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Question 20 of 37
Q.

A random variable X has the following probability distribution:

xx1234567
P(x)P(x)kk2k2k2k2k3k3kk2k^22k22k^27k2+k7k^2 + k
Find:
kk
P(X<3)P(X < 3)
P(X>4)P(X > 4)
Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2023Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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∑P(x)=1\sum P(x) = 1 gives 10k2+9k−1=0⇒k=11010k^2 + 9k - 1 = 0 \Rightarrow k = \tfrac{1}{10}; then P(X<3)=3k=0.3P(X<3) = 3k = 0.3 and P(X>4)=10k2+k=0.2P(X>4) = 10k^2 + k = 0.2.

Step 1 — Find kk. For a valid probability distribution, ∑P(x)=1\sum P(x) = 1:

k+2k+2k+3k+k2+2k2+(7k2+k)=1k + 2k + 2k + 3k + k^2 + 2k^2 + (7k^2 + k) = 1

9k+10k2=1  ⇒  10k2+9k−1=09k + 10k^2 = 1 \;\Rightarrow\; 10k^2 + 9k - 1 = 0

Solving the quadratic:

k=−9±81+4020=−9±1120k = \frac{-9 \pm \sqrt{81 + 40}}{20} = \frac{-9 \pm 11}{20}

So k=220=0.1k = \dfrac{2}{20} = 0.1 or k=−1k = -1. A probability cannot be negative, hence

k=110=0.1k = \frac{1}{10} = 0.1

Step 2 — P(X<3)P(X < 3): this is P(1)+P(2)P(1) + P(2): …

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