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SPECIAL DISCRETE DISTRIBUTIONS
UNIFORM, BINOMIAL AND GEOMETRIC
SYLLABUS OBJECTIVES (6046)
outline characteristics of each distribution
calculate the mean, variance and standard deviation of each distribution
calculate probabilities for the distributions
solve problems involving the distributions
A. UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION
CHARACTERISCTICS
When a random variable X is equally likely to take any values,
x1,x2,x3,…xn then X is uniformly distributed. For example when throwing
a fair six sided die. The random variable X is the outcome per throw. The
values 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 are equally likely to appear.
P(X = x) = for x = 1,2,3,…,k
MEAN ,VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION
Mean of X = = Variance of X = 2 = E(X2)− 2
EXAMPLE
1. A discrete random variable X has the following distribution
x 1 2 3 4
P(X= x)
Calculate a) mean of X b) Variance of X c) Standard deviation
Solution
a) =
= 1×
=
= 2,5
b) E(X2) =
= 1×
=
= 7,5
2
= E(X2)− 2
= 7,5 –
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= 1,25
c) =
=
= 1,12 to 3 s.f
PROBABILITIES
P(X=x) = for x = 1,2,3,…k
EXAMPLES
A discrete random variable X has the following distribution
x 1 2 3 4
P(X= x)
Calculate a) P(X b) P(X c) P(X>1)
Solutions
a) P(X<3) = P(X=1) +P(X=2)
=
=
b) P(X = P(X=1) +P(X=2)+P(X=3)
=
=
OR 1− P(X>3) = 1− P(X=4)
= 1−
=
c) P(X>1) = P(X=2) +P(X=3)+P(X=4)
=
=
OR 1− P(X=1)
= 1−
=
EXAM TYPE QUESTIONS
The probability distribution for the random variable is shown in the table
below.
x 5 6 7 8 9
P(X = x) m m m m m
Find a) the value of m b) the mean of X
Solution
a) =1
2
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5m =1
m=
b) Mean of X =
= 5×
=
=7
B. BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION
CHARACTERISCTICS
It is a distribution which comes as a result of a binomial experiment.
A binomial experiment is one where
1. There must be a fixed number of trials.
2. Each trial can have only two outcomes or outcomes that can be reduced
to two outcomes which can be considered as either success or failure.
3. The outcomes of each trial must be independent of one another.
4. The probability of a success must remain the same for each trial.
Probability of success = p and probability of failure =1− p = q
I f X is a random variable the number of successes in n trials then
X ~B(n, p) and P(X= x) = n pxqn−x for x = 0; 1; 2; 3; …; n and q = 1− p
n
can be written as and =
- n can be obtained directly from your calculator
Examples of situations that can be modelled by a binomial
- Tossing a coin. It’s either a head or a tail
-When a baby is born. It’s either a boy or a girl.
-Playing lotto. Its either you win or you lose.
PROBABILITIES
The probabilities of X taking a particular value x or greater than or less
than or between some values of x can be calculated
EXAMPLE
1.A Fair coin is tossed 3 times. Find the probability of getting exactly two
heads.
Solution.
There are two possible outcomes for each toss that is Head or Tail.let X be
the random variable getting a head. Then Probability of getting a head is
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since the coin is fair. X~B
P(X=2) = 3
=
2. A biased coin is such that the probability of getting a head is . The
coin is tossed 5 times. Find the following probabilities
a) P (2 heads) b) P(at most 2 heads )
Solutions
Let X be a random variable getting a head. X~B
a) P(X= x) = n pxqn−x
P(X = 2) = 5
=
= 0,165 to 3 s.f
b) P(X ) =P(X =0 or 1or 2)
=5 +5 +5
= + +
=
=
= 0,494 to 3 s.f
MEAN VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION
Mean = np ; Variance 2
= npq and Standard deviation =
EXAMPLES
1. A discrete random variable X~B(12 ; 0,25) find
a) mean of X b) Var(X) c) Standard deviation of X
Solution
a) Mean = np c) Standard deviation
= 12 ×0,25 =
=3
=
b) Variance 2= npq
= 1,5
= 12×0,25×0,75
= 2,25
2. X is random variable number of left handed people. It is estimated that 1 in
20 people are left-handed. What size sample should be taken to ensure that the
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expected number of left-handed people in the sample is 3?
Solution
Let X~B
np =
=3
n = 3 ×20
n = 60
Therefore a sample of size 60 should be taken.
3. The random variable X ~Bin (n,p) has a mean of 45 and standard deviation
of 6. Find the value of n and p
Solution
Mean = np
np = 45 --------- (1)
Variance = npq
npq = 36 np(1−p) = 36 ---------- (2)
from (1) n =
Substitute for n in (2) p(1−p) = 36 45 − 45p = 36
45p = 9
p=
p=
EXAM TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Transcription checkers have found out from experience that 1 in 20
mark sheets have recording errors. A checker randomly draws a
sample of 8 mark sheets from a marker. Calculate the probability that
(i) 3 of the mark sheets will have recording errors, [3]
(ii) at most 2 of the 8 mark sheets will have recording errors. [2]
NOV 2004 no 2
2. The owners of a motel in Mutare have noticed that in a long run 40%
of the people who stop and inquire about a room for the night, actually
book a room. How many inquiries must the owners answer to be 99%
sure of at least one booking? [5] NOV 2009 no 2
3. In a chemical industry workmen had a 20 % chance of suffering from
an occupational disease. Find the number of workmen who could have
been selected at random before the probability that at least one of them
contracted the disease, become greater than 0,9. [5] NOV2011 no 3
4. It is known that 75% of customers visiting a cellular phone shop make
a purchase.
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a) Calculate the probability that out of 14 randomly chosen customers,
at least 12 make a purchase. [3]
b) Find the least possible number of customers visiting the shop, given
that the probability of them all making a purchase is less than 0.05.
[4] NOV 2017 no 8
5. a) In a certain school, 90% of the learners are right handed. Find the
probability that in a random sample of
i) 8 learners, exactly 6 will be right handed. [3]
ii) 20 learners , fewer than 18 will be right handed. [4]
N2018 P2 no 6
SOLUTIONS
1.i) p = = 0,05
X Bin 4a) X Bin( 14 ; 0,75)
P= 0,05 q = 0,95 P(X
P(X=3) = 8C3 = P(X=12)+P(X=13) +P(X=14)
= 0,005416 =14C12 14
C13
14
ii) P(X 2) = P(X=0 or 1 or 2) C14
= 8C0 + = 0,180159252 + 0,083150424 +
8
C1 + 8C2 0,017817948
=0,281127624
= 0,9942 =0,2811
2. X Bin b)P(X=n) < 0,05
n
P(X 0,99 Cn < 0,05
1−P(X<1) = 0,99 < 0,05
1−P(X=0) = 0,99 ln < ln0,05
1−nC0 0,6n = 0,99 nln0,75<ln0,05
0,6n= 0,01 n>
nln0,6 = ln 0,01 n >10,4
n= n= 11
n= 9,015
n=9 5i) X Bin( 8 ; 0,9)
3. X Bin P(X=6) =8C6(0,9)6(0,1)2
P(X 0,9 = 0,1488
1−P(X<1) > 0,9 ii) X Bin( 20 ; 0,9)
1−P(X=0) > 0,9 P(X<18)= 1−P(X 18)
1−nC0 0,8n > 0,9 = 1−[P(X=18)+P(X=19) +P(X=20)]
0,8n < 0,1 =1−[20C18(0,9)18(0,1)2+20C19(0,9)19(0
n ln0,8 < ln 0,1 ,1) +20C20(0,9)20]
=1−(0,285+0,270+0,122)
n>
= 0,323
n > 10,31885
Therefore n = 11
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C. GEOMETRIC DISTRIBUTION
CHARACTERISTICS
A geometric distribution is a distribution formed by the number of trials
needed to achieve a single success by carrying out carrying out successive,
independent trials, each with the same probability of success.
EXAMPLES:
- The number of rolls needed before a six is rolled when rolling a fair die
repeatedly.
- The number of attempts taken by learner driver before he passes a
driving test.
For successive independent trials, each with constant probability of
success, p, the number of trials needed to get one success, X, has the
geometric distribution, with probability function:
P(X = x) = p(q)x − 1 x = 1, 2, 3, …where q = 1 − p
We write X~Geo(p).
PROBABILITIES (P(X = x))
If X~Geo(p), P(X = x) = p(q)x − 1 for x = 1, 2, 3, … where q = 1 – p
EXAMPLE
Thaphelo is playing a board game where she has to roll a six to start. Find
the probability that she starts the board game on his fifth roll.
Solution
Let p = and q =
X~Geo
P(X= 5) =
= = = 0,0804 to 3 s.f
CUMMULATIVE DISTRIBUTION(P(X )
If X~Geo(p), P(X x) = 1−qx for x = 1, 2, 3, … where q = 1 – p
EXAMPLE
Thaphelo is playing a board game where she has to roll a six to start. Find
the probability that she needs 5 or fewer attempts to start the board game.
Solution
X~Geo and P(X 5) = 1− = = 0,598 to 3 s.f.
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If X~Geo(p), P(X x) = 1−qx −1 for x = 1, 2, 3, …
EXAMPLE
Thaphelo is playing a board game where she has to roll a six to start. Find
the probability that she needs less than 5 attempts to start the board game.
Solution
X~Geo and P(X 5) = 1−
=1−
= = 0,518 to 3 s.f.
If X~Geo(p), P(X x) = 1 − P(X x) = 1−(1−qx) = qx for x = 1, 2, 3, …
where q = 1 – p
EXAMPLE
Thaphelo is playing a board game where she has to roll a six to start. Find
the probability that she needs greater than 5 attempts to start the board
game.
Solution
X~Geo and P(X 5) =
= = 0,402 to 3 s.f
If X~Geo(p), P(X x) = 1 − P(X x)
= 1−(1−qx −1 )
= qx −1 for x = 1, 2, 3, … where q = 1 – p
EXAMPLE
Thaphelo is playing a board game where she has to roll a six to start. Find
the probability that she needs at least 5 attempts to start the board game.
Solution
X~Geo and P(X 5) =
=
= = 0,402 to 3 s.f
MEAN VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION
If X~Geo(p) Mean of X = E(X) = =
2
Variance of X = Var(X) = =
Standard Deviation = =
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EXAMPLES
Thaphelo is playing a board game where she has to roll a six to start. Find
The mean, variance and standard deviation.
Solution
X~Geo
Mean of X = =6
Variance of X = = 30
Standard Deviation =
= 5,48 to 3 s.f.
SUM TO INFINITY OF A GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION
Successive probabilities p(1−p)0,p(1−p)1, p(1−p)2, …or p,pq,pq2,.. form a
geometric progression with first term p and common ratio 1− p or q
-Sum to infinity is given by where r is the first term and r is the
common ratio.
-Common ratio is found by
= p+pq+pq2+pq3+…
=
= 1 since q = 1− p
EXAMPLE
Thaphelo and Rafique play board game where they should roll a six to
start. If Thaphelo was the first to roll the die, Find the probability of
Thaphelo starting the game first.
Solution
She can start the game on the first second or third roll up to infinity
= + + + +…
a= r=
Sum to infinity = = = 0,545 to 3 s.f.
EXAM TYPE QUESTIONS.
1. Two players A and B take turns to toss a tetrahedral die until a 4
appear. A person who first throws a 4 wins the game. Assuming that A
throws first, Find
i) the average number of tosses required before a game is lost. [2]
ii) the probability that A wins the game. [5] NOV 2003 NO 2
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2. (a) It is given that X – Geo (0.2). find (i) P(X ≥ 3), [1] (ii) Var(X). [2]
NOV 2004 no 4
3. The probability that a boy hits a target is 0.8. Assuming that shots are
independent of each other and suppose that during each practice
period, the boy fires shots until he hits the target.
i) Find the mean and standard deviation of the number of shots fired
per practice period. [3]
ii) Find the probability that the boy will need to take at least five shots
to hit the target. [2] JUNE 2014 no 2
4. Given that X is a discrete random variable such that X Geo(0,4), find
a) P(X 7) [2] b) P(X>8|X>3)
[3]JUNE2017 no1
SOLUTIONS
1. i) X Geo Standard deviation =
E(X) = = =4 =
ii) P(A wins ) A wins in 1st or = 0,5590
2nd or 3rd up to
ii) P(X = 1−P(X<5)
= + + + =1−(0,8 + (0,8)(0,2)
+ ... +(0,8)(0,2)2+(0,8)(0,2)3)
=1-0,9984
=
=0,0016
346 …
= 4. a) P(X =1−
P(X =1−
=
=0,9720064
OR
=
P(X=0)+P(X=1)+…+P(X=7)
= =0,4 +(0,4)(0,6)
+(0,4) +(0,4) +(0,
= 0,57
4) +(0,4) +(0,4)
2. a) X Geo(0,2) =0,9720064
i) P(X 3)= 1−[P(X=1)+P(X=2) b) P(X>8/X>3) =
= 1−( p+ p)
= 1−[0,2 +( 0,8)(0,2)]
= 0,64 =
ii) Var(X) = = = 20 = 0,01679
3. i) X Geo(0,8)
E(X) = = 1,25
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