Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Date of Exam.: .02.10 (FN/AN) Time: 2 Hrs. Full Marks: 30 No. of Students: 400
Mid (Spring) Semester Examination (2009-10) Department: Mathematics
Subject No. MA20104 Subject Name : Probability & Statistics
II yr B.Tech . AG/MA/MI/IEM/CS/CE/MF/IM
Note: Use of calculator and Statistical tables is allowed.
Answer All questions

1. Examine the following statements and fill the blanks in [ ]. Write only answers on the
first page of your answer script against each part of the questions. Detail working may
be carried out on other pages. [1×8]
(a) Let X be a non-negative integer-valued random variable with moment generating
function as M (t) = p(1−qet )−1 , where q = 1−p and 0 < p < 1. Find the distribution
that X follows. [ ]
(b) The moment generating function of Gamma distribution with parameters α, β (α >
0, β > 0) is. [ ]
(c) Let X1 , X2 , . . . , Xn be independent random variable, each with an exponential distri-
bution with parameter β. Then what is the distribution of Sn = X1 + X2 + · · · + Xn .
[ ]
(d) Find the value of K such that
(
Kx(1 − x) if 0 < x < 1
f (x) =
0 otherwise
is a probability density function. [ ]
(e) Construct the distribution function of the probability density function in 1(d). [ ]
(f) Compute P (X > 12 ) using the probability density function in 1(d). [ ]
(g) Of the people passing through an airport metal detector, 0.5% activate it. Let X=
the number among the randomly selected group of 500 who activate the detector.
Compute the P (X ≥ 5). [ ]
(h) A random variable X has mean 24 and variance 9. Obtain a lower bound on the
probability that the random variable X assumes value between 16.5 to 31.5. [ ]
2. (a) A bag contains 5 balls and it is not known how many of these are white. Two balls
are drawn and are found to be white. What is the probability that all are white?
(b) What is the probability of scoring 10 in a single throw with 6 dice?
(c) A series of tests on a certain type of electrical relay, have revealed that is approx-
imately 5% of the trials, the relay fails to operate under the specified conditions.
What is the probability that in ten trials made under these conditions the relay will
fail to operate one or more times. [2+2+1]
3. (a) the distribution of resistance for resistors of a certain type is known to be normal,
with 10% of all resistors having a resistance exceeding 10.256 ohms, and 5% having a
resistance smaller than 9.671 ohms. What are the mean value and standard deviation
of resistance distribution.

1
 (b) Let X1 , X2 and X3 represents the times necessary to perform three successive repair
tasks at a certain service facility. Suppose that they are independent and normally
distributed with µ1 = 40, µ2 = 50 and µ3 = 60, and σ12 = 10, σ22 = 12 and σ32 = 14,
respectively. Calculate P (X1 + X2 + X3 ≤ 160) and P (X1 + X2 ≥ 2X3 ).
(c) Suppose that for a certain individual, calorie intake at breakfast is a random variable
with mean value 500 and standard deviation 50, calorie intake at lunch is a random
variable with mean value 900 and standard deviation 100, and calorie intake at dinner
is a random variable with mean value 2000 and standard deviation 180. Assuming
that intakes at different meals are independent of one another, what is the probability
that average calorie intake per day over the next (365 days) year is at most 3500?.
[1+2+2]

4. (a) Let X ∼ N B(r, p) (negative binomial with parameters r ≥ 1 and p, 0 < p < 1.)
Find the moment generating function and variance of X.
(b) State and prove the memoryless property of geometric distribution.
(c) If X is a standard normal variate then find the distribution of Y = 21 X 2 .
(d) State the assumptions of the Poisson process and write the expression for probability
distribution of number of occurrences in the interval [0,t]. [2+2+2+1]

5. (a) Suppose that when a transistor of a certain type is subjected to accelerated life
test, the life time X (in weeks) has a gamma distribution with mean 24 weeks and
standard deviation 12 weeks. What is the probability that a transistor will last at
most 24 weeks?
(b) In the study of “Aging Concrete Structures”, it is suggested that Poisson process
can be used to represent the occurrence of structural loads over time. Suppose the
mean time between occurrences of loads is 0.5 year.
(i) How many loads can be expected to occur during a 2-year period? (ii) What
is the probability that more than 5 loads occur during a 2-year period? (iii) How
long must a time period be so that the probability of no loads occurring during that
period is at most 0.1?
(c) Let X be a continuous random variable with distribution function F (x) given by


 0 x≤0
x
4
[1 + ln( x4 )] 0<x≤4


1 x>4

(i) Obtain the pdf f (x) (ii) Compute P (1 ≤ X ≤ 3) [2+2+1]

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