneously. The probability that all three dice CO-1.1 K2
have the same number of dots on the faces showing up is (up to third decimal place)
________.

a). 0.027 b). 0.050 c). 0.270 d). 0.500 (GATE 2017 Set 1)

3 Let the random variable X represent the number of times a fair coin needs to be tossed CO-1.5 K2
till two consecutive heads appear for the first time. The expectation of X is _______.

a). 5 b). 6 c). 10 d). 11 (GATE 2015 Set 2)

4 2 CO-1.6 K1
If a Random variable X has the moment generating function 𝑀𝑋 (𝑡) = ,then Var(X)
2−𝑡
is……
1 1 1 1
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5

5 What is the chance that a non leap year selected at random will contain 53 Tuesdays? CO-1.1 K1
𝟏 1 1 2
(a) 𝟕
(b) 5
(c) 3
(d) 3

6 A bag contains 5 white & 3 black balls .Two balls are drawn at random one after the other CO-1.2 K1
without replacement. What is probability that the balls drawn are black?

(a) 0.284 (b) 0.236 (c) 0.107 (d) None of these

7 Out of the following values, ….. is not possible in probability distribution. CO-1.3 K1

(a) P(𝑥)≥ 0 (b) ∑ 𝑃(𝑥) = 1 (c) E(𝑥)= 2 (d) P(𝒙)= - 0.5

8 A continuous random variable X has the probability density function CO-1.6 K1

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐶 𝑒 −|𝑥| , −∞ < 𝑥 < ∞ .What is the value of C?
9 1
(a) 1 (b) 16
(c) 2
(d) None of these

9 Let X be the random variable with E(X)=1 and E(X(X-1))=4, Then var(2-3X) is….. CO-1.8 K2

(a) 32 (b) 38 (c) 63 (d) 36

10 Passengers try repeatedly to get a seat reservation in any train running between two CO-1.1 K2
stations until they are successful. If there is a 40% chance of getting a reservation in
any attempt by a passenger, then the average number of attempts that passengers need
to make to get a seat reserved is __________.

a). 2.5 b). 3 c). 3.5 d). 4 (GATE 2017 Set 2)

11 A random variable X has the following probability distribution CO-1.5 K2

X -2 -1 0 1 2 3
P(X) 0.1 k 0.2 2k 0.3 3k

Then the value of k is……

1 1 1 1
(a) 5
(b) 15
(c) 7
(d) 4

12 𝑥2 CO-1.7 K2
A random variable is known to have a cumulative distribution function 𝐹𝑋 (𝑥) = 𝑈(𝑥) (1 − 𝑏
)
Its density function is :
−𝑥2 𝟐
2𝑥 𝟐𝒙 −𝒙
a). 𝑈(𝑥) 𝑏
(1 − 𝑒 𝑏 ) b). 𝑼(𝒙) 𝒃
𝒆𝒃
−𝑥2 −𝑥2 −𝑥2
c). 𝑈(𝑥) (1 − 𝑒 𝑏 )  (𝑥) d). (1 − 𝑒 𝑏 ) (𝑥) + 𝑒 𝑏

14 What would be the probability of obtaining at least two sixes when we throw a fair CO-1.1 K1
dice 4 times?

a). 19/144 b). 425/432 c). 13/144 d). 𝟏𝟐𝟓/𝟒𝟑𝟐 (GATE 2018 Set 2)

15 The density function of a random variable x is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐾𝑥(2 − 𝑥), 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2. then CO-1.4 K2
value of K is…..
2 1 4 𝟑
(a) 7 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 𝟒
16 We will draw three cards from a pack of 52 cards. What would be the probability that CO-1.1 K2
these cards are a jack, a queen, and a king?

a). 8/16575 b). 3/13 c). 64/2197 d). 𝟏𝟔/𝟓𝟓𝟐𝟓 (GATE 2011 Set 1)

17 The probability of getting a ”head” in a single toss of a biassed coin is 0.3. The coin is CO-1.1 K2
tossed repeatedly till a ”head” is obtained. If the tosses are independent, then the
probability of getting ”head” for the first time in the fifth toss is _______.

a). 0.072 b). 0.72 c). 0 d). 1 (GATE 2016 Set 3)

18 An examination consists of two papers, paper 1 and paper 2. The probability of failing CO-1.6 K2
in paper is 0.3, and that in paper 2 is 0.2. Given that a student has failed in paper 2, the
probability of failing in paper 1 is 0.6. The probability of a student failing in both the
papers is _________.

a). 0.5 b). 0.18 c). 0.12 d). 0.06 (GATE 2007)

19 An examination consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. The probability of failing in Paper CO-1.4 K2
1 is 0.3 and that in Paper 2 is 0.2. Given that a student has failed in Paper 2, the probability of
failing in Paper 1 is 0.6. The probability of a student failing in both papers is….

(a) 0.5 (b) 0.18 (c) 0.12 (d) 0.06

20 A fair coin is tossed independently four times. The probability of the event ”The CO-1.1 K1
number of times heads show up is more than the number of times tails show up” is
______.
a). 1/16 b). ⅛ c). ¼ d). 5/16 (GATE 2010)

21 A continuous random variable X has a probability density function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥 2 𝑒 −𝑥 ; 𝑥 ≥ 0 CO- 1.7 K2
then the value of mean is--------

(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 5 (d) 12

22 If the cumulative distribution function of a random variable is given by CO- 1.8 K2

0 ;𝑥 < 0
𝑥2
2
; 0≤𝑥<1
3 5
F(x) = 1 (𝑥−1)3 then P ( 2 < 𝑋 < 2 ) is…
2
+ 2
;1 ≤ 𝑥 < 2
1 ;𝑥 ≥ 2
{
9 7
(a) 1 (b) 16
(c) 16
(d) none of these
23 Parcels from sender S to receiver R pass sequentially through two post offices. Each CO-1.6 K2
post office has a probability ⅕ of losing an incoming parcel, independently of all
other parcels. Given that a parcel is lost, the probability that it was lost by the second
post office is ________.

a). 0.44 b). 0.5 c). 0 d). 1 (GATE 2014 Set 4)

25 For a triangular distribution CO- 1.8 K2

𝑥 ;0 < 𝑥 ≤ 1
f(x) = { 2 − 𝑥 ; 1 ≤ 𝑥 < 2 then variance of X is …….
0 ; 𝑥≥2
7 1 17
(a) (b) (c) (d) none of these
16 6 16

26 Let X be a continuous random variable denoting the temperature measured. The CO-1.6 K2
range of temperature is [0, 100] degree Celsius and Let the probability density function
of X be f(x) = 0.01 for 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 100

a). 5.0 b). 2.5 c). 25.0 d). 50.0

27 A fair die with faces {1,2,3,4,5,6} is thrown repeatedly till ′3′ is observed for the first CO-1.1 K2
time. Let X denote the number of times the dice is thrown. The expected value of X is
_______.

a). 5 b). 6 c). 10 d). 15 (GATE 2015 Set 3)

28 Two random variables X and Y are distributed according to CO-1.5 K2

(𝑋 + 𝑌), 0 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 1, 0 ≤ 𝑌 ≤ 1
𝑓𝑋,𝑌 (𝑋 , 𝑌) = {
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
The probability 𝑃(𝑋 + 𝑌 ≤ 1) is .

a). 0.333 b). 1.24 c). 2 d). 4 (GATE 2016 Set 1)

29 A fair die is tossed thrice. If the probability of zero, one, two and three successes are CO-1.6 K1
8 4 2 1
, , 9 & 27 respectively. Find the mean of the number of successes…………
27 9
a). 0.5 b). 1 c). 7⁄2 d). 5⁄2

30 Let Y= aX+b where X is a random variable with moment generating function 𝑀𝑋 (𝑡) then CO-1.9 K1
𝑀𝑌 (𝑡) is………

(a) 𝑀𝑋 (𝑎𝑡) (b) 𝑀𝑋 (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑡) (c) 𝑒 𝑏𝑡 𝑀𝑋 (𝑏𝑡) (d) 𝒆𝒃𝒕 𝑴𝑿 (𝒂𝒕)

 PART B (4 MARKS)

1 The probability function of an infinite discrete distribution is given by CO-1.5 K2

1
𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑗) = 𝑗 , 𝑗 = 1,2,3 ….
2
Find (i) Mean of X (ii) P(X is even).

2 CO-1.7 K2
A continuous random variable X that can assume any value between x = 2 and x = 5
has a density function given by f(x) = k (1 + x). Find P (X < 4).

3 Find the first two moments about the origin for the random variable with CO-1.9 K2
4𝑥
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { (9 − 𝑥 2 ) ; 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3.
81

4 CO-1.3 K3
What is the probability that a leap year selected at random will contain 53 Sunday?

5 CO-1.5 K2
If the random variable X takes the values 1, 2, 3 and 4 such that
2𝑃(𝑋 = 1) = 3𝑃(𝑋 = 2) = 𝑃(𝑋 = 3) = 5𝑃(𝑋 = 4). Find the probability distribution and
cumulative distribution function of X.

6 CO-1.1 K2
If the letters of the word ‘ REGULATIONS ’ be arranged at random , what is the chance that
there will be exactly 4 letters between R and E ?

7 𝐶𝑥𝑒 −𝑥 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 0 CO-1.8 K2

A random variable X has the p.d.f 𝑓(𝑥)given by 𝑓(𝑥) = {
0 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 0
Find the value of C and cumulative density function of X.

8 CO-1.8 K2
The Cumulative distribution function of a random variable. X is
𝐹(𝑥) = 1 − (1 + 𝑥)𝑒 −𝑥 , 𝑥 > 0. Find the P.D.F. of X . Also find the mean and
variance of X.

9 CO-1.3 K3
Data on the readership of a certain magazine show that the proportion of male readers under 35
is 0.40 and over 35 is 0.20 . If the proportion of readers under 35 is 0.70, find the proportion of
subscribers that are ‘female over 35 years’. Also calculate the probability that a randomly
selected male subscriber is under 35 years of age.
10 Let X be a random variable with the probability mass function given as follows: CO-1.6 K2

𝑥 0 1 2

𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥) 2𝑘 2 + 𝑘 + 3 6𝑘 8𝑘 2 + 2𝑘 + 3

11 CO-1.9 K2
The random variable X has the following probability distribution,
𝑋 = 𝑥𝑖 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥𝑖 ) 0.1 k 0.2 2k 0.3 3k

(i) Find the value of k. (ii) Find the cumulative distribution function

12 CO-1.9 K1
If the M.G.F. of X is (5 − 4𝑒 𝑡 )−1 . Find the distribution of X and P (X = 5)

PART - C (12 MARKS)

1 CO-1.4 K3
(a) The contents of bags I,II & III are as follows : 3 white ,2 red & 4 black balls.2 white , 3
red & 5 black balls and 3 white , 4 red & 2 black balls respectively .One bag is chosen at
random and 3 balls are drawn it. Out of these 2 balls are white and one is red . Analyze the
probability that it came from bag II?.

(b) Compare the chances of throwing 4 with one die, 8 with two dice and 12 with there CO-1.1 K2
dice.

2 A random variable X has the following probability function CO-1.5 K2

X 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

P(X=x) 0 a 2a 2a 3a 𝑎2 2𝑎2 7𝑎2 + 𝑎

Find (i) The value of ‘a’ (ii) 𝑃(𝑋 < 6) (iii) cumulative distribution (iv) If
1
𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 𝐾) > then find the least value of K. (v) 𝑃(1.5 < 𝑋 < 4.5/𝑋 > 2) .
2
3 CO-1.7 K2
(a) The mileage X (in thousand of miles) which car owners get with a certain kind of tyre is a
random variable having a probability density function
1 −𝑥⁄
𝑒 20 , 𝑥 > 0
𝑓(𝑥) = { 20
0 , 𝑥≤0
Find the probabilities that one of these tyres will last
(i). at most 10,000 miles
(ii). Anywhere from 16,000 to 24,000 miles
(iii). At least 30,000 miles.

CO-1.9 K2
(b) Obtain the M.G.F of the random variable whose moments are 𝜇’ 𝑟 = (𝑟 + 1)3𝑟 ,
and hence find its mean.

4 CO-1.7 K2
A continuous random variable X has a probability density function
𝑎𝑥 ;0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑎 ;1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { .
3𝑎 − 𝑎𝑥 ; 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3
0 ; 𝑥>3

Find (i)The value of ‘a’

(ii) cumulative distribution of X
(iii) P(1 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 2.5).
(iv) P(X >1.5) .

5 CO-1.3 K3
(a) A manufacturing firm produces tennis balls in 3 plants with a daily
production volume of 600,900 and 2000 balls respectively. Account to the past
experience it is known that 0.006, 0.007 and 0.010 respectively are defective.
If a ball is selected from a day’s total production and found to be defective, what
is the probability that it comes from the first plant?

CO- 1.6 K2
(b) If the probability mass function of a random variables X is given by
𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟) = 𝐾𝑟 3 , 𝑟 = 1,2,3,4.
Find (i) The value of K
(ii) Mean and variance of X
(iii) Cumulative distribution function of X.

6 CO- 1.4 K2
(a). State and prove Baye’s theorem.

CO- 1.9 K2
(b). Derive the Mean and Variance of Moment Generating Function.
7 CO- 1.8 K3
𝑎𝑥 ; 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑎 ; 1≤𝑥≤2
A continuous random variable X has a pdf 𝑓(𝑥) = {
3𝑎 − 𝑎𝑥 ; 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3
0 ; 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Find (i). The value of a.
(ii). Cumulative distribution function.
(iii). 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 1.5)

8 CO-1.7 K3
Suppose that the time in minutes that a person has to wait at a certain station is found to be
a random variable with the following distribution function.
0 ; 𝑥≤0
𝑥
2
; 0≤𝑥≤1
1
𝐹(𝑋) = 2
; 1≤𝑥≤2
𝑥
4
; 2≤𝑥≤4
{0 ; 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒

(i). Does F(X) represent a distribution function?

(ii). What is the probability that a person has to wait
a). for more than 3 minutes b). for less than 3 minutes c). between 1 and 3 minutes?