Comprehension

Let \( X \) denote the number of hours a Class 12 student studies during a randomly selected school day. The probability that \( X \) can take the values \( x_i \), for an unknown constant \( k \):

\[ P(X = x_i) = \begin{cases} 0.1, & {if } x_i = 0, \\ kx_i, & {if } x_i = 1 { or } 2, \\ k(5 - x_i), & {if } x_i = 3 { or } 4. \end{cases} \]
Question: 1

Find the value of \( k \).

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In probability distributions, the sum of all probabilities must be equal to 1. Use this property to find unknown parameters.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The sum of all probabilities must equal 1: \[P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3) + P(X = 4) = 1.\]Step 2: Input the given probability values: \[P(X = 0) = 0.1, \quad P(X = 1) = k(1), \quad P(X = 2) = k(2), \]\[P(X = 3) = k(5 - 3), \quad P(X = 4) = k(5 - 4).\]Step 3: Construct the equation: \[0.1 + k(1) + k(2) + k(2) + k(1) = 1.\]Step 4: Simplify the equation: \[0.1 + 6k = 1.\]Step 5: Calculate the value of \( k \): \[k = \frac{1 - 0.1}{6} = \frac{0.9}{6} = 0.15.\]
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Question: 2

Determine the probability that the student studied for at least 2 hours.

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For cumulative probability calculations, sum up the probabilities of all values greater than or equal to the given threshold.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Calculate the probability of studying for at least 2 hours: \[P(X \geq 2) = P(X = 2) + P(X = 3) + P(X = 4).\] Step 2: Insert values from the probability distribution: \[P(X \geq 2) = k(2) + k(5 - 3) + k(5 - 4).\] Step 3: Substitute \( k = 0.15 \): \[P(X \geq 2) = 0.15(2) + 0.15(2) + 0.15(1).\] Step 4: Perform the calculation: \[P(X \geq 2) = 0.3 + 0.3 + 0.15 = 0.75.\] The probability of the student studying for at least 2 hours is 0.75.
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Question: 3

Determine the probability that the student studied for at most 2 hours.

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For cumulative probability calculations, sum up the probabilities of all values less than or equal to the given threshold.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Calculate the probability of studying at most 2 hours: \[ P(X \leq 2) = P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2). \] Step 2: Insert given values: \[ P(X \leq 2) = 0.1 + k(1) + k(2). \] Step 3: Use \( k = 0.15 \): \[ P(X \leq 2) = 0.1 + 0.15(1) + 0.15(2). \] Step 4: Final calculation: \[ P(X \leq 2) = 0.1 + 0.15 + 0.3 = 0.55. \] The probability of a student studying at most 2 hours is 0.55.

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Question: 4

A river near a small town floods and overflows twice in every 10 years on an average. Assuming that the Poisson distribution is appropriate, what is the mean expectation? Also, calculate the probability of 3 or less overflows and floods in a 10-year interval.
[Given \( e^{-2} = 0.13534 \)]

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For Poisson distribution problems, use the formula \( P(X = k) = \frac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{k!} \). To calculate \( P(X \leq k) \), sum the probabilities from \( P(X = 0) \) to \( P(X = k) \).
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The Poisson distribution is defined by the formula: \[ P(X = k) = \frac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{k!} \]. Here, \( \lambda \) represents the average rate of occurrence, \( k \) denotes the number of occurrences, and \( e \) is the base of the natural logarithm.
Step 2: Mean expectation (\( \lambda \)): The average number of floods observed over a 10-year period is given as \( \lambda = 2 \). 
Step 3: Probability of 3 or fewer overflows (\( P(X \leq 3) \)): This is calculated by summing the probabilities of 0, 1, 2, and 3 overflows: \[ P(X \leq 3) = P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3). \] Applying the Poisson formula for each case: - For \( P(X = 0) \): \[ P(X = 0) = \frac{2^0 e^{-2}}{0!} = \frac{1 \cdot 0.13534}{1} = 0.13534. \] - For \( P(X = 1) \): \[ P(X = 1) = \frac{2^1 e^{-2}}{1!} = \frac{2 \cdot 0.13534}{1} = 0.27068. \] - For \( P(X = 2) \): \[ P(X = 2) = \frac{2^2 e^{-2}}{2!} = \frac{4 \cdot 0.13534}{2} = 0.27068. \] - For \( P(X = 3) \): \[ P(X = 3) = \frac{2^3 e^{-2}}{3!} = \frac{8 \cdot 0.13534}{6} = 0.18045. \] 
Step 4: Summing the individual probabilities yields the total probability: \[ P(X \leq 3) = P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3). \] Substituting the calculated values: \[ P(X \leq 3) = 0.13534 + 0.27068 + 0.27068 + 0.18045 = 0.85715. \] 
Final Answers: - Mean expectation: \( \lambda = 2 \). - Probability of 3 or fewer overflows: \( P(X \leq 3) = 0.85715 \), which is approximately \( 85.72\% \).

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