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Exercises · Q10

Q.A random variable XX has probability mass function P(X=x)=x15P(X=x)=\dfrac{x}{15} for x=1,2,3,4,5x=1,2,3,4,5.

(i) Verify it is a valid p.m.f.
(ii) Find P(X≥3)P(X\ge 3).
(iii) Find E(X)E(X).
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(i) Validity. Each P(X=x)=x15>0P(X=x)=\tfrac{x}{15}>0, and

∑x=15x15=1+2+3+4+515=1515=1,\sum_{x=1}^{5}\frac{x}{15}=\frac{1+2+3+4+5}{15}=\frac{15}{15}=1,

so both conditions hold and it is a valid probability mass function.

(ii) P(X≥3)P(X\ge 3). This is P(3)+P(4)+P(5)P(3)+P(4)+P(5):

P(X≥3)=315+415+515=1215=45.P(X\ge3)=\frac{3}{15}+\frac{4}{15}+\frac{5}{15}=\frac{12}{15}=\frac{4}{5}.

(iii) E(X)E(X). Using E(X)=∑x P(X=x)=∑x⋅x15=115∑x2E(X)=\sum x\,P(X=x)=\sum x\cdot\tfrac{x}{15}=\tfrac{1}{15}\sum x^2:

E(X)=12+22+32+42+5215=1+4+9+16+2515=5515=113≈3.67.E(X)=\frac{1^2+2^2+3^2+4^2+5^2}{15}=\frac{1+4+9+16+25}{15}=\frac{55}{15}=\frac{11}{3}\approx 3.67.

Independent check. P(X≥3)=1−P(X≤2)=1−1+215=1−315=1215=45P(X\ge3)=1-P(X\le2)=1-\tfrac{1+2}{15}=1-\tfrac{3}{15}=\tfrac{12}{15}=\tfrac45 ✓; and 5515=113\tfrac{55}{15}=\tfrac{11}{3} lies between the smallest value 11 and largest 55, as any mean must.

✓Final answer

(i) Valid, since ∑P=1\sum P=1; (ii) P(X≥3)=45P(X\ge3)=\dfrac{4}{5}; (iii) E(X)=113≈3.67E(X)=\dfrac{11}{3}\approx 3.67.

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