13 HL Note 8.

2 Continuous Distributions

Continuous Uniform Distribution (Rectangular Distribution)

If X is a continuous uniform random variable

y

with p.d.f. f(x) defined for a ≤ x ≤ b

Then Area = 1 , so the height of the rectangle

mustbe as (b − a)× = 1,
so:

A continuous r.v. X having p.d.f. f(x) where x

f(x) = for a ≤ x≤ b where a and b are

constants is said to follow a uniform distribution. X ~ U(a,b)

Formula Book:

Example 1:

If X ~ U(2,7) , find the p.d.f. and P(4 ≤ x ≤ 6)

f(x) = = 2≤x≤7

P(4 ≤ x ≤ 6) = 2 × =
x
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Exercise: If X ~ U(a,b) show: (a) E[X] = (b) Var[X] =

Exercise: Crawshaw and Chambers page 353 Exercise 6f

Try 2, 5 and 6 now.

The Exponential Distribution

A continuous r.v. X having a p.d.f f(x) where

f(x) = λe−λx for x ≥0 , λ a positive constant

issaid to follow an exponential distribution. X ~ Exp( ).

y
λ
The Graph of f(x) = λe−λx is shown
The exponential distribution can be thought
of as the continuous equivalent of the
Poisson distribution. e.g. the number of cars
arriving at NIST during one minute could
be modeled as Poisson while the time
between arrivals could be modeled as
exponential. x

Note 1: P(X < a) =

=
= 1  e−λa and hence P(X > a) = e−λa

i.e. the cumulative density function is P(X < x) = F(x) = 1  e−λx , x≥0

Note 2: P(X > a + b | X > a) =

=
=
 =
= e−λb = P(X >b)

Exercise:

1. Show that f(x) = λe−λx for x ≥ 0 is a p.d.f

2. If X ~ Exp(λ) , show that: (i) E[X] = (ii) Var[X] =

Examples:

1. The lifetime of one type of light bulb follows an exponential distribution

with mean life time of 1000 hours.
(a) Find the probability a bulb is still working after 1300 hours
(b) Find P(X > 1500 | X > 1300)
(c) Find the standard deviation of the lifetime of this type of bulb

E[X] = 1000 = ⇒ λ= 0.001 and ∴ f(x) = 0.001e−0.001x x ≥ 0

(a) P(X > 1300) = e−0.001×1300 = 0.273 (3 sf)

(b) P(X > 1500 | X > 1300)= P(X > 200) = e−0.001×200 = 0.819 (3 sf)

(c) Var[X] = ⇒ SD = ∴ SD = 1000 hours

2. On Sukhumwhit road, accidents occur at random at the rate of 3 per day.

Find the probability that, after a particular accident has occurred, at least
one day goes by without another.

If Y is the number of accidents in one day then Y ~ Po(3)

If X is the time in days between successive accidents then

E[X] = = ⇒ λ= 3 and hence f(x) = 3e−3x x ≥ 0

 P(X > 1) = e−3 = 0.0498

Exercise 6G Page 362 Crawshaw and Chambers

Formula Book: