1-Binomial Probability Distribution

Characteristics of a Binomial Probability Distribution

1. There are only two possible outcomes on a particular trial of an experiment.
2. The outcomes are mutually exclusive,
3. The random variable is the result of counts.
4. Each trial is independent of any other trial

Binomial Probability Experiment

1. An outcome on each trial of an experiment is classified into one of two mutually
exclusive categories—a success or a failure.
2. The random variable counts the number of successes in a fixed number of trials.
3. The probability of success and failure stay the same for each trial.
4. The trials are independent, meaning that the outcome of one trial does not affect
the outcome of any other trial

Binomial Probability Formula

P(x) = 𝒏𝑪𝒙 × 𝒑𝒙 × 𝒒𝒏−𝒙

Where:
C denotes a combination
𝑛 is the number of trials
𝑋 is the random variable defined as the number of successes
𝝅 = p Is the probability of a success on each trial
𝑞 = 1−𝑝

Mean and Variance

MEAN OF BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION 𝑬(𝑿) = OR µ = 𝒏 𝒑
VARIANCE OF BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION 𝝈𝟐 = 𝒏 𝒑 𝒒

For the example regarding the number of late

flights, recall that  =.20 and n = 5.
What is the average number of late flights?
What is the variance of the number of late flights?
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Example:
A study by the Illinois Department of Transportation concluded that 76.2 percent of
front seat occupants used seat belts. A sample of 12 vehicles is selected.
What is the probability the front seat occupants in exactly 7 of the 12 vehicles are
wearing seat belts?

Example:
A study by the Illinois Department of Transportation concluded that 76.2 percent of
front seat occupants used seat belts. A sample of 12 vehicles is selected.
What is the probability the front seat occupants in at least 7 of the 12 vehicles are
wearing seat belts?

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 2.Hypergeometric Probability
‫ؤ‬ Distribution
1. An outcome on each trial of an experiment is classified into one of two mutually
exclusive categories—a success or a failure.
2. The probability of success and failure changes from trial to trial.
3. The trials are not independent, meaning that the outcome of one trial affects the
outcome of any other trial.
Note: Use hypergeometric distribution if experiment is binomial, but sampling is
without replacement from a finite population where n/N is more than 0.05

Hypergeometric Probability Distribution – Formula

Where:
N is the size of the population.
S is the number of successes in the population.
X is the number of successes in the sample. it may be 0,1,2,3,….
N is the size of the sample or the number of trials.
C is the symbol for a combination

Example
Playtime Toys, Inc. employs 50 people in the Assembly Department. Forty of the
employees belong to a union and ten do not. Five employees are selected at random
to form a committee to meet with management regarding shift starting times. What is
the probability that four of the five selected for the committee belong to a union?
Solution:
N is 50, the number of employees.
S is 40, the number of union employees.
x is 4, the number of union employees selected.
n is 5, the number of employees selected.
We wish to find the probability 4 of the 5 committee members belong to a union.

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 ‫ؤ‬
3.Poisson Probability Distribution
The Poisson probability distribution describes the number of times some event occurs
during a specified interval. The interval may be time, distance, area, or volume.
‫ؤ‬
Assumptions of the Poisson Distribution
(1) The probability is proportional to the length of the interval.
(2) The intervals are independent.

• The Poisson probability distribution is characterized by the number of times an

event happens during some interval or continuum.
Examples include:
• The number of misspelled words per page in a newspaper.
• The number of calls per hour received by Dyson Vacuum Cleaner Company.
• The number of vehicles sold per day at Hyatt Buick GMC in Durham, North Carolina.
• The number of goals scored in a college soccer game.

The Poisson distribution can be described mathematically using the formula:

Where:
µ (mu) is the mean number of occurrence (successes) in a particular interval.
e is the constant 2.71828
x is the number of occurrences (successes).
P(x) is the probability for a specified value of x.

The mean number of successes μ can be determined in binomial situations by n ,

where n is the number of trials and p the probability of a success.
MEAN OF POISSON DISTRIBUTION µ = 𝒏𝝅
The variance of the Poisson distribution is also equal to 𝒏𝝅

More about the Poisson Probability Distribution

• The Poisson probability distribution is always positively skewed and the
random variable has no specific upper limit.

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 • As µ becomes larger, the Poisson distribution becomes more symmetrical

Note: The Poisson distribution for the lost bags illustration, where µ=0.3, is highly
skewed. As µ becomes larger, the Poisson distribution becomes more symmetrical.

Example:
Assume baggage is rarely lost by Northwest Airlines. Suppose a random sample of
1,000 flights shows a total of 300 bags were lost. Thus, the arithmetic mean number of
lost bags per flight is 0.3 (300/1,000). If the number of lost bags per flight follows a
Poisson distribution with u = 0.3, find the probability of not losing any bags.

Example
If there are 200 typographical errors randomly distributed in a 500-page manuscript,
find the probability that a given page contains exactly three errors
Solution:
First, find the mean number A of errors. Since there are 200 errors distributed over
500 pages, each page has an average of =0.4 or 0.4 error per page.
Since X = 3, substituting into the formula yields

𝝁𝒙 𝟎.𝟒𝟑
P(x=3)= = = 0.0072
𝒆𝝁 𝒙! 𝒆𝟎.𝟒 ×𝟑!

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example:
There are five flights daily from Pittsburgh via US Airways into the Bradford, Regional
Airport. Suppose the probability that any flight arrives late is .20.
1- What is the probability that none of the flights are late today?
2- What is the average number of late flights?
3- What is the standard division of the number of late flights?
solution:
𝝅 = . 𝟐𝟎 > 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎 so we use Binomial Dist.
1- n = 5 , x = 0 ( none )
P(𝒙=0)= 𝒏C𝒙 × 𝝅𝒙 × (𝟏 − 𝝅)𝒏_𝒙
= 𝟓C𝟎 (. 𝟐𝟎)𝟎 (𝟏−. 𝟐𝟎) 𝟓−𝟎

= 0.3277
2- 𝝁 = 𝒏𝝅 = 20×0.20 = 4

3- 𝝈 = √𝒏𝝅(𝟏 − 𝝅) = √𝟐𝟎 × 𝟎. 𝟐𝟎 × 𝟎. 𝟖𝟎 = 0.894

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Example:
Assume baggage is rarely lost by Northwest Airlines. Suppose a random sample of
1,000 flights shows a total of 300 bags were lost. find the probability of not losing any
bags.
Solution
We can calculate the arithmetic mean number of lost bags per flight = (300/1,000).
So the number of lost bags per flight follows a Poisson distribution

with µ = 0.3, 𝒙 = 0 , 𝒆 =2.718

𝝁𝒙 𝟎.𝟑𝟎
P(𝒙)= 𝒙! 𝒆𝝁 = = 0.7408
𝟎! 𝟐.𝟕𝟏𝟖𝟎.𝟑
Example:
PlayTime Toys, Inc., employs 50 people in the Assembly Department. Forty of the
employees belong to a union and ten do not. Five employees are selected at random
to form a committee to meet with management regarding shift starting times.
What is the probability that four of the five selected for the committee belong to a
union?
Solution: Here’s what’s given:
N = 50 (number of employees) , S = 40 (number of union employees)
x = 4 (number of union employees selected) , n = 5 (number of employees selected)
𝒔𝐂𝒙 𝑵− 𝒔𝑪𝒏−𝒙 𝟒𝟎𝐂𝟒 𝟓𝟎−𝟒𝟎𝑪𝟓−𝟒 𝟒𝟎𝐂𝟒 𝟏𝟎𝑪𝟏
P(X)= = = = 0.431
𝑵𝐂𝒏 𝟓𝟎𝐂𝟓 𝟓𝟎𝐂𝟓

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 Statistics MCQs –Discrete Distributions
1. A new car salesperson knows that he sells cars to one in every twenty customers who enter the
showroom. What is the probability that he will sell a new car to exactly two of the next three customers?
a. 0.007 b. 0.021 c. 0.003 d. 0.010 e.0.001
2. A new car salesperson knows that he sells cars to one in every twenty customers who enter the
showroom. What is the probability that he will sell a new car to exactly two of the next five
customers?
a. 0.007 b. 0.021 c. 0.003 d. 0.010 e.0.001
3. A new car salesperson knows that he sells cars to one in every thirty customers who enter the showroom.
What is the probability that he will sell a new car to exactly two of the next three customers?
a. 0.007 b. 0.021 c. 0.003 d. 0.010 e.0.001
4. A new car salesperson knows that he sells cars to one in every thirty customers who enter the showroom.
What is the probability that he will sell a new car to exactly two of the next five customers?
a. 0.007 b. 0.021 c. 0.003 d. 0.010 e.0.001
5. A new car salesperson knows that he sells cars to one in every twenty customers who enter the
showroom. What is the probability that he will sell a new car to exactly three of the next five customers?
a. 0.007 b. 0.021 c. 0.003 d. 0.010 e.0.001
6. Approximately 84% of persons living in Cape Town who are aged 70 to 84 live in elderly care facilities. If
four persons are randomly selected from this population, what is the probability that exactly two of the
four live in elderly care facilities?
a. 0.108 b. 0.244 c. 0.007 d. 0.319 e. 0.379
7. Approximately 72% of persons living in Cape Town who are aged 70 to 84 live in elderly care facilities. If
four persons are randomly selected from this population, what is the probability that exactly two of the
four live in elderly care facilities?
a. 0.108 b. 0.244 c. 0.007 d. 0.319 e. 0.379
8. Approximately 84% of persons living in Cape Town who are aged 70 to 84 live in elderly care facilities. If
six persons are randomly selected from this population, what is the probability that exactly two of the
six live in elderly care facilities?
a. 0.108 b. 0.244 c. 0.007 d. 0.319 e. 0.379
9. Approximately 64% of persons living in Cape Town who are aged 70 to 84 live in elderly care facilities. If
four persons are randomly selected from this population, what is the probability that exactly two of the
four live in elderly care facilities?
a. 0.108 b. 0.244 c. 0.007 d. 0.319 e. 0.379
10. Approximately 84% of persons living in Cape Town who are aged 70 to 84 live in elderly care facilities. If
four persons are randomly selected from this population, what is the probability that exactly three of
the four live in elderly care facilities?
a. 0.108 b. 0.244 c. 0.007 d. 0.319 e. 0.379
11. The listed occupations of stockholders of a national computer company included 9% who were
housewives. If six of these stockholders are randomly selected, what is the probability that none are
housewives?
a. 0.568 b. 0.011 c. 0.083 d. 0.282 e. 0.073
12. The listed occupations of stockholders of a national computer company included 9% who were
housewives. If six of these stockholders are randomly selected, what is the probability that exactly
three are housewives?
a. 0.568 b. 0.011 c. 0.083 d. 0.282 e. 0.073
13. The listed occupations of stockholders of a national computer company included 9% who were
housewives. If six of these stockholders are randomly selected, what is the probability that exactly
two are housewives?
a. 0.568 b. 0.011 c. 0.083 d. 0.282 e. 0.073

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 14. The listed occupations of stockholders of a national computer company included 19% who were
housewives. If six of these stockholders are randomly selected, what is the probability that none are
housewives?
a. 0.568 b. 0.011 c. 0.083 d. 0.282 e. 0.073
15. The listed occupations of stockholders of a national computer company included 19% who were
housewives. If six of these stockholders are randomly selected, what is the probability that exactly
three are housewives?
a. 0.568 b. 0.011 c. 0.083 d. 0.282 e. 0.073
16. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 20 CD players is
defective. To ensure quality control, a random sample of 120 CD players were selected and tested. A
large quality control investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 120 CD players
selected are defective. What is the probability that exactly ten out of the 120 CD players are defective?
a. 0.040 b. 0.105 c. 0.163 d. 0.107 e. 0.063
17. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 20 CD players
is defective. To ensure quality control, a random sample of 120 CD players were selected and tested.
A large quality control investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 120 CD players
selected are defective. What is the probability that exactly 8 out of the 120 CD players are defective?
a. 0.040 b. 0.105 c. 0.163 d. 0.107 e. 0.063
18. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 20 CD players
is defective. To ensure quality control, a random sample of 120 CD players were selected and tested.
A large quality control investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 120 CD players
selected are defective. What is the probability that exactly five out of the 120 CD players are defective?
a. 0.040 b. 0.105 c. 0.163 d. 0.107 e. 0.063
19. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 10 CD players is
defective. To ensure quality control, a random sample of 120 CD players were selected and tested. A
large quality control investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 120 CD players
selected are defective. What is the probability that exactly ten out of the 120 CD players are defective?
a. 0.040 b. 0.105 c. 0.163 d. 0.107 e. 0.063
20. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 10 CD players is
defective. To ensure quality control, a random sample of 120 CD players were selected and tested. A
large quality control investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 120 CD players
selected are defective. What is the probability that exactly 8 out of the 120 CD players are defective?
a. 0.040 b. 0.105 c. 0.163 d. 0.107 e. 0.063
21. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 45% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in
their chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at
random one year after graduation. What is the probability that exactly 7 of them will have found a job
in their chosen field?
a. 0.201 b. 0.051 c. 0.078 d. 0.165 e. 0.140
22. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 45% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in
their chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at random
one year after graduation. What is the probability that exactly 10 of them will have found a job in their
chosen field?
a. 0.201 b. 0.051 c. 0.078 d. 0.165 e. 0.140
23. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 45% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in
their chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at
random one year after graduation. What is the probability that exactly 4 of them will have found a job
in their chosen field?
a. 0.201 b. 0.051 c. 0.078 d. 0.165 e. 0.140
24. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 55% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in
their chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected of them will have found
a job in their chosen field?
a. 0.201 b. 0.051 c. 0.078 d. 0.165 e. 0.140

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25. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 55% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in
their chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at
random one year after graduation. What is the probability that exactly 10 of them will have found a
job in their chosen field?
a. 0.201 b. 0.051 c. 0.078 d. 0.165 e. 0.140
26. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that exactly 7 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.267 b. 0.233 c. 0.121 d. 0.250 e. 0.282
27. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that exactly 8 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.267 b. 0.233 c. 0.121 d. 0.250 e. 0.282
28. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that exactly 9 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.267 b. 0.233 c. 0.121 d. 0.250 e. 0.282
29. It is believed that 75% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that exactly 7 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.267 b. 0.233 c. 0.121 d. 0.250 e. 0.282
30. It is believed that 75% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that exactly 8 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.267 b. 0.233 c. 0.121 d. 0.250 e. 0.282
31. A manufacturing company has produced a new car seat for infants and it is undergoing rigorous safety
testing. The product will only be approved for usage if at least 14 out of a sample of 15 seats meet the
safety requirements. What is the probability that the new product will be approved if each individual seat
is three times as likely to meet the safety requirements as not?
a. 0.976 b. 0.997 c. 0.080 d. 0.003 e. 0.091
32. A recent survey in Cape Town revealed that 60% of the vehicles traveling on highways, where speed
limits are posted at 80 km per hour, were exceeding the limit. Suppose you randomly record the speeds
of 10 vehicles traveling on the N1 where the speed limit is 80 km per hour. What is the probability that
exactly ten vehicles are exceeding the limit?
a. 0.01 b. 0.006 c. 1 d. 0.00 e. 0.99
33. To harvest all the wheat from a field requires 5 sunny days (not necessarily consecutive). The farmer has
only one week (7 days) left to harvest his crop. Given that the probability of a sunny day is 0.8, what is
the probability that the farmer will be able to get the crop harvested on time?
a. 0.725 b. 0.344 c. 0.176 d. 0.599 e. 0.275
34. A canoe club sponsor has taken canoeing groups through a particularly rough section of white water on
a mountain river. Past trips and experience of the sponsor leads her to believe that fifty percent of the
canoeists who attempt to paddle their way through this section will overturn. At the present time, there
are five canoes approaching this treacherous section. Assume that the sponsor’s estimate of the
probability of a canoe overturning in this section of water is accurate. What is the probability that four
of the five canoes will overturn?
a. 0.346 b. 0.156 c. 0.477 d. 0.985 e. 0.224
35. It is known that three out of every ten financial institutions prefer debt-financing to equity financing. A
random sample of twenty financial institutions was selected. What is the probability that exactly 13 of
the twenty companies sampled preferred equity financing to debt-financing?
a. 0.885 b. 0.995 c. 0.003 d. 0.164 e. 0.228
36. Cape Town is estimated to have 21% of homes whose owners subscribe to the satellite television service,
DSTV. If a random sample of four homes is taken, what is the probability that all four homes subscribe
to DSTV?
a. 0.2100 b. 0.5000 c. 0.8791 d. 0.0021 e. 0.0019
37. A canoe club sponsor has taken canoeing groups through a particularly rough section of white water on
a mountain river. Past trips and experience of the sponsor leads her to believe that fifty percent of the
canoeists who attempt to paddle their way through this section will overturn. At the present time, there
are five canoes approaching this treacherous section. Assume that the sponsor’s estimate of the
probability of a canoe overturning in this section of water is accurate. What is the probability that less
than two of the five canoes will overturn?
a. 0.187 b. 0.031 c. 0.246 d. 0.317 e. 0.500
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 38. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that at most 7 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.617 b. 0.851 c. 0.972 d. 0.474 e. 0.756
39. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that at most 8 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.617 b. 0.851 c. 0.972 d. 0.474 e. 0.756
40. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that at most 9 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.617 b. 0.851 c. 0.972 d. 0.474 e. 0.756
41. It is believed that 75% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that at most 7 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.617 b. 0.851 c. 0.972 d. 0.474 e. 0.756
42. It is believed that 75% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. Ten students are
randomly chosen. What is the probability that at most 8 of the 10 students got A’s for matric?
a. 0.617 b. 0.851 c. 0.972 d. 0.474 e. 0.756
43. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on
this route seat 15 passengers. What is the probability that at most 9 passengers on a full flight check in
their luggage?
a. 0.597 b. 966 c. 0.128 d. 0.755 e. 0.278
44. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on
this route seat 15 passengers. What is the probability that at most 9 passengers on a full flight do not
check in their luggage?
a. 0.597 b. 966 c. 0.128 d. 0.755 e. 0.278
45. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route
seat 20 passengers. What is the probability that at most 9 passengers on a full flight check in their luggage?
a. 0.597 b. 966 c. 0.128 d. 0.755 e. 0.278
46. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on
this route seat 20 passengers. What is the probability that at most 9 passengers on a full flight do not
check in their luggage?
a. 0.597 b. 966 c. 0.128 d. 0.755 e. 0.278
47. Thirty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route
seat 15 passengers. What is the probability that at most 9 passengers on a full flight check in their luggage?
a. 0.597 b. 966 c. 0.128 d. 0.755 e. 0.278
48. If X ~ B(6, 0.25), what is P(X < 3)?
a. 0.831 b. 0.959 c. 0.756 d. 0.577 e. 0.812
49. If X ~ B(6, 0.40), what is P(X < 5)?
a. 0.831 b. 0.959 c. 0.756 d. 0.577 e. 0.812
50. If X ~ B(7, 0.25), what is P(X < 3)?
a. 0.831 b. 0.959 c. 0.756 d. 0.577 e. 0.812
51. If X ~ B(7, 0.20), what is P(X < 2)?
a. 0.831 b. 0.959 c. 0.756 d. 0.577 e. 0.812
52. If X ~ B(5, 0.50), what is P(X < 4)?
a. 0.831 b. 0.959 c. 0.756 d. 0.577 e. 0.812
53. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 40% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in their
chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at random one year
after graduation. What is the probability that at least 8 of them will have found a job in their chosen field?
a. 0.213 b. 0.034 c. 0.390 d. 0.696 e. 0.412
54. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 40% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in their
chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at random one year
after graduation. What is the probability that at least 10 of them will have found a job in their chosen field?
a. 0.213 b. 0.034 c. 0.390 d. 0.696 e. 0.412
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55. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 40% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in their
chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at random one year
after graduation. What is the probability that at least 7 of them will have found a job in their chosen field?
a. 0.213 b. 0.034 c. 0.390 d. 0.696 e. 0.412
56. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 50% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in their
chosen field within one year after graduation. 15 graduates are selected at the university at random one year
after graduation. What is the probability that at least 7 of them will have found a job in their chosen field?
a. 0.213 b. 0.034 c. 0.390 d. 0.696 e. 0.412
57. A study conducted at a certain university shows that 50% of the university’s graduates obtain a job in their
chosen field within one year after graduation. 20 graduates are selected at the university at random one year
after graduation. What is the probability that at least 11 of them will have found a job in their chosen field?
a. 0.213 b. 0.034 c. 0.390 d. 0.696 e. 0.412
58. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route
seat 15 passengers. What is the probability that 9 or more passengers on a full flight check in their luggage?
a. 0.610 b. 0.095 c. 0.944 d. 0.404 e. 0.869
59. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route
seat 15 passengers. What is the probability that 9 or more passengers on a full flight do not check in their luggage?
a. 0.610 b. 0.095 c. 0.944 d. 0.404 e. 0.869
60. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route
seat 20 passengers. What is the probability that 9 or more passengers on a full flight check in their luggage?
a. 0.610 b. 0.095 c. 0.944 d. 0.404 e. 0.869
61. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route seat
20 passengers. What is the probability that 9 or more passengers on a full flight do not check in their luggage?
a. 0.610 b. 0.095 c. 0.944 d. 0.404 e. 0.869
62. Thirty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route
seat 15 passengers. What is the probability that 9 or more passengers on a full flight check in their luggage?
a. 0.610 b. 0.095 c. 0.944 d. 0.404 e. 0.869
63. If X ~ B(6, 0.25), what is P(X > 3)?
a. 0.038 b. 0.004 c. 0.071 d. 0.148 e. 0.031
64. If X ~ B(6, 0.40), what is P(X > 5)?
a. 0.038 b. 0.004 c. 0.071 d. 0.148 e. 0.031
65. If X ~ B(7, 0.25), what is P(X > 3)?
a. 0.038 b. 0.004 c. 0.071 d. 0.148 e. 0.031
66. If X ~ B(7, 0.20), what is P(X > 2)?
a. 0.038 b. 0.004 c. 0.071 d. 0.148 e. 0.031
67. If X ~ B(5, 0.50), what is P(X > 4)?
a. 0.038 b. 0.004 c. 0.071 d. 0.148 e. 0.031
68. Assume that it is known that 80% of monkeys treated with a specific antibiotic recover from a particular
disease. If 5 monkeys are treated, find the probability that at least 4 monkeys recover.
a. 0.672 b. 0.328 c. 0.263 d. 0.737 e. 0.583
69. An important part of the customer service responsibilities of a telephone company relates to the speed with
which problems in residential service can be repaired. Suppose past data indicate that the probability is 0.5
that problems in residential service can be repaired on the same day. On a given day 5 problems were
reported. What is the probability that at least three problems will be repaired on the same day?
a. 0.500 b. 0.031 c. 0.187 d. 0.583 e. 0.261
70. It is known that three out of every ten financial institutions prefer debt-financing to equity financing. A
random sample of twenty financial institutions was selected. What is the probability that at least eight
financial institutions prefer debt-financing to equity-financing?
a. 0.7720 b. 0.1130 c. 0.1144 d. 0.2280 e.0.8870
71. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 20 CD players is defective.
To ensure quality control, a random sample of 120 CD players were selected and tested. A large quality control
investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 120 CD players selected are defective. What is the
expected number of non-defective CD players out of the sample of 120 CD players?
a. 6 b. 114 c. 5 d. 95 e. 120

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 72. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 20 CD players is
defective. To ensure quality control, a random sample of 120 CD players were selected and tested. A
large quality control investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 120 CD players selected
are defective. What is the expected number of defective CD players out of the sample of 120 CD players?
a. 6 b. 114 c. 5 d. 95 e. 120
73. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 20 CD players is defective.
To ensure quality control, a random sample of 100 CD players were selected and tested. A large quality control
investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 100 CD players selected are defective. What is the
expected number of non-defective CD players out of the sample of 100 CD players?
A. 6 b. 114 c. 5 d. 95 e. 120
74. A large manufacturing company that produces CD players believes that 1 out of every 20 CD players is
defective. To ensure quality control, a random sample of 100 CD players were selected and tested. A
large quality control investigation would be launched if more than 10 out of the 100 CD players selected
are defective. What is the expected number of defective CD players out of the sample of 100 CD players?
a. 6 b. 114 c. 5 d. 95 e. 120
75. At a wholesale protea nursery exactly 100 seeds are planted in each seed-bed, and the probability that a protea
seed will germinate is 0.8. What is the expected number of seeds in the seed-bed that will germinate?
a. 80 b. 96 c. 75 d. 160 e. 65
76. At a wholesale protea nursery exactly 120 seeds are planted in each seed-bed, and the probability that a protea
seed will germinate is 0.8. What is the expected number of seeds in the seed-bed that will germinate?
a. 80 b. 96 c. 75 d. 160 e. 65
77. At a wholesale protea nursery exactly 100 seeds are planted in each seed-bed, and the probability that a protea
seed will germinate is 0.75. What is the expected number of seeds in the seed-bed that will germinate?
a. 80 b. 96 c. 75 d. 160 e. 65
78. At a wholesale protea nursery exactly 200 seeds are planted in each seed-bed, and the probability that a protea
seed will germinate is 0.8. What is the expected number of seeds in the seed-bed that will germinate?
a. 80 b. 96 c. 75 d. 160 e. 65
79. At a wholesale protea nursery exactly 100 seeds are planted in each seed-bed, and the probability that a protea
seed will germinate is 0.65. What is the expected number of seeds in the seed-bed that will germinate?
a. 80 b. 96 c. 75 d. 160 e. 65
80. What is the expected number of heads in 100 tosses of an unbiased coin?
a. 100 b. 25 c. 50 d. 75 e. 0
81. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route
seat 15 passengers. For a full flight, what is the mean of the number of passengers who do not check in any
luggage?
a. 6.00 b. 6.45 c. 7.20 d. 7.50 e. 4.50
82. 43% percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this route seat
15 passengers. For a full flight, what is the mean of the number of passengers who do not check in any luggage?
a. 6.00 b. 6.45 c. 7.20 d. 7.50 e. 4.50
83. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 18 passengers. For a full flight, what is the mean of the number of passengers who do not check
in any luggage?
a. 6.00 b. 6.45 c. 7.20 d. 7.50 e. 4.50
84. Fifty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 15 passengers. For a full flight, what is the mean of the number of passengers who do not check
in any luggage?
a. 6.00 b. 6.45 c. 7.20 d. 7.50 e. 4.50
85. 25% percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 18 passengers. For a full flight, what is the mean of the number of passengers who do not
check in any luggage?
a. 6.00 b. 6.45 c. 7.20 d. 7.50 e. 4.50
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 86. A recent survey in Cape Town revealed that 60% of the vehicles traveling on highways, where speed limits
are posted at 80 km per hour, were exceeding the limit. Suppose you randomly record the speeds of 10
vehicles traveling on the N1 where the speed limit is 80 km per hour. What is the mean or expected
number of vehicles who will exceed the speed limit in this sample?
a. 10 b. 4 c. 6 d. 1 e. 8
87. Cape Town is estimated to have 21% of homes whose owners subscribe to the satellite television service,
DSTV. If a random sample of four homes is taken, what is the mean number of homes in this sample that
subscribe to DSTV?
a. 0.84 b. 1.00 c. 2.00 d. 0.21 e. 1.68
88. An important part of the customer service responsibilities of a telephone company relates to the speed
with which problems in residential service can be repaired. Suppose past data indicate that the probability
is 0.5 that problems in residential service can be repaired on the same day. On a given day 5 problems
were reported. What is the standard deviation of the random variable describing the number of same day
repairs in this sample?
a. -0.500 b. 0.500 c. 1.500 d. 1.118 e. 1.250
89. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 15 passengers. For a full flight, what is the variance of the number of passengers who do not
check in any luggage?
a. 3.60 b. 3.68 c. 4.32 d. 3.75 e. 3.38
90. 43% percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 15 passengers. For a full flight, what is the variance of the number of passengers who do not
check in any luggage?
a. 3.60 b. 3.68 c. 4.32 d. 3.75 e. 3.38
91. Forty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 18 passengers. For a full flight, what is the variance of the number of passengers who do not
check in any luggage?
a. 3.60 b. 3.68 c. 4.32 d. 3.75 e. 3.38
92. Fifty percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 15 passengers. For a full flight, what is the variance of the number of passengers who do not
check in any luggage?
a. 3.60 b. 3.68 c. 4.32 d. 3.75 e. 3.38
93. 25% percent of the passengers who fly on a certain route do not check in any luggage. The planes on this
route seat 18 passengers. For a full flight, what is the variance of the number of passengers who do not
check in any luggage?
a. 3.60 b. 3.68 c. 4.32 d. 3.75 e. 3.38
94. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the standard
deviation of the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 10?
a. 1.45 b. 2.10 c. 1.37 d. 1.88 e. 3.85
95. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the variance
of the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 10?
a. 1.45 b. 2.10 c. 1.37 d. 1.88 e. 3.85
96. It is believed that 75% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the standard
deviation of the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 10?
a. 1.45 b. 2.10 c. 1.37 d. 1.88 e. 3.85
97. It is believed that 75% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the variance of
the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 10?
a. 1.45 b. 2.10 c. 1.37 d. 1.88 e. 3.85
98. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the standard
deviation of the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 20?
a. 2.05 b. 4.20 c. 1.26 d. 1.60 e. 3.85

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99. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the variance
of the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 20?
a. 2.05 b. 4.20 c. 1.26 d. 1.60 e. 3.85
100. It is believed that 80% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the standard
deviation of the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 10?
a. 2.05 b. 4.20 c. 1.26 d. 1.60 e. 3.85
101. It is believed that 80% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the variance of
the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 10?
a. 2.05 b. 4.20 c. 1.26 d. 1.60 e. 3.85
102. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the standard
deviation of the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 15?
a. 1.77 b. 4.20 c. 1.26 d. 1.60 e. 3.15
103. It is believed that 70% of STA1000S students got A’s for their final matric exams. What is the variance of
the number of students who got A’s for matric, in samples of size 15?
a. 1.77 b. 4.20 c. 1.26 d. 1.60 e. 3.15
104. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a Binomial distribution?
a. There is a sequence of identical trials
b. The trials are independent of one another
c. Each trial results in two or more outcomes
d. The probability of success (p) is the same for all trials
e. There are a finite number of trials
105. A computer that operates continuously breaks down randomly on average 6 times per month (ie: 4
weeks). What is the probability of exactly 4 breakdowns in the first two weeks?
a. 0.168 b. 0.134 c. 0.815 d. 0.285 e. 0.547
106. A computer that operates continuously breaks down randomly on average 6 times per month (ie: 4
weeks). What is the probability of exactly 4 breakdowns in the first month?
a. 0.168 b. 0.134 c. 0.815 d. 0.285 e. 0.547
107. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that exactly ten tourists arrive within the first hour?
a. 0.105 b. 0.114 c. 0.066 d. 0.041 e. 0.161
108. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that exactly eleven tourists arrive within the first hour?
a. 0.105 b. 0.114 c. 0.066 d. 0.041 e. 0.161
109. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that exactly eight tourists arrive within the first hour?
a. 0.105 b. 0.114 c. 0.066 d. 0.041 e. 0.161
110. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every ten minutes. What is the probability
that exactly ten tourists arrive within the first hour?
a. 0.105 b. 0.114 c. 0.066 d. 0.041 e. 0.161
111. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every ten minutes. What is the probability
that exactly five tourists arrive within the first hour?
a. 0.105 b. 0.114 c. 0.066 d. 0.041 e. 0.161
112. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that it takes more than ten minutes until the first tourist arrives?
a. 0.135 b. 0.050 c. 0.368 d. 0.018 e. 0.002
113. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that it takes more than fifteen minutes until the first tourist arrives?
a. 0.135 b. 0.050 c. 0.368 d. 0.018 e. 0.002
114. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that it takes more than five minutes until the first tourist arrives?
a. 0.135 b. 0.050 c. 0.368 d. 0.018 e. 0.002
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 115. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that it takes more than twenty minutes until the first tourist arrives?
a. 0.135 b. 0.050 c. 0.368 d. 0.018 e. 0.002
116. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. What is the probability
that it takes more than half an hour until the first tourist arrives?
a. 0.135 b. 0.050 c. 0.368 d. 0.018 e. 0.002
117. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7.5 tickets
per day. What is the probability that exactly 5 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.109 b. 0.146 c. 0.137 d. 0.149 e. 0.128
118. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7.5 tickets
per day. What is the probability that exactly 7 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.109 b. 0.146 c. 0.137 d. 0.149 e. 0.128
119. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7.5 tickets
per day. What is the probability that exactly 8 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.109 b. 0.146 c. 0.137 d. 0.149 e. 0.128
120. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7 tickets
per day. What is the probability that exactly 6 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.109 b. 0.146 c. 0.137 d. 0.149 e. 0.128
121. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7 tickets per
day. What is the probability that exactly 5 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.109 b. 0.146 c. 0.137 d. 0.149 e. 0.128
122. Seventy (70) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 90-day period. Assume that this
trend continues and that the accidents occur at random with an average rate of 70 accidents per 90 days.
What is the probability that there will be no accidents reported for a whole week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.0043 b. 0.0020 c. 0.0074 d. 0.0037 e. 0.0022
123. Eighty (80) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 90-day period.
Assume that this trend continues and that the accidents occur at random with an average rate of 80 accidents
per 90 days. What is the probability that there will be no accidents reported for a whole week (assume a
seven-day week)?
a. 0.0043 b. 0.0020 c. 0.0074 d. 0.0037 e. 0.0022
124. Seventy (70) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 100-day period. Assume that this
trend continues and that the accidents occur at random with an average rate of 70 accidents per 100 days. What
is the probability that there will be no accidents reported for a whole week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.0043 b. 0.0020 c. 0.0074 d. 0.0037 e. 0.0022
125. Eighty (80) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 100-day period. Assume that this
trend continues and that the accidents occur at random with an average rate of 80 accidents per 100 days. What
is the probability that there will be no accidents reported for a whole week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.0043 b. 0.0020 c. 0.0074 d. 0.0037 e. 0.0022
126. Seventy (70) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 80-day period. Assume that this
trend continues and that the accidents occur at random with an average rate of 70 accidents per 80 days. What
is the probability that there will be no accidents reported for a whole week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.0043 b. 0.0020 c. 0.0074 d. 0.0037 e. 0.0022
127. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow colonies of
bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that on average there
are four colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain exactly four colonies?
a. 0.195 b. 0.156 c. 0.175 d. 0.146 e. 0.161
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 128. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are four colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will
contain exactly five colonies?
a. 0.195 b. 0.156 c. 0.175 d. 0.146 e. 0.161
129. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are five colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
exactly five colonies?
a. 0.195 b. 0.156 c. 0.175 d. 0.146 e. 0.161
130. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are five colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
exactly six colonies?
a. 0.195 b. 0.156 c. 0.175 d. 0.146 e. 0.161
131. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are six colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
exactly six colonies?
a. 0.195 b. 0.156 c. 0.175 d. 0.146 e. 0.161
132. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(3.5), what is P(X = 5)?
a. 0.133 b. 0.185 c.0.161 d. 0.045 e. 0.171
133. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(3.5), what is P(X = 2)?
a. 0.133 b. 0.185 c.0.161 d. 0.045 e. 0.171
134. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(6), what is P(X = 5)? a. 0.133
b. 0.185 c.0.161 d. 0.045 e. 0.171
135. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(6), what is P(X = 2)? a. 0.133
b. 0.185 c. 0.161 d. 0.04 e. 0.171
136. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(5.5), what is P(X = 5)?
a. 0.133 b. 0.185 c. 0.161 d. 0.04 e. 0.171
137. Meticulous record keeping over a long period of time shows that doctors in a busy community medical
practice encounter a patient infected with Ebola virus once every year on average. This practice is suddenly
confronted with three patients infected with Ebola virus over a period of six months. What is the
probability of this happening if there has been no change in the incidence of Ebola virus in the community?
a. 0.012 b. 0.061 c. 0.076 d. 0.184 e. 0.016
138. Meticulous record keeping over a long period of time shows that doctors in a busy community medical
practice encounter a patient infected with Ebola virus twice every year on average. This practice is
suddenly confronted with three patients infected with Ebola virus over a period of six months. What is the
probability of this happening if there has been no change in the incidence of Ebola virus in the community?
a. 0.012 b. 0.061 c. 0.076 d. 0.184 e. 0.016
139. Meticulous record keeping over a long period of time shows that doctors in a busy community medical
practice encounter a patient infected with Ebola virus once every year on average. This practice is suddenly
confronted with two patients infected with Ebola virus over a period of six months. What is the probability
of this happening if there has been no change in the incidence of Ebola virus in the community?
a. 0.012 b. 0.061 c. 0.076 d. 0.184 e. 0.016
140. Meticulous record keeping over a long period of time shows that doctors in a busy community medical
practice encounter a patient infected with Ebola virus twice every year on average. This practice is
suddenly confronted with two patients infected with Ebola virus over a period of six months. What is the
probability of this happening if there has been no change in the incidence of Ebola virus in the community?
a. 0.012 b. 0.061 c. 0.076 d. 0.184 e. 0.016

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141. Assume that during the Cape Town Argus Pick ‘n Pay cycle tour accidents occur on average 3 times per
10 km stretch. What is the probability that it is more than 5 km before the next accident?
a. 0.777 b. 0.223 c. 0.741 d. 0.259 e. 0.521
142. Car accidents occur in South Africa at an average rate of 72 accidents per hour. What is the probability
that it will be more than 3 minutes before the next accident occurs?
a. 0.877 b. 0.651 c. 0.131 d. 0.027 e. 0.584
143. A dispatcher for an airport shuttle will send a van to the airport on average twice per hour during the
Soccer World Cup in 2010. The distribution is expected to be Poisson, and the driver must take a 15-
minute lunch break. The probability that he can complete his lunch break before receiving a call is:
a. 0.135 b. 0.607 c. 0.394 d. 1.649 e. 0.865
144. A dispatcher for an airport shuttle will send a van to the airport on average twice per hour during the
Soccer World Cup in 2010. The distribution is expected to be Poisson, and the driver must take a 15-
minute lunch break. The probability that he gets 2 calls (dispatches) in 30 minutes is:
a. 0.184 b. 0.465 c. 0.234 d. 0.314 e. 0.000
145. In a public library, books are lost and have to be replaced at an average rate of 2.75 books per week.
What is the probability that in a given month (4 weeks) 10 books are lost?
a. 0.460 b. 0.119 c. 0.275 d. 0.435 e. 0.357
146. In a public library, books are lost and have to be replaced at an average rate of 2.75 books per week.
What is the probability that it will be more than one week before the next book is lost?
a. 0.690 b. 0.340 * c. 0.064 d. 0.284 e.0.170
147. A drop of water from a lake contains on average 0.5 bacteria per drop. A small dish containing 4 drops
of water from this lake is placed under the microscope. What is the probability of observing at most 1
bacterium in this dish?
a. 0.406 b. 0.594 c. 0.092 d. 0.938 e. 0.910
148. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7.5 tickets
per day. What is the probability that less than 6 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.241 b. 0.301 c. 0.378 d. 0.132 e. 0.450
149. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7 tickets
per day. What is the probability that less than 6 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.241 b. 0.301 c. 0.378 d. 0.132 e. 0.450
150. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at
budgeted level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a
mean of 7.5 tickets per day. What is the probability that less than 7 tickets are written on a randomly
selected day?
a. 0.241 b. 0.301 c. 0.378 d. 0.132 e. 0.450
151. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7.5 tickets
per day. What is the probability that less than 5 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.241 b. 0.301 c. 0.378 d. 0.132 e. 0.450
152. The local police department must write, on average, 5 tickets a day to keep department revenues at budgeted
level. Suppose the number of tickets written per day follows a Poisson distribution with a mean of 7 tickets
per day. What is the probability that less than 7 tickets are written on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.241 b. 0.301 c. 0.378 d. 0.132 e. 0.450
153. A local motor vehicle break-down service must respond to, on average, 10 calls per day in order to keep
revenues at the budgeted level. Suppose the number of calls received from customers per day follows
a Poisson distribution with a mean of 11 calls per day. What is the probability that at most 10 calls will
be received on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.460 b. 0.232 c. 0.347 d. 0.576 e. 0.689

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154. A local motor vehicle break-down service must respond to, on average, 10 calls per day in order to keep
revenues at the budgeted level. Suppose the number of calls received from customers per day follows
a Poisson distribution with a mean of 11 calls per day. What is the probability that at most 8 calls will be
received on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.460 b. 0.232 c. 0.347 d. 0.576 e. 0.689
155. A local motor vehicle break-down service must respond to, on average, 10 calls per day in order to keep
revenues at the budgeted level. Suppose the number of calls received from customers per day follows
a Poisson distribution with a mean of 12 calls per day. What is the probability that at most 10 calls will
be received on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.460 b. 0.232 c. 0.347 d. 0.576 e. 0.689
156. A local motor vehicle break-down service must respond to, on average, 10 calls per day in order to keep
revenues at the budgeted level. Suppose the number of calls received from customers per day follows
a Poisson distribution with a mean of 12 calls per day. What is the probability that at most 12 calls will
be received on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.460 b. 0.232 c. 0.347 d. 0.576 e. 0.689
157. A local motor vehicle break-down service must respond to, on average, 10 calls per day in order to keep
revenues at the budgeted level. Suppose the number of calls received from customers per day follows
a Poisson distribution with a mean of 11 calls per day. What is the probability that at most 12 calls will
be received on a randomly selected day?
a. 0.460 b. 0.232 c. 0.347 d. 0.576 e. 0.689
158. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are four colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
two or fewer colonies?
a. 0.238 b. 0.433 c. 0.125 d. 0.265 e. 0.285
159. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are four colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
three or fewer colonies?
a. 0.238 b. 0.433 c. 0.125 d. 0.265 e. 0.285
160. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are five colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
two or fewer colonies?
a. 0.238 b. 0.433 c. 0.125 d. 0.265 e. 0.285
161. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are five colonies per dish What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
three or fewer colonies?
a. 0.238 b. 0.433 c. 0.125 d. 0.265 e. 0.285
162. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are six colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
four or fewer colonies?
a. 0.238 b. 0.433 c. 0.125 d. 0.265 e. 0.285
163. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a standard deviation of 3. What is P(X < 5)?
a. 0.055 b. 0.815 c. 0.238 d. 0.440 e. 0.151
164. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 3. What is P(X < 5)?
a. 0.055 b. 0.815 c. 0.238 d. 0.440 e. 0.151
165. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a standard deviation of 2. What is P(X < 3)?
a. 0.055 b. 0.815 c. 0.238 d. 0.440 e. 0.151
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166. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 5. What is P(X < 5)?
a. 0.055 b. 0.815 c. 0.238 d. 0.440 e. 0.151
167. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 6. What is P(X < 4)?
a. 0.055 b. 0.815 c. 0.238 d. 0.440 e. 0.151
168. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(3.5), what is P(X ≤ 5)?
a. 0.858 b. 0.321 c. 0.446 d. 0.062 e. 0.529
169. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(3.5), what is P(X ≤ 2)?
a. 0.858 b. 0.321 c. 0.446 d. 0.062 e. 0.529
170. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(6), what is P(X ≤ 5)?
a. 0.858 b. 0.321 c. 0.446 d. 0.062 e. 0.529
171. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(6), what is P(X ≤ 2)?
a. 0.858 b. 0.321 c. 0.446 d. 0.062 e. 0.529
172. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(5.5), what is P(X ≤ 5)?
a. 0.858 b. 0.321 c. 0.446 d. 0.062 e. 0.529
173. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 10 cars per hour. What is the probability that
less than 4 cars arrive in 30 minutes?
a. 0.265 b. 0.433 c. 0.857 d. 0.532 e. 0.406
174. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 8 cars per hour. What is the probability
that less than 4 cars arrive in 30 minutes?
a. 0.265 b. 0.433 c. 0.857 d. 0.532 e. 0.406
175. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 6 cars per hour. What is the probability that
less than 4 cars arrive in 20 minutes?
a. 0.265 b. 0.433 c. 0.857 d. 0.532 e. 0.406
176. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 9 cars per hour. What is the probability that
less than 5 cars arrive in 30 minutes?
a. 0.265 b. 0.433 c. 0.857 d. 0.532 e. 0.406
177. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 12 cars per hour. What is the probability that
less than 2 cars arrive in 10 minutes?
a. 0.265 b. 0.433 c. 0.857 d. 0.532 e. 0.406
178. A local police station receives on average 8 emergency telephone calls per hour. What is the probability
that the station will get at least 4 calls per hour?
a. 0.039 b. 0.094 c. 0.905 d. 0.958. e. 0.963
179. Seventy (70) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 90-day period. What is the
probability that there will be more than one accident during a week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.9722 b. 0.9857 c. 0.9561 d. 0.9756 e. 0.9844
180. Eighty (80) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 90-day period. What is the
probability that there will be more than one accident during a week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.9722 b. 0.9857 c. 0.9561 d. 0.9756 e. 0.9844
181. Seventy (70) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 100-day period. What is
the probability that there will be more than one accident during a week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.9722 b. 0.9857 c. 0.9561 d. 0.9756 e. 0.9844
182. Eighty (80) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 100-day period. What is the
probability that there will be more than one accident during a week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.9722 b. 0.9857 c. 0.9561 d. 0.9756 e. 0.9844
183. Seventy (70) accidents are reported on a particular stretch of highway over a 80-day period. What is
the probability that there will be more than one accident during a week (assume a seven-day week)?
a. 0.9722 b. 0.9857 c. 0.9561 d. 0.9756 e. 0.9844
184. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are four colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
at least two colonies?
a. 0.908 b. 0.762 c. 0.960 d. 0.875 e. 0.849

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 185. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are four colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
at least three colonies?
a. 0.908 b. 0.762 c. 0.960 d. 0.875 e. 0.849
186. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are five colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
at least two colonies?
a. 0.908 b. 0.762 c. 0.960 d. 0.875 e. 0.849
187. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are five colonies per dish What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
at least three colonies?
a. 0.908 b. 0.762 c. 0.960 d. 0.875 e. 0.849
188. In checking river water samples for bacteria, water is placed in a culture medium in order to grow
colonies of bacteria. The number of colonies seen in a dish is a random variable, X. Scientists know that
on average there are six colonies per dish. What is the probability that the next dish studied will contain
at least four colonies?
a. 0.908 b. 0.762 c. 0.960 d. 0.875 e. 0.849
189. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a standard deviation of 3. What is P(X > 5)?
a. 0.884 b. 0.084 c. 0.567 d. 0.384 e.0.715
190. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 3. What is P(X > 5)?
a. 0.884 b. 0.084 c. 0.567 d. 0.384 e.0.715
191. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a standard deviation of 2. What is P(X > 3)?
a. 0.884 b. 0.084 c. 0.567 d. 0.384 e.0.715
192. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 5. What is P(X >
a. 0.884 b. 0.084 c. 0.567 d. 0.384 e.0.715
193. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 6. What is P(X > 4)?
a. 0.884 b. 0.084 c. 0.567 d. 0.384 e.0.715
194. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(3.5), what is P(X ≥ 5)?
a. 0.275 b. 0.864 c. 0.715 d. 0.983 e. 0.642
195. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(3.5), what is P(X ≥ 2)?
b. 0.275 b. 0.864 c. 0.715 d. 0.983 e. 0.642
196. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(6), what is P(X ≥ 5)?
c. 0.275 b. 0.864 c. 0.715 d. 0.983 e. 0.642
197. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(6), what is P(X ≥ 2)?
d. 0.275 b. 0.864 c. 0.715 d. 0.983 e. 0.642
198. If X is a random variable such that X ~ P(5.5), what is P(X ≥ 5)?
e. 0.275 b. 0.864 c. 0.715 d. 0.983 e. 0.642
199. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 10 cars per hour. What is the probability that
more than 4 cars arrive in 30 minutes?
a. 0.560 b. 0.371 c. 0.053 d. 0.297 e. 0.323
200. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 8 cars per hour. What is the probability that
more than 4 cars arrive in 30 minutes?
b. 0.560 b. 0.371 c. 0.053 d. 0.297 e. 0.323
201. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 6 cars per hour. What is the probability that
more than 4 cars arrive in 20 minutes?
c. 0.560 b. 0.371 c. 0.053 d. 0.297 e. 0.323
202. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 9 cars per hour. What is the probability that
more than 5 cars arrive in 30 minutes?
d. 0.560 b. 0.371 c. 0.053 d. 0.297 e. 0.323

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203. Cars arrive at an Engen petrol station at an average rate of 12 cars per hour. What is the probability that
more than 2 cars arrive in 10 minutes?
a. 0.560 b. 0.371 c. 0.053 d. 0.297 e. 0.323
204. A computer that operates continuously breaks down randomly on average 6 times per month (4 weeks).
What is the expected number of breakdowns in 3 weeks?
a. 4.5 b. 6.0 c. 3.0 d. 12.0 e. 9.0
205. A computer that operates continuously breaks down randomly on average 6 times per month (4 weeks).
What is the expected number of breakdowns in one month?
a. 4.5 b. 6.0 c. 3.0 d. 12.0 e. 9.0
206. A computer that operates continuously breaks down randomly on average 6 times per month (4 weeks).
What is the expected number of breakdowns in 2 weeks?
a. 4.5 b. 6.0 c. 3.0 d. 12.0 e. 9.0
207. A computer that operates continuously breaks down randomly on average 6 times per month (4 weeks).
What is the expected number of breakdowns in 8 weeks?
a. 4.5 b. 6.0 c. 3.0 d. 12.0 e. 9.0
208. A computer that operates continuously breaks down randomly on average 6 times per month (4 weeks).
What is the expected number of breakdowns in 6 weeks?
a. 4.5 b. 6.0 c. 3.0 d. 12.0 e. 9.0
209. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. Each tourist is
required to pay a cover charge of $10 per head. The cover charge is the only source of income for the
game reserve. What is the expected income for the game reserve in an 8-hour day?
a. $960 b. $1920 c. $ 6720 d. $ 13440 e. $2880
210. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. Each tourist is
required to pay a cover charge of $20 per head. The cover charge is the only source of income for the
game reserve. What is the expected income for the game reserve in an 8-hour day?
a. $960 b. $1920 c. $ 6720 d. $ 13440 e. $2880
211. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. Each tourist is
required to pay a cover charge of $10 per head. The cover charge is the only source of income for the
game reserve. What is the expected income for the game reserve in a week (consisting of 7 days for
which the reserve is open 8 hours per day)?
a. $960 b. $1920 c. $ 6720 d. $ 13440 e. $2880
212. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. Each tourist is
required to pay a cover charge of R20 per head. The cover charge is the only source of income for the
game reserve. What is the expected income for the game reserve in a week (consisting of 7 days for
which the reserve is open 8 hours per day)?
a.$960 b. $1920 c. $ 6720 d. $ 13440 e. $2880
213. Tourists enter a popular game reserve at an average rate of one every five minutes. Each tourist is
required to pay a cover charge of $10 per head. The cover charge is the only source of income for the
game reserve. What is the expected income for the game reserve over three 8hour days?
a. $960 b. $1920 c. $ 6720 d. $ 13440 e. $2880
214. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a standard deviation of 3. What is the expected value
of X?
a. 9 b. 3 c. 16 d. 5 e. 4
215. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 3. What is the expected value of X?
b. 9 b. 3 c. 16 d. 5 e. 4
216. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a standard deviation of 4. What is the expected value
of X?
c. 9 b. 3 c. 16 d. 5 e. 4
217. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a variance of 5. What is the expected value of X?
d. 9 b. 3 c. 16 d. 5 e. 4
218. A random variable, X, follows a Poisson distribution with a standard deviation of 2. What is the expected value
of X?
e. 9 b. 3 c. 16 d. 5 e. 4
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219. Cars arrive at a tollgate at an average rate of 12 cars per hour. If a fee of R5.50 is required per car to be
allowed to pass through the tollgate, what are the expected earnings of the tollgate in a 12-hour period?
a. $792 b. $936 c. $ 528 d. $660 e. $ 1584
220. Cars arrive at a tollgate at an average rate of 12 cars per hour. If a fee of $6.50 is required per car to be
allowed to pass through the tollgate, what are the expected earnings of the tollgate in a 12-hour period?
a. $792 b. $936 c. $ 528 d. $660 e. $ 1584
221. Cars arrive at a tollgate at an average rate of 12 cars per hour. If a fee of $5.50 is required per car to be
allowed to pass through the tollgate, what are the expected earnings of the tollgate in a 8-hour period?
a. $792 b. $936 c. $ 528 d. $660 e. $ 1584
222. Cars arrive at a tollgate at an average rate of 10 cars per hour. If a fee of $5.50 is required per car to be
allowed to pass through the tollgate, what are the expected earnings of the tollgate in a 12-hour period?
a. $792 b. $936 c. $ 528 d. $660 e. $ 1584
223. Cars arrive at a tollgate at an average rate of 12 cars per hour. If a fee of R5.50 is required per car to be
allowed to pass through the tollgate, what are the expected earnings of the tollgate in a 24-hour period?
a. $792 b. $936 c. $ 528 d. $660 e. $ 1584
224. X is a random variable such that X ~ P(4). What is the standard deviation of X?
a. 2 b. 4 c. 3 d. 5 e. 10
225. X is a random variable such that X ~ P(16). What is the standard deviation of X?
a. 2 b. 4 c. 3 d. 5 e. 10
226. X is a random variable such that X ~ P(9). What is the standard deviation of X?
a. 2 b. 4 c. 3 d. 5 e. 10
227. X is a random variable such that X ~ P(25). What is the standard deviation of X?
a. 2 b. 4 c. 3 d. 5 e. 10
228. X is a random variable such that X ~ P(100). What is the standard deviation of X?
a. 2 b. 4 c. 3 d. 5 e. 10
229. Cars arrive at a BP petrol station at an average rate of 32 cars per hour. What is the standard deviation
of the number of cars that arrive within half an hour?
a. 4 b. 16 c. 2 d. 5 e. 25
230. Cars arrive at a BP petrol station at an average rate of 32 cars per hour. What is the variance of the
number of cars that arrive within half an hour?
a. 4 b. 16 c. 2 d. 5 e. 25
231. Cars arrive at a BP petrol station at an average rate of 16 cars per hour. What is the standard deviation
of the number of cars that arrive within quarter of an hour?
a. 4 b. 16 c. 2 d. 5 e. 25
232. Cars arrive at a BP petrol station at an average rate of 50 cars per hour. What is the standard deviation
of the number of cars that arrive within half an hour?
a. 4 b. 16 c. 2 d. 5 e. 25
233. Cars arrive at a BP petrol station at an average rate of 50 cars per hour. What is the variance of the
number of cars that arrive within half an hour?
a. 4 b. 16 c. 2 d. 5 e. 25
234. A local police station receives on average 8 emergency telephone calls per hour. What is the standard
deviation of the number of calls received in half an hour?
a. 4.00 b. 16.0 c. 8.00 d. 2.83 e. 2.00
235. In a public library, books are lost and have to be replaced at an average rate of 2.75 books per week.
What is the variance of the number of books lost in a two-week period?
a. 2.75 b. 11.00 c. 5.50 d. 8.25 e. none of the above
236. Which of the following cannot be modelled by a Poisson distribution?
a. The number of children watching a movie at a given point in time
b. The number of telephone calls received by a switchboard in an hour
c. The number of customers arriving at a petrol station on Christmas day
d. The number of bacteria found per square metre of soil
e. The number of patients arriving at a hospital in a week

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