Random variables

Practice sheet

Fresh questions from the whole chapter, to do on paper.

To save a PDF, choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog.

  1. A random variable X takes the values 0, 1 and 2, with P(X = 0) = 29/100 and P(X = 1) = 13/100. Find P(X = 2).
  2. X takes the values 0, 1, 2 with P(X = 0) = 25/100 and P(X = 1) = 15/100. Find P(X ≥ 1).
  3. Which list could be the probabilities of a random variable with three values?
    1. 0.1, 0.5 and 4/10
    2. 0.5, 0.5 and 0.1
    3. 0.8, 0.4 and −0.2
  4. X takes the values 0, 1, 2 with probabilities 51/100, 15/100 and 34/100. Find E(X).
  5. X = 1 with probability 7/10 and X = 0 otherwise. Find the standard deviation of X.
  6. A game costs 1 dollar. You win 9 dollars (net) with probability 1/7; otherwise you lose your dollar. Find your expected net gain, in dollars.
  7. X and Y are independent with SD(X) = 27 and SD(Y) = 36. Find SD(X + Y).
  8. X and Y are independent with SD(X) = 24 and SD(Y) = 10. Find SD(X − Y).
  9. SD(X) = 8. Let Y = 12 + 5X. Find SD(Y).
  10. A free throw is made with probability 1/6. In 5 independent shots, find P(exactly one is made).
  11. A seed sprouts with probability 1/4, independently. 6 seeds are planted. Find P(exactly two sprout).
  12. Which situation fits a binomial model?
    1. The number of heads in 9 tosses of a fair coin
    2. The number of tosses until the first head
    3. The number of aces in 9 cards dealt from one deck