Tutorial 5

( Discrete Probability Distributions)

1. Compute the mean and variance of the following discrete probability distribution

x p(x)
0 0.2
1 0.4
2 0.3
3 0.1

2. Compute the mean and variance of the following discrete probability distribution

x P(x)
2 0.5
8 0.3
10 0.2

3. There tables listed below show “ random Variables” and their probability
distribution

x p(x) x P(x) x p(x)

5 0.3 5 0.1 5 0.5
10 0.3 10 0.3 10 0.3
15 0.2 15 0.2 15 -0.2
a)
20 0.4 20 0.4 20 0.4

Which is it?
b) Using the correct probability distribution, find the probability that x is:
i) exactly 15
ii) No more than 10
iii) More than 5
c) Compute the mean, variance and standard deviation of this distribution
4. Which of these variables are discrete and which are continuous random variables?
a) The number of new accounts established by a salesperson in a year
b) The time between customer arrivals to a bank ATM.
c) The number of customers in Big Nick’s barber Shop
d) The amount of fuel in your car’s gas tank last week
e) The number of minorities on a jury
f) The outside temperature today

5. Dan Woodward is the owner and manager of Dan’s Truck Stop. Dan offers free
refills on all coffee orders. He gathered the following information on coffee
 refills. Compute the mean, variance and standard deviation for the distribution of
number refills.

Refills Percent
0 30
1 40
2 20
3 10

6. The Director of admission at Kinzua University in Nova Scotia estimated the

distribution of student admissions for the fall semester on the basis of past
experience. What is the expected number of admissions for the fall semester?
Compute the variance and the standard deviation of the number admissions.

Admissions Probability
1,000 0.6
1,200 0.3
1,500 0.1

7. The following table lists the probability distribution for cash prizes in a lottery
conducted at Lawson’s Department Store

Prize($) Probability
0 0.45
10 0.3
100 0.2
500 0.05

If you buy a single ticket , What is the probability that you win:
a). Exactly $100?
b). At least $10?
c). No more than $100?
d). Compute the mean, variance, and standard deviation for this distribution

8. You are asked to match three songs with the performers who made those songs
famous. If you guess, the probability distribution for the number of correct
matches is:
Probability 0.333 0.5 0 0.167
Number of correct 0 1 2 3

What is the probability you get:

a). Exactly one correct?
b). At least one correct?
c). Exactly two correct?
d). Compute the mean, variance and standard deviation of this distribution.