RYERSON UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
MTH514-Probability and Stochastic Processes
Mid Term Test A. Fall 2014
Last Name (print):
First Name (print):
Student ID Number:
Signature:

Section (circle one)

Pablo Olivares 1 2 3 4 5

Date: Oct. 17th 2014, 4:10 p.m.-5:40 p.m.

Time Allowed: 90 min

For instructors
use only.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.

Verify that the test contains 10 pages, including this

cover page. A set of formulas is provided separately.
Do not detach any page.

Question

Value

MC

12

Answer all questions in the space provided. Clearly

explain your methods, and show all relevant steps in
the solution. An answer consisting only of the final
result will be given little or no credit.

15

20

15

20

18

Total

100

There are no part marks in the multiple-choice section

and only the answer in the box will be marked. The
correct response gets full marks, an incorrect response
or no response gets no marks.
A test written in pencil or erasable pen may be ineligible for re- marking.
Work up to two decimal places.
Scientific calculators are allowed.

Mark

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FALL 2014

Part A: Multiple choices

(2 marks each)
Circle the right answer:
I) Let A,B and C be three mutually exclusive random events with nonzero probability.
Given T
the following statements:
i)P (A SB) =
S P (A/B)P (B) = P (B/A)P (A)
ii) P (A TB C) = P (A)
S + P (B) + P (C)
iii) P (A B)c = P (Ac B c )
a. All three statements are true.
b. Only statement i) is true.
c. Only statements i) and ii) are true.
d. None of the above.

II)Let X be a random variable with E(X) = 2 and V ar(X) = 5 and Y = 5X + 3. Then

a. E(Y ) = 8 and V ar(X) = 5
b. E(Y ) = 13 and V ar(X) = 128
c. E(Y ) = 13 and V ar(X) =

128

d.None of the above.

III) Let X be a random variable with exponential probability law of parameter = 2,
then the probability P (X 1) is
a. e12
b.

1
2

c. 0
d. None of the above.

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FALL 2014

IV) How many distinct 4-letter words(having a meaning or not) can be made from
the word EKJB?
a.4
b.6
c.24
d. None of the above.
V) A fair coin is tossed 3 times. Assume toss are independent. Let Ai be the event ith
toss results in heads. Let B be the event: B = (A1 A2 ) Ac3 then the probability of B is:
a.P (B) = 3/8
b. P (B) = 1/2
c. P (B) = 5/8
d. None of the above.
VI)Let X be a binomial random variable with n = 1000 and p = 0.0001, then the
probability P (X = 2) can be computed approximately by:
a. e12
b.

1
e

c.

1
2e

d. None of the above.

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FALL 2014

Part B: Problems

Question 1 (Marks:15 (10,5))

In a research on the use of cellphones by 8 individuals, 5 persons use i-phones and
another 3 use the Samsung brand. Three persons are selected randomly and simultaneously
from the group. Find the probability that:
a) None of the selected individuals uses i-phone.
b) More persons in the sample use i-phone than Samsung.

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FALL 2014

Question 2 Marks:20(3,3,3,6,5)
Refer to Question 1 and assume the persons in the sample are selected at random and with
replacement. Define a random variable X as the number of persons in the sample that use
i-phones.
a) What is the probability distribution of X? Mention name, parameters and possible
values.
b) Write the probability mass function pX (x).
c) What is the expected value and standard deviation of X?
d) Find the probability that at least one selected person uses i-phone.
e) Define B as the random event at least one person uses i-phone. Find the conditional
probability mass function pX/B (x) at x = 1.

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FALL 2014

Question 3 Marks:15(5,3,4,3) The random variable X measures the number of failures

of a certain machine working continuously during a given period. Its probability distribution function if given in the following table:
x
p(x)

0
0.6

1
0.2

2
0.1

3
0.1

Find:
a) The probability that there is not failure during the observed period.
b) The probability that there is a positive even number of failures or more than 1 failure.
c) The average number of failures.
d) The standard deviation of the number of failures.

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FALL 2014

Question 4 (Marks:20 (5 each)) The duration of a LED lamp, measured in hours, is a

random variable with probability density function:
 C
1x2
x2
fX (x) =
0 otherwise
a) Find C.
b) Find the probability that a lamp lasts more than 1.5 hours.
c) What is the average duration time of a lamp?
d) Find the cumulative distribution function of the duration at x = 1.5.

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Question 5 (Marks:20 (10 each)) The manufacturer of a particular battery pack

for a laptop computer claims the battery pack can function for 8 hours, on the average,
before having to be recharged. Assuming the functioning time of the battery is a random
variable normally distributed with average = 8 hours and standard deviation = 1 hours
find the probability that a battery runs for 9 hours or more.

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