Q.The probability density function of X is given by f(x)={kxe−2x0x>0x≤0. Find the value of k.
Concept understanding — Probability Density Function & Cumulative Distribution
Cumulative distribution function (both cases). For any random variable X, the cdf F(x)=P(X≤x) is defined for every real x.
- Discrete (Definition 11.4): F(x)=∑xi≤xf(xi) — a step function, constant between support points and jumping by f(xi) at each xi. Conversion both ways: given the pmf, F is the running (cumulative) sum of f up to x; given F, the pmf is recovered as the jump size f(xi)=F(xi)−F(xi−1) at each point of discontinuity (with F(x0)=0 before the first jump) — the jump of F at a is exactly P(X=a).
- Continuous (Definition 11.7): F(x)=∫−∞xf(u)du — here F is everywhere continuous (no jumps, since no single point carries probability). Conversion both ways: given the pdf, integrate piece by piece to build F; given F, differentiate — f(x)=F′(x) wherever the derivative exists (at the finitely many "corner" points, f may be set to any convenient value, since it never affects an interval probability).
Probability density function (Definition 11.6): a non-negative f(x) is a pdf if P(a≤X≤b)=∫abf(x)dx for every a≤b. By Theorem 11.2, f is a valid pdf exactly when (i) f(x)≥0 everywhere, and (ii) ∫−∞∞f(x)dx=1 (total area =1) — the continuous analogue of Theorem 11.1, used the same way to solve for an unknown normalising constant. Because P(X=a)=∫aaf=0 always, the four inequality forms P(a≤X≤b)=P(a<X≤b)=P(a≤X<b)=P(a<X<b) all coincide for a continuous X.
Standing cdf properties. Both cases share: 0≤F(x)≤1; F non-decreasing; limx→−∞F(x)=0, limx→∞F(x)=1; and the interval formula P(a≤X≤b)=F(b)−F(a) (continuous case) or P(x1<X≤x2)=F(x2)−F(x1) (discrete case) — letting one avoid re-integrating/re-summing for every new interval once F is known.
Normalise: ∫0∞kxe−2xdx=k⋅221=1.
k=4.
Use the standard integral ∫0∞xe−axdx=a21 with a=2, then apply Theorem 11.2(ii): total area under f must equal 1.
Step 1. Set up the normalisation condition. ∫0∞kxe−2xdx=1.
Step 2. Evaluate the integral. Using ∫0∞xe−axdx=a21 with a=2: ∫0∞xe−2xdx=221=41.
Step 3. Solve for k. k⋅41=1⇒k=4.
k=4.
Normalise a Gamma-type pdf using ∫0∞xe−axdx=1/a2
- Using ∫xe−axdx=a1 (the exponential-only formula) instead of a21
- Forgetting the lower limit 0 changes the antiderivative evaluation
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If the function f(x)=121 for a<x<b, represents a probability density function of a continuous random variable X, then which of the following cannot be the value of a and b ?(a) 7 and 19(b) 0 and 12(c) 16 and 24(d) 5 and 17
›Reveal solutionSolution
The pdf normalization condition forces b−a=12; only one option violates this.
- For f(x)=121 on a<x<b to be a valid probability density function, the total probability must be 1: ∫abf(x)dx=1.
- ∫ab121dx=12b−a=1⇒b−a=12.
- Check (a) 7,19: 19−7=12 ✓. (b) 0,12: 12−0=12 ✓. (d) 5,17: 17−5=12 ✓.
- Check (c) 16,24: 24−16=8=12 — this pair fails the normalization condition, so it cannot be the value of a and b.
✓Final answer(c) 16 and 24
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(x)={2x,0,0≤x≤aotherwise is a probability density function of a random variable, then the value of a is :(a) 3(b) 1(c) 4(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
For f(x)=2x on [0,a] to be a valid pdf, the total probability must equal 1, which forces a=1.
- A probability density function must satisfy ∫−∞∞f(x)dx=1.
- Since f(x)=2x only on [0,a] and 0 elsewhere, this becomes ∫0a2xdx=1.
- Integrating, [x2]0a=1, i.e. a2−0=1.
- So a2=1, giving a=±1.
- Since a is an upper limit of the domain and must be positive, a=1.
✓Final answera=1 — option (b).
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which one of the following is not true in the case of discrete random variable X ?(a) x→∞limF(x)=F(∞)=1(b) 0≤F(x)≤1 for all x∈R(c) F(x) is real valued decreasing function.(d) x→−∞limF(x)=F(−∞)=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
A cumulative distribution function F(x) is always non-decreasing, never decreasing — so option (c) is the false statement.
- The distribution function of a discrete random variable X is F(x)=P(X≤x).
- By definition, as x increases the event {X≤x} can only include more outcomes, so F(x) is a non-decreasing (monotonically increasing) function of x — never decreasing.
- Since probabilities lie between 0 and 1, we always have 0≤F(x)≤1 for all x∈R — this makes (b) a true statement.
- As x→∞, all outcomes are included, so x→∞limF(x)=F(∞)=1 — this makes (a) a true statement.
- As x→−∞, no outcomes are included, so x→−∞limF(x)=F(−∞)=0 — this makes (d) a true statement.
- Only the claim that F(x) is a decreasing function contradicts the actual (non-decreasing) behaviour of a CDF.
✓Final answerThe false statement is that F(x) is a decreasing function — option (c).
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.A continuous random variable X has p.d.f. f(x), then :(a) 0≤f(x)≤1(b) f(x)≥0(c) f(x)≤1(d) 0<f(x)<1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recall the defining axioms of a probability density function: non-negativity everywhere, and total area 1 — there is no requirement that f(x)≤1, since density values can exceed 1 for narrow distributions.
- By definition, a function f(x) is a probability density function (p.d.f.) of a continuous random variable X if and only if:
- f(x)≥0 for all x∈R, and
- ∫−∞∞f(x)dx=1.
- Unlike a probability (which lies in [0,1]), a density value f(x) is not itself a probability — it is a rate, and can exceed 1 (e.g. a uniform density on a very short interval like [0,0.1] has constant height 10).
- So options that impose f(x)≤1 or 0≤f(x)≤1 (options a, c, d) are incorrect in general.
- The only universally true condition among the choices is f(x)≥0.
- This matches option (b).
✓Final answerThe correct condition is f(x)≥0.
- By definition, a function f(x) is a probability density function (p.d.f.) of a continuous random variable X if and only if:
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