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Exercise 11.3 · Q1

Q.The probability density function of XX is given by f(x)={kxe−2xx>00x≤0f(x)=\begin{cases}kxe^{-2x} & x>0\\ 0 & x\le0\end{cases}. Find the value of kk.

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✓ Free question

Use the standard integral ∫0∞xe−ax dx=1a2\int_0^\infty xe^{-ax}\,dx=\dfrac1{a^2} with a=2a=2, then apply Theorem 11.2(ii): total area under ff must equal 11.

Step 1. Set up the normalisation condition. ∫0∞kxe−2x dx=1\displaystyle\int_0^\infty kxe^{-2x}\,dx=1.

Step 2. Evaluate the integral. Using ∫0∞xe−ax dx=1a2\int_0^\infty xe^{-ax}\,dx=\dfrac1{a^2} with a=2a=2: ∫0∞xe−2x dx=122=14\displaystyle\int_0^\infty xe^{-2x}\,dx=\dfrac1{2^2}=\dfrac14.

Step 3. Solve for kk. k⋅14=1⇒k=4k\cdot\dfrac14=1\Rightarrow k=4.

✓Final answer

k=4k=4.

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