IIT B OMBAY, D EPT. C HEMICAL E NGG .

Mathematical and Statistical Methods in

Chemical Engineering
CL 602 (Aug-Dec 2015)

November 13, 2015

P RACTISE PROBLEMS
1. The length of human pregnancies from conception to birth approximates a normal distribution with a mean of 266 days and a standard deviation of 16 days. What proportion of all pregnancies will last between 240 and 270 days (roughly between 8 and 9
months)?
2. The odd moments of a normal distribution are all zero. Why?
3. Derive the Poisson distribution from the binomial distribution (You may want to take
the help of internet for this. Poisson distribution will not be a part of the exam.)
4. Ten percent of computer parts produced by a certain supplier are defective. What is the
probability that a sample of 10 parts contains more than 3 defective ones?
5. For the binomial distribution discussed in the class, plot the distribution P N versus n R
when N = 10, p = q = 0.5 and for p = 0.75, q = 0.25. For what value of n R is the probability maximum in both the cases. Is the distribution symmetric about the maxima in
both cases? Comment on your answer.
6. Consider the p.d.e (nonlinear diffusion equation) u t = (uu
x )x with boundary and iniZ+
u(x, t )d x = 1 , t > 0.
tial conditions u(, t ) = 0 , t > 0 and u(x, 0) = (x) with

Show that this nonlinear p.d.e admits a similarity solution when transformed into variables of the form u = t 1/3 g () and xt 1/3 . Derive the equation (o.d.e) and boundary conditions for g ().