IE 230 — Probability & Statistics in Engineering I Name _________________________

Closed book and notes. 60 minutes.

Four Pages.

Score ___________________________
IE 230 — Probability & Statistics in Engineering I Name _________________________

Closed book and notes. 60 minutes.

1. True or false. (for each, 2 points if correct, 1 point if left blank.)

(a) T F For every random variable X, "X = 2" and "3 ≤ X <4" are mutually
exclusive.

(b) T F For every random variable X, "X" is also an event.

(c) T F 2 = 90.
C 10

(d) T F By definition, Bernoulli trials are independent of each other.

(e) T F For every random variable X, this expression is true: V(X) = E(X 2 ) − µX .

(f) T F For every random variable X, FX (x) = P(X ≤ x) for every real number x.

(g) T F For every random variable X, fX (x) = P(X = x), for every real number x.

(h) T F The "continuous uniform" distribution is continuous in the sense that the
density function has no discontinuities. (That is, there are no "steps" in the density
function.)

(i) T F A binomial experiment is an experiment composed of n Bernoulli trials.

2. Fill in the blanks.

(a) The __________________ distribution answers questions about the number of

successes in n Bernoulli trials.

(b) The __________________ distribution answers questions about the number of

Bernoulli trials until the first success.

(c) The __________________ distribution answers questions about the number of

Bernoulli trials until the rth success.

(d) The __________________ distribution answers questions about the number of

counts in an interval.

(e) The __________________ distribution answers questions about the number of

successes in a sample of size n from a population of size N containing K successes.

Exam #2b, Fall 1999 Page 1 of 4 Schmeiser

IE 230 — Probability & Statistics in Engineering I Name _________________________

3. Result: If X is continuous, then P(a ≤ X ≤ b) = FX (b) − FX (a).

Provide a reason for each line of the proof.

P(a ≤ X ≤ b) = P(X = a or a < X ≤ b) _____________________________

= P(X = a) + P(a < X ≤ b) _____________________________

= P(a < X ≤ b) _____________________________

= P(X ≤ b) − P(X ≤ a) _____________________________

= FX (b) − FX (a) _____________________________

4. The proportion, X, of people who respond to a certain mail-order solicitation has density
function

fX (x) = c (x + 2) if 0≤ x ≤ 1

and zero elsewhere.

(a) Find the value of c.

(b) Sketch the density function. Label and scale all axes.

Exam #2b, Fall 1999 Page 2 of 4 Schmeiser

IE 230 — Probability & Statistics in Engineering I Name _________________________

5. A study conducted at George Washington University and the National Institutes of Health
examined national attitudes about tranquilizers. The study revealed that approximately
70% believe "tranquilizers don’t really cure anything, they cover up the real trouble."
We are interested in the probability that less than two of the next (randomly selected)
five people will be of this opinion.

(a) Define, in words, a binomial random variable X useful for solving this problem.

(b) What is the number of Bernoulli trials?

(c) Define, in words, the meaning of "success."

(d) Write the quantity to be found. (This is a probability statement involving X.)

(e) Solve the problem, showing all of your work.

(f) One reason the distribution is binomial is that there are two random variables. One is
listed in Part (a). What is the other?

Exam #2b, Fall 1999 Page 3 of 4 Schmeiser

IE 230 — Probability & Statistics in Engineering I Name _________________________

6. Suppose that X is a continuous random variable with F(x) = 2x 2 for all x that are possible.

(a) What are the upper and lower bounds of X?

(b) What is the density function? (Be sure to state its value for every real number.)

(c) Find P(X ≤ 0).

7. (Montgomery and Runger, 4-91.) Because of contamination particles, a particular testing

instrument occasionally fails. Assume that the failures form a Poisson process with rate
0.02 failure per hour. (Recall: The Poisson pmf is f (x) = e −λ λx / x ! for x = 0, 1,...).

(a) What is the mean number of failures in one hour?

(b) What is the mean number of failures in an 8-hour shift?

(c) What is the probability that the instrument does not fail during an 8-hour shift?

(d) Let p denote your answer to Part (c). In terms of p, what is the probability of at least
one failure during an 8-hour shift?

Exam #2b, Fall 1999 Page 4 of 4 Schmeiser