Tutorial 3: Probability mass function, cumulative distribution function, mean and variance
of a discrete random variable, discrete uniform distribution
Problem 1: Marketing estimates that a new instrument for the analysis of soil samples will be
very successful, moderately successful, or unsuccessful, with probabilities 0.3, 0.6 and 0.1,
respectively. The yearly revenue associated with a very successful, moderately successful, or
unsuccessful product is $10 million, $5 million, and $1million, respectively. Let the random
variable X denote the yearly revenue of the product.
a) Determine the probability mass function of X.
b) Determine the cumulative distribution function for the random variable X.
c) Determine the mean and variance of the random variable X.
Problem 2: A disc drive manufacturer estimates that in five years a storage device with 1
terabyte of capacity will sell with probability 0.5, a storage device with 500 gigabytes capacity
will sell with a probability 0.3, and a storage device with 100 gigabytes capacity will sell with
probability 0.2. The revenue associated with the sales in that year are estimated to be $50 million,
$25 million, and $10million, respectively. Let X be the revenue of storage devices during that
year.
a) Determine the probability mass function of X.
b) Determine the cumulative distribution function for the random variable X.
c) Determine the mean and variance of the random variable X.
Problem 3: The lengths of plate glass parts are measured to the nearest tenth of a millimeter. The
lengths are uniformly distributed, with values at every tenth of a millimeter starting at 590.0 and
continuing through 590.9. Determine the mean and variance of lengths.
Problem 4: The probability of an operator entering alphanumeric data incorrectly into a field in a
database is equally likely. The random variable X is the number of fields on a data entry form
with an error. The data entry form has 28 fields. Is X a discrete uniform random variable? Why or
why not.
Solution (Tutorial 3)
Problem1:
a) P(X = 10 million) = 0.3, P(X = 5 million) = 0.6, P(X = 1 million) = 0.1
b)
0, x 1
0.1, 1 x 5
F ( x)
0.7, 5 x 10
1, 10 x
Where P(X = 10 million) = 0.3, P(X = 5 million) = 0.6, P(X = 1 million) = 0.1
c) Mean and variance
E ( X ) 10 f (10) 5 f (5) 1 f (1)
10(0.3) 5(0.6) 1(0.1)
6.1 million
V ( X ) 10 2 f (10) 5 2 f (5) 12 f (1) 2
10 2 (0.3) 5 2 (0.6) 12 (0.1) 6.12
7.89 million 2
Problem2:
a) P(X = 50 million) = 0.5, P(X = 25 million) = 0.3, P(X = 10 million) = 0.2
b)
0, x 10
0.2, 10 x 25
F ( x)
0.5, 25 x 50
1, 50 x
where P(X = 50 million) = 0.5, P(X = 25 million) = 0.3, P(X = 10 million) = 0.2
c) Mean and variance
E ( X ) 50 f (50) 25 f (25) 10 f (10)
50(0.5) 25(0.3) 10(0.2)
34.5 million
V ( X ) 50 2 f (50) 25 2 f (25) 10 2 f (10) 2
50 2 (0.5) 25 2 (0.3) 10 2 (0.2) 34.5 2
267.25 million 2
Problem3: X = 590 + 0.1Y, Y = 0, 1, 2, ..., 9
09
E(X) = 590 0.1 590.45 mm,
2
(9 0 1)2 1
V ( X ) (0.1)2 0.0825
12
Problem4:
X is a discrete random variable. X is discrete because it is the number of fields out of 28 that has
an error. However, X is not uniform because P(X=0) ≠ P(X=1).
