Direct variance calculation from pdf

Questions that ask to calculate Var(X) or standard deviation directly from a given probability density function using E(X²) - [E(X)]², where E(X) may or may not be given.

15 questions · Standard +0.2

5.03a Continuous random variables: pdf and cdf5.03b Solve problems: using pdf5.03c Calculate mean/variance: by integration
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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 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 2013 November Q3
8 marks Standard +0.3
3 The waiting time, \(T\) weeks, for a particular operation at a hospital has probability density function given by $$f ( t ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 1 } { 2500 } \left( 100 t - t ^ { 3 } \right) & 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 10 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Given that \(\mathrm { E } ( T ) = \frac { 16 } { 3 }\), find \(\operatorname { Var } ( T )\).
  2. \(10 \%\) of patients have to wait more than \(n\) weeks for their operation. Find the value of \(n\), giving your answer correct to the nearest integer.
OCR S2 2006 June Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.5
1 Calculate the variance of the continuous random variable with probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 3 } { 37 } x ^ { 2 } & 3 \leqslant x \leqslant 4 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
OCR S2 2011 June Q4
8 marks Standard +0.3
4 A continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 3 } { 16 } ( x - 2 ) ^ { 2 } & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 4 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Sketch the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\).
  2. Calculate the variance of \(X\).
  3. A student writes " \(X\) is more likely to occur when \(x\) takes values further away from 2 ". Explain whether you agree with this statement.
Edexcel S2 2017 January Q4
10 marks Standard +0.3
  1. The time, in thousands of hours, that a certain electrical component will last is modelled by the random variable \(X\), with probability density function
$$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 3 } { 64 } x ^ { 2 } ( 4 - x ) & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 4 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ Using this model, find, by algebraic integration,
  1. the mean number of hours that a component will last,
  2. the standard deviation of \(X\). \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{ce1f9aa7-cf16-4293-98b1-157eed35b761-06_478_974_1069_479} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
    \end{figure} Figure 1 shows a sketch of the probability density function of the random variable \(X\).
  3. Give a reason why the random variable \(X\) might be unsuitable as a model for the time, in thousands of hours, that these electrical components will last.
  4. Sketch a probability density function of a more realistic model.
Edexcel S2 2014 June Q2
16 marks Moderate -0.3
2. The amount of flour used by a factory in a week is \(Y\) thousand kg where \(Y\) has probability density function $$\mathrm { f } ( y ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } k \left( 4 - y ^ { 2 } \right) & 0 \leqslant y \leqslant 2 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Show that the value of \(k\) is \(\frac { 3 } { 16 }\) Use algebraic integration to find
  2. the mean number of kilograms of flour used by the factory in a week,
  3. the standard deviation of the number of kilograms of flour used by the factory in a week,
  4. the probability that more than 1500 kg of flour will be used by the factory next week.
Edexcel S2 2017 October Q2
18 marks Standard +0.3
2. The weekly sales, \(S\), in thousands of pounds, of a small business has probability density function $$\mathrm { f } ( s ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } k ( s - 2 ) ( 10 - s ) & 2 < s < 10 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Use algebraic integration to show that \(k = \frac { 3 } { 256 }\)
  2. Write down the value of \(\mathrm { E } ( S )\)
  3. Use algebraic integration to find the standard deviation of the weekly sales. A week is selected at random.
  4. Showing your working, find the probability that this week's sales exceed \(\pounds 7100\) Give your answer to one decimal place. A quarter is defined as 12 consecutive weeks. The discrete random variable \(X\) is the number of weeks in a quarter in which the weekly sales exceed £7100 The manager earns a bonus at the following rates:
    \(\boldsymbol { X }\)Bonus Earned
    \(X \leqslant 5\)\(\pounds 0\)
    \(X = 6\)\(\pounds 1000\)
    \(X \geqslant 7\)\(\pounds 5000\)
  5. Using your answer to part (d), calculate the manager's expected bonus per quarter.
Edexcel S2 2020 October Q5
13 marks Standard +0.3
5. The waiting time, \(T\) minutes, of a customer to be served in a local post office has probability density function $$\mathrm { f } ( t ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 1 } { 50 } ( 18 - 2 t ) & 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 3 \\ \frac { 1 } { 20 } & 3 < t \leqslant 5 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ Given that the mean number of minutes a customer waits to be served is 1.66
  1. use algebraic integration to find \(\operatorname { Var } ( T )\), giving your answer to 3 significant figures.
  2. Find the cumulative distribution function \(\mathrm { F } ( t )\) for all values of \(t\).
  3. Calculate the probability that a randomly chosen customer's waiting time will be more than 2 minutes.
  4. Calculate \(\mathrm { P } ( [ \mathrm { E } ( T ) - 2 ] < T < [ \mathrm { E } ( T ) + 2 ] )\)
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Edexcel S2 2021 October Q6
17 marks Standard +0.3
6. The continuous random variable \(Y\) has probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( y )\) given by $$f ( y ) = \begin{cases} \frac { 1 } { 14 } ( y + 2 ) & - 1 < y \leqslant 1 \\ \frac { 3 } { 14 } & 1 < y \leqslant 3 \\ \frac { 1 } { 14 } ( 6 - y ) & 3 < y \leqslant 5 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
  1. Sketch the probability density function \(\mathrm { f } ( \mathrm { y } )\) Given that \(\mathrm { E } \left( Y ^ { 2 } \right) = \frac { 131 } { 21 }\)
  2. find \(\operatorname { Var } ( 2 Y - 3 )\) The cumulative distribution function of \(Y\) is \(\mathrm { F } ( y )\)
  3. Show that \(\mathrm { F } ( y ) = \frac { 1 } { 14 } \left( \frac { y ^ { 2 } } { 2 } + 2 y + \frac { 3 } { 2 } \right)\) for \(- 1 < y \leqslant 1\)
  4. Find \(\mathrm { F } ( y )\) for all values of \(y\)
  5. Find the exact value of the 30th percentile of \(Y\)
  6. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( 4 Y \leqslant 5 \mid Y \leqslant 3 )\)
Edexcel S2 2018 June Q3
18 marks Standard +0.3
  1. The length of time, \(T\), minutes, spent completing a particular task has probability density function
$$f ( t ) = \left\{ \begin{array} { c c } \frac { 1 } { 2 } ( t - 1 ) & 1 < t \leqslant 2 \\ \frac { 1 } { 16 } \left( 14 t - 3 t ^ { 2 } - 8 \right) & 2 < t \leqslant 4 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array} \right.$$
  1. Use algebraic integration to find \(\mathrm { E } ( T )\) Given that \(\mathrm { E } \left( T ^ { 2 } \right) = \frac { 267 } { 40 }\)
  2. find \(\operatorname { Var } ( T )\)
  3. Find the cumulative distribution function \(\mathrm { F } ( t )\)
  4. Find the 20th percentile of the time taken to complete the task.
  5. Find the probability that the time spent completing the task is more than 1.5 minutes. Given that a person has already spent 1.5 minutes on the task,
  6. find the probability that this person takes more than 3 minutes to complete the task.
Edexcel S2 Q6
14 marks Standard +0.3
6. Patients suffering from 'flu are treated with a drug. The number of days, \(t\), that it then takes for them to recover is modelled by the continuous random variable \(T\) with the probability density function $$\begin{array} { l l } \mathrm { f } ( t ) = \frac { 3 t ^ { 2 } ( 4 - t ) } { 64 } & 0 \leq t \leq 4 \\ \mathrm { f } ( t ) = 0 & \text { otherwise. } \end{array}$$
  1. Find the mean and standard deviation of \(T\).
  2. Find the probability that a patient takes more than 3 days to recover.
  3. Two patients are selected at random. Find the probability that they both recover within three days.
  4. Comment on the suitability of the model.
Edexcel S2 Q7
17 marks Standard +0.3
7. The fraction of sky covered by cloud is modelled by the random variable \(X\) with probability density function $$\begin{array} { l l } \mathrm { f } ( x ) = 0 & x < 0 \\ \mathrm { f } ( x ) = k x ^ { 2 } ( 1 - x ) & 0 \leq x \leq 1 , \\ \mathrm { f } ( x ) = 0 & x > 1 . \end{array}$$
  1. Find \(k\) and sketch the graph of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\).
  2. Find the mean and the variance of \(X\).
  3. Find the cumulative distribution function \(\mathrm { F } ( x )\).
  4. Given that flying is prohibited when \(85 \%\) of the sky is covered by cloud, show that cloud conditions allow flying nearly \(90 \%\) of the time.
OCR S2 Q8
15 marks Moderate -0.3
8 A continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function given by $$f ( x ) = \begin{cases} k x ^ { n } & 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 1 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$ where \(n\) and \(k\) are positive constants.
  1. Find \(k\) in terms of \(n\).
  2. Show that \(\mathrm { E } ( X ) = \frac { n + 1 } { n + 2 }\). It is given that \(n = 3\).
  3. Find the variance of \(X\).
  4. One hundred observations of \(X\) are taken, and the mean of the observations is denoted by \(\bar { X }\). Write down the approximate distribution of \(\bar { X }\), giving the values of any parameters.
  5. Write down the mean and the variance of the random variable \(Y\) with probability density function given by $$g ( y ) = \begin{cases} 4 \left( y + \frac { 4 } { 5 } \right) ^ { 3 } & - \frac { 4 } { 5 } \leqslant y \leqslant \frac { 1 } { 5 } \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{cases}$$
CAIE S2 2021 June Q6
6 marks Standard +0.3
The probability density function, f, of a random variable \(X\) is given by $$\text{f}(x) = \begin{cases} k(6x - x^2) & 0 \leq x \leq 6, \\ 0 & \text{otherwise,} \end{cases}$$ where \(k\) is a constant. State the value of \(\text{E}(X)\) and show that \(\text{Var}(X) = \frac{9}{5}\). [6]