1.

The continuous random variable X has probability density function f (x) where

 e  ke kx , 0  x 1
fk(x) = 
 0, otherwise

(a) Show that k = 1.

(3)

(b) What is the probability that the random variable X has a value that lies between
1 and 1 ? Give your answer in terms of e.
4 2
(2)

(c) Find the mean and variance of the distribution. Give your answers exactly, in terms of e.
(6)

The random variable X above represents the lifetime, in years, of a certain type of battery.

(d) Find the probability that a battery lasts more than six months.
(2)

A calculator is fitted with three of these batteries. Each battery fails independently of the other
two. Find the probability that at the end of six months

(e) none of the batteries has failed;

(2)

(f) exactly one of the batteries has failed.

(2)
(Total 17 marks)

2. The lifetime of a particular component of a solar cell is Y years, where Y is a continuous random
variable with probability density function

 0 when y  0
f ( y)  
0.5e
- y/2
when y  0.

(a) Find the probability, correct to four significant figures, that a given component fails
within six months.

Each solar cell has three components which work independently and the cell will continue to run
if at least two of the components continue to work.
(3)

(b) Find the probability that a solar cell fails within six months.
(4)
(Total 7 marks)

1
3. A continuous random variable X has probability density function

 4

f ( x)    (1  x 2 ) , for 0  x  1,
 0,

elsewhere

Find E(X).

(Total 3 marks)

4. The probability density function f(x), of a continuous random variable X is defined by

1
 x(4 – x 2 ), 0  x  2
f(x) =  4
 0, otherwise.

Calculate the median value of X.

(Total 6 marks)
5. The discrete random variable X has the following probability distribution.

k
 , x  1, 2, 3, 4
P(X = x) =  x
0, otherwise

Calculate

(a) the value of the constant k;

(b) E(X).

(Total 6 marks)

6. Let f(x) be the probability density function for a random variable X, where

kx 2 , for 0  x  2
f(x) 
0, otherwise

3
(a) Show that k = .
8
(2)

(b) Calculate

(i) E(X);

(ii) the median of X.

(6)
(Total 8 marks)
7. A continuous random variable X has probability density function given by

2
 f(x) = k (2x – x2), for 0  x  2
f(x) = 0, elsewhere.

(a) Find the value of k.

(b) Find P(0.25  x  0.5).

(Total 6 marks)

8. The continuous random variable X has probability density function

1
f(x) = x(1 + x2) for 0  x  2,
6
f(x) = 0 otherwise.

(a) Sketch the graph of f for 0  x  2.

(2)

(b) Write down the mode of X.

(1)

(c) Find the mean of X.

(4)

(d) Find the median of X.

(5)
(Total 12 marks)
9. The probability density function f(x) of the continuous random variable X is defined on the
interval [0, a] by

1x for 0  x  3.

f ( x)   8
27 for 3  x  a.
 2
 8x

Find the value of a.

(Total 6 marks)