P(X ≤ n) or P(X < n)

Find the cumulative probability that success occurs within the first n trials (fewer than or no more than n trials).

5 questions

CAIE S1 2023 June Q4
4 A fair 5 -sided spinner has sides labelled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The spinner is spun repeatedly until a 2 is obtained on the side on which the spinner lands. The random variable \(X\) denotes the number of spins required.
  1. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( X = 4 )\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( X < 6 )\).
    Two fair 5 -sided spinners, each with sides labelled \(1,2,3,4,5\), are spun at the same time. If the numbers obtained are equal, the score is 0 . Otherwise, the score is the higher number minus the lower number.
  3. Find the probability that the score is greater than 0 given that the score is not equal to 2 .
    The two spinners are spun at the same time repeatedly .
  4. For 9 randomly chosen spins of the two spinners, find the probability that the score is greater than 2 on at least 3 occasions.
OCR S1 2007 January Q6
6 A coin is biased so that the probability that it will show heads on any throw is \(\frac { 2 } { 3 }\). The coin is thrown repeatedly. The number of throws up to and including the first head is denoted by \(X\). Find
  1. \(\mathrm { P } ( X = 4 )\),
  2. \(\mathrm { P } ( X < 4 )\),
  3. \(\mathrm { E } ( X )\).
OCR MEI S1 Q6
6 Malik is playing a game in which he has to throw a 6 on a fair six-sided die to start the game. Find the probability that
  1. Malik throws a 6 for the first time on his third attempt,
  2. Malik needs at most ten attempts to throw a 6.
Edexcel FS1 2019 June Q7
  1. A spinner can land on red or blue. When the spinner is spun, there is a probability of \(\frac { 1 } { 3 }\) that it lands on blue. The spinner is spun repeatedly.
The random variable \(B\) represents the number of the spin when the spinner first lands on blue.
  1. Find (i) \(\mathrm { P } ( B = 4 )\)
    (ii) \(\mathrm { P } ( B \leqslant 5 )\)
  2. Find \(\mathrm { E } \left( B ^ { 2 } \right)\) Steve invites Tamara to play a game with this spinner.
    Tamara must choose a colour, either red or blue.
    Steve will spin the spinner repeatedly until the spinner first lands on the colour Tamara has chosen. The random variable \(X\) represents the number of the spin when this occurs. If Tamara chooses red, her score is \(\mathrm { e } ^ { X }\)
    If Tamara chooses blue, her score is \(X ^ { 2 }\)
  3. State, giving your reasons and showing any calculations you have made, which colour you would recommend that Tamara chooses.
SPS SPS FM Statistics 2021 January Q6
6. A spinner can land on red or blue. When the spinner is spun, there is a probability of \(\frac { 1 } { 3 }\) that it lands on blue. The spinner is spun repeatedly. The random variable \(B\) represents the number of the spin when the spinner first lands on blue.
  1. Find (i) \(\mathrm { P } ( B = 4 )\)
    (ii) \(\mathrm { P } ( B \leqslant 5 )\)
  2. Find \(\mathrm { E } \left( B ^ { 2 } \right)\) Steve invites Tamara to play a game with this spinner.
    Tamara must choose a colour, either red or blue.
    Steve will spin the spinner repeatedly until the spinner first lands on the colour Tamara has chosen. The random variable \(X\) represents the number of the spin when this occurs. If Tamara chooses red, her score is \(\mathrm { e } ^ { X }\)
    If Tamara chooses blue, her score is \(X ^ { 2 }\)
  3. State, giving your reasons and showing any calculations you have made, which colour you would recommend that Tamara chooses.