5.03c Calculate mean/variance: by integration

394 questions

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CAIE S2 2004 June Q7
10 marks Standard +0.3
7 The queuing time, \(T\) minutes, for a person queuing at a supermarket checkout has probability density function given by $$f ( t ) = \begin{cases} c t \left( 25 - t ^ { 2 } \right) & 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 5 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(c\) is a constant.
  1. Show that the value of \(c\) is \(\frac { 4 } { 625 }\).
  2. Find the probability that a person will have to queue for between 2 and 4 minutes.
  3. Find the mean queuing time.
CAIE S2 2005 June Q7
10 marks Standard +0.3
7 The random variable \(X\) denotes the number of hours of cloud cover per day at a weather forecasting centre. The probability density function of \(X\) is given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { ( x - 18 ) ^ { 2 } } { k } & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 24 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(k = 2016\).
  2. On how many days in a year of 365 days can the centre expect to have less than 2 hours of cloud cover?
  3. Find the mean number of hours of cloud cover per day.
CAIE S2 2006 June Q5
10 marks Moderate -0.3
5 The random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} 4 x ^ { k } & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 1 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a positive constant.
  1. Show that \(k = 3\).
  2. Show that the mean of \(X\) is 0.8 and find the variance of \(X\).
  3. Find the upper quartile of \(X\).
  4. Find the interquartile range of \(X\).
CAIE S2 2007 June Q7
11 marks Moderate -0.3
7 The continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 3 } { 4 } \left( x ^ { 2 } - 1 \right) & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant 2 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Sketch the probability density function of \(X\).
  2. Show that the mean, \(\mu\), of \(X\) is 1.6875 .
  3. Show that the standard deviation, \(\sigma\), of \(X\) is 0.2288 , correct to 4 decimal places.
  4. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( 1 \leqslant X \leqslant \mu + \sigma )\).
CAIE S2 2009 June Q5
10 marks Standard +0.3
5 The time in minutes taken by candidates to answer a question in an examination has probability density function given by $$\mathrm { f } ( t ) = \begin{cases} k \left( 6 t - t ^ { 2 } \right) & 3 \leqslant t \leqslant 6 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 1 } { 18 }\).
  2. Find the mean time.
  3. Find the probability that a candidate, chosen at random, takes longer than 5 minutes to answer the question.
  4. Is the upper quartile of the times greater than 5 minutes, equal to 5 minutes or less than 5 minutes? Give a reason for your answer.
CAIE S2 2010 June Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.3
5 The time, in minutes, taken by volunteers to complete a task is modelled by the random variable \(X\) with probability density function given by $$\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { k } { x ^ { 4 } } & x \geqslant 1 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise. } \end{cases}$$
  1. Show that \(k = 3\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\) and \(\operatorname { Var } ( X )\).
CAIE S2 2011 June Q6
9 marks Standard +0.3
6 The distance travelled, in kilometres, by a Grippo brake pad before it needs to be replaced is modelled by \(10000 X\), where \(X\) is a random variable having the probability density function $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} - k \left( x ^ { 2 } - 5 x + 6 \right) & 2 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ The graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\) is shown in the diagram. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{c1dcf0f5-e971-4afd-81ca-4d860732825c-3_439_1100_580_520}
  1. Show that \(k = 6\).
  2. State the value of \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\) and find \(\operatorname { Var } ( X )\).
  3. Sami fits four new Grippo brake pads on his car. Find the probability that at least one of these brake pads will need to be replaced after travelling less than 22000 km .
CAIE S2 2012 June Q6
8 marks Moderate -0.3
6 At a certain shop the weekly demand, in kilograms, for flour is modelled by the random variable \(X\) with probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} k x ^ { - \frac { 1 } { 2 } } & 4 \leqslant x \leqslant 25 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 1 } { 6 }\).
  2. Calculate the mean weekly demand for flour at the shop.
  3. At the beginning of one week, the shop has 20 kg of flour in stock. Find the probability that this will not be enough to meet the demand for that week.
  4. Give a reason why the model may not be realistic.
CAIE S2 2012 June Q7
10 marks Standard +0.3
7 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7333c047-edad-4385-b3f8-248e8725cfcb-3_412_718_1037_715} A random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} k \sin x & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant \frac { 2 } { 3 } \pi \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant, as shown in the diagram.
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 2 } { 3 }\).
  2. Show that the median of \(X\) is 1.32 , correct to 3 significant figures.
  3. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\).
CAIE S2 2013 June Q6
9 marks Standard +0.3
6 The time in minutes taken by people to read a certain booklet is modelled by the random variable \(T\) with probability density function given by $$f ( t ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 1 } { 2 \sqrt { } t } & 4 \leqslant t \leqslant 9 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Find the time within which \(90 \%\) of people finish reading the booklet.
  2. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( T )\) and \(\operatorname { Var } ( T )\).
CAIE S2 2013 June Q2
7 marks Standard +0.3
2 A random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 2 } { 3 } x & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant 2 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( X < \mathrm { E } ( X ) )\).
  3. Hence explain whether the mean of \(X\) is less than, equal to or greater than the median of \(X\).
CAIE S2 2013 June Q5
7 marks Moderate -0.8
5 A random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { k } { x ^ { 3 } } & x \geqslant 1 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(k = 2\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( 1 \leqslant X \leqslant 2 )\).
  3. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\).
CAIE S2 2014 June Q7
10 marks Moderate -0.3
7 A random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { k } { x } & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant a \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) and \(a\) are positive constants.
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 1 } { \ln a }\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\) in terms of \(a\).
  3. Find the median of \(X\) in terms of \(a\).
CAIE S2 2014 June Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
5 The lifetime, \(X\) years, of a certain type of battery has probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { k } { x ^ { 2 } } & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant a \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) and \(a\) are positive constants.
  1. State what the value of \(a\) represents in this context.
  2. Show that \(k = \frac { a } { a - 1 }\).
  3. Experience has shown that the longest that any battery of this type lasts is 2.5 years. Find the mean lifetime of batteries of this type.
CAIE S2 2015 June Q1
5 marks Moderate -0.8
1 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{cfffe79d-91c9-48b8-a3e6-887d7891441d-2_478_691_260_724} The random variable \(X\) has probability density function, f , as shown in the diagram, where \(a\) is a constant. Find the value of \(a\) and hence show that \(\mathrm { E } ( X ) = 0.943\) correct to 3 significant figures. [5]
CAIE S2 2015 June Q6
10 marks Moderate -0.3
6 The waiting time, \(T\) minutes, for patients at a doctor's surgery has probability density function given by $$\mathrm { f } ( t ) = \begin{cases} k \left( 225 - t ^ { 2 } \right) & 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 15 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(k = \frac { 1 } { 2250 }\).
  2. Find the probability that a patient has to wait for more than 10 minutes.
  3. Find the mean waiting time.
CAIE S2 2018 June Q6
11 marks Moderate -0.3
6 The time, in minutes, taken by people to complete a test is modelled by the continuous random variable \(X\) with probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { k } { x ^ { 2 } } & 5 \leqslant x \leqslant 10 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(k = 10\).
  2. Show that \(\mathrm { E } ( X ) = 10 \ln 2\).
  3. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( X > 9 )\).
  4. Given that \(\mathrm { P } ( X < a ) = 0.6\), find \(a\).
CAIE S2 2018 June Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{b054d0a0-01b6-4785-807c-851551b90544-06_382_743_260_699} The diagram shows the probability density function, f , of a random variable \(X\), in terms of the constants \(a\) and \(b\).
  1. Find \(b\) in terms of \(a\).
  2. Show that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \frac { 2 } { a } - \frac { 2 } { a ^ { 2 } } x\).
  3. Given that \(\mathrm { E } ( X ) = 0.5\), find \(a\).
CAIE S2 2019 June Q4
9 marks Standard +0.3
4

  1. [diagram]
    The diagram shows the graph of the probability density function, f , of a random variable \(X\), where \(a\) is a constant greater than 0.5 . The graph between \(x = 0\) and \(x = a\) is a straight line parallel to the \(x\)-axis.
    1. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( X < 0.5 )\) in terms of \(a\).
    2. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\) in terms of \(a\).
    3. Show that \(\operatorname { Var } ( X ) = \frac { 1 } { 12 } a ^ { 2 }\).
  2. A random variable \(T\) has probability density function given by $$\operatorname { g } ( t ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 3 } { 2 ( t - 1 ) ^ { 2 } } & 2 \leqslant t \leqslant 4 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ Find the value of \(b\) such that \(\mathrm { P } ( T \leqslant b ) = \frac { 3 } { 4 }\).
CAIE S2 2019 June Q6
9 marks Standard +0.3
6 A function f is defined by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 3 x ^ { 2 } } { a ^ { 3 } } & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant a \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(a\) is a constant.
  1. Show that f is a probability density function for all positive values of \(a\).
    The random variable \(X\) has probability density function f and the median of \(X\) is 2 .
  2. Show that \(a = 2.52\), correct to 3 significant figures.
  3. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\).
CAIE S2 2021 June Q6
6 marks Standard +0.3
6 The probability density function, f, of a random variable \(X\) is given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} k \left( 6 x - x ^ { 2 } \right) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 6 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
State the value of \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\) and show that \(\operatorname { Var } ( X ) = \frac { 9 } { 5 }\).
CAIE S2 2021 June Q3
7 marks Moderate -0.8
3 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{189bcf7b-279f-457b-8232-ace7f0c9797f-05_456_668_260_735} The random variable \(X\) takes values in the range \(1 \leqslant x \leqslant p\), where \(p\) is a constant. The graph of the probability density function of \(X\) is shown in the diagram.
  1. Show that \(p = 2\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\).
CAIE S2 2016 March Q7
11 marks Standard +0.3
7
  1. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{3f1a0c67-03a4-4b4f-99c0-4336ba7d56b0-3_255_643_264_790} The diagram shows the graph of the probability density function, f , of a random variable \(X\), where $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 2 } { 9 } \left( 3 x - x ^ { 2 } \right) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 3 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
    1. State the value of \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\) and find \(\operatorname { Var } ( X )\).
    2. State the value of \(\mathrm { P } ( 1.5 \leqslant X \leqslant 4 )\).
    3. Given that \(\mathrm { P } ( 1 \leqslant X \leqslant 2 ) = \frac { 13 } { 27 }\), find \(\mathrm { P } ( X > 2 )\).
  2. A random variable, \(W\), has probability density function given by $$\mathrm { g } ( w ) = \begin{cases} a w & 0 \leqslant w \leqslant b \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants. Given that the median of \(W\) is 2 , find \(a\) and \(b\).
CAIE S2 2017 March Q5
9 marks Moderate -0.8
5
  1. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{61ba010c-d6a2-4c19-9998-0ae048244a32-06_292_517_264_338} \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{61ba010c-d6a2-4c19-9998-0ae048244a32-06_289_518_264_858} \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{61ba010c-d6a2-4c19-9998-0ae048244a32-06_273_510_365_1377} The diagram shows the graphs of three functions, \(f _ { 1 } , f _ { 2 }\) and \(f _ { 3 }\). The function \(f _ { 1 }\) is a probability density function.
    1. State the value of \(k\).
    2. For each of the functions \(\mathrm { f } _ { 2 }\) and \(\mathrm { f } _ { 3 }\), state why it cannot be a probability density function.
  2. The probability density function g is defined by $$g ( x ) = \begin{cases} 6 \left( a ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } \right) & - a \leqslant x \leqslant a \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(a\) is a constant.
    1. Show that \(a = \frac { 1 } { 2 }\).
    2. State the value of \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\).
    3. Find \(\operatorname { Var } ( X )\).
CAIE S2 2024 March Q6
10 marks Standard +0.3
6 The graph of the probability density function f of a random variable \(X\) is symmetrical about the line \(x = 2\). It is given that \(\mathrm { P } ( 2 < X < 5 ) = \frac { 117 } { 256 }\).
  1. Using only this information show that \(\mathrm { P } ( X > - 1 ) = \frac { 245 } { 256 }\).
    It is now given that, for \(x\) in a suitable domain, $$f ( x ) = k \left( 12 + 4 x - x ^ { 2 } \right) , \text { where } k \text { is a constant. }$$
  2. Find the value of \(k\).
  3. A different random variable \(X\) has probability density function \(\mathbf { g } ( x ) = \frac { 2 } { 9 } \left( 2 + x - x ^ { 2 } \right)\). The domain of \(X\) is all values of \(x\) for which \(\mathrm { g } ( x ) \geqslant 0\). Find \(\operatorname { Var } ( X )\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{ff3433b0-baab-45e3-845e-56a794739bba-11_63_1547_447_347}