Lecture 7

Empirical Distribution

• Usually in experiment involving a continuous

random variable the density function f(x) is
unknown and its form is assumed. For the choice
of f(x) to be reasonably valid, good judgment on
base on all available information is needed in its
selection. Statistical data, generated in large
masses can be very useful in studying the
behavior of the distribution if presented in the
form of a relative frequency distribution. Such
arrangement is obtained by grouping the data
into classes and determining the proportion of
measurements in each of the classes.
• To illustrate the construction of a relative
frequency distribution, consider the following
data which represents the lives of 40 similar
car batteries recorded to the nearest tenth of
a year. The batteries were guaranteed to last
3years.
Car battery lives

2.2 4.1 3.5 4.5 3.2 3.7 3.0 2.6

3.4 1.6 3.1 3.3 3.8 3.1 4.7 3.7
2.5 4.3 3.4 3.6 2.9 3.3 3.9 3.1
3.3 3.1 3.7 4.4 3.2 4.1 1.9 3.4
4.7 3.8 3.2 2.6 3.9 3.0 4.2 3.5
Relative frequency distribution of battery lives

Class interval Class Frequency f Relative

midpoint frequency
1.5 – 1.9 1.7 2 0.05
2.0 – 2.4 2.2 1 0.025
2.5 – 2.9 2.7 4 0.100
3.0 – 3.4 3.2 15 0.375
3.5 – 3.9 3.7 10 0.250
4.0 – 4.4 4.2 5 0.125
4.5 – 4.9 4.7 3 0.075
Relative Cumulative frequency distribution of battery live

Class boundaries Relative cumulative

frequency
Less than 1.45 0.000
Less than 1.95 0.050
Less than 2.45 0.075
Less than 2.95 0.175
Less than 3.45 0.550
Less than 3.95 0.800
Less than 4.45 0.925
Less than 4.95 1.000
 Problem Set (2)

• (1) Find the probability distribution for the number of jazz

records when four records are selected at random from a
collection consisting of five jazz records, two classic
records, and three country records. Express your results by
means of a formula.
• (2) A shipment of six television sets containing two
defective sets. A hotel makes a random purchase of three
of the sets. If X is the number of defective sets purchased
by the hotel, find the probability distribution of X. Express
the results graphically as a probability histogram.
• (3) Find the cumulative distribution of the random variable
X in problem (2). Using F(x), find (a) P(X =1), (b) P(0 ˂ X ≤ 2)
• (4) A continuous random variable X that can
assume values between x=2 and x = 5 has a
density function given by f(x) = (2/27)(1+x). Find
(a) P(X˂4) (b) P(3˂X˂4)
• (5) Consider the density function
• f(x) =k√x, 0˂x˂1
• = 0 otherwise
• (a) evaluate k
• (b) Find F(x) and use it to evaluate P(0.3˂X˂0.6).
(6) The following scores represent the final examination
grade for elementary statistics course:
Using 10 intervals with the lowest starting at 9,
(a) Set up a relative frequency distribution.
(b) Construct a relative frequency histogram.
(c) Construct a smoothed relative cumulative frequency distribution.
(d) Estimate the first quartile and the seven decile.

23 60 79 32 57 74 52 70 82 36
80 77 81 95 41 65 92 85 55 76
52 10 64 75 78 25 80 98 81 67
41 71 83 54 64 72 88 62 74 43
60 78 89 76 84 48 84 90 15 79
34 67 17 82 69 74 63 80 85 61
• (7) Two random variables have the joint
density given by
• f(x,y) = 4xy, 0˂x˂1, 0˂y˂1
• = 0 elsewhere
• (a) Find the probability that 0≤x≤3/4 and
1/8≤y≤1/2
• (b) Find the probability that Y˃X
(7) Two random variables have the joint density given by
f(x,y) = 4xy, 0˂x˂1, 0˂y˂1
= 0 elsewhere
(a) Find the probability that 0≤x≤3/4 and 1/8≤y≤1/2
(b) Find the probability that Y˃X

(8) Suppose that X and Y have the following joint probability distribution:
Evaluate the marginal and conditional probability distribution.
X 1 2 3
y
1 0 1/6 1/12
2 1/5 1/9 0
3 2/15 1/4 1/18
(9) The joint density function of the random variables X and Y are given by
f(x,y) = 6x, 0˂x˂1, 0˂y˂1-x
= 0 elsewhere
(a) Show that X and Y are not independent
(b) Find P(X˃0.3 І Y =0.5).
(10) In a gambling game a man is paid $2 if he draws a jack or queen
and $5 if he draws a king or ace from an ordinary deck of 52 playing cards.
If he draws any other cards, he loses. How much he should pay to play
if the game is fair?

(11) Let X be a random variable with the following probability distribution:

Find E(X) and E(X2) and then, using the laws of expectations ,evaluate
(a) E{(2X+1)2}. (b) E[(X-E(X))2]

x -3 6 9
P(X=x) 1/6 1/2 1/3

(12) If a random variable X is such that E[(X-1)2] = 10, E[(X-2)2] =6, Find μ and σ.
(13) Find the covariance of the random variables X and Y having the joint probability
density function
f(x,y) = x + y, 0˂x˂1, 0˂y˂1
= 0 elsewhere