REVISION QUESTIONS ON CONTINOUS RANDOM VARIABLES

1. A continuous random variable X has a pdf;

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 ,0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4
a) Find a and sketch f(x)
b) Find:
i. E(X)
ii. Var(x)
iii. 𝑃(1 < 𝑥 < 2)
c) Determine the CDF, F(x) and hence sketch it.
2. A continuous random variable X has a pdf given by;
𝜋
𝑘𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 ;𝑜 ≤𝑥 ≤ 2
𝑓 (𝑥) = {
0 ; Elsewhere
Find the; i) value of k
𝜋
ii) 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 4 )

3. (a) Which of the functions f (x) and g (x) below in which C1 and C2 are positive
constants, can be used as probability density function (p.d.fs) over the specified ranges:
(i) f (x) = C1 sin x; 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1:
(ii) g (x) = C2 𝑒 −2𝑥 ; 0 < x < ln 10.

Determine the cumulative probability function for the case where a p.d.f. exists.
b) The random variable X has the probability density function:
𝑒𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1;
𝑓 (𝑥) = {𝑐(2 − 𝑥), 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2;
0 elsewhere
Where c is a constant, find the median and mode of the probability distribution of X.

4. A continuous random variable X has a pdf given by the graph below;

𝑘𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1;
𝑓 (𝑥) = {𝑘(5 − 𝑥), 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2;
0 X< 0 and X>2
Find the
(i) Value of k
(ii) E(X)
(iii)Var(x)
3 3
(iv) 𝑃 (4 < 𝑋 ≤ 2)
5. A continuous random variable X has a pdf given by the graph below;
𝑘𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1;
𝑓 (𝑥) = {𝑘(4 − 𝑥 2 ), 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2;
0 elsewhere
a) Find the:

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 (i) The value of k and hence sketch the pdf
(ii) Median
(iii)The E(X) and Var(X)
b) find the cumulative distribution function, F(x) and hence sketch it.
6. A continuous random variable X has a pdf given by the graph below;
3𝛽(𝑥 + 2), -2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 0;
𝑓 (𝑥) = {2𝛽(3 − 𝑥), 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3;
0 elsewhere
a) Sketch f(x) and use your graph to find the value of constant β.
b) Find the; i) mean of X
ii) median, m
c) Determine the CDF, F(x) and hence find 𝑃(−1 < 𝑥 < 1)
7. A continuous random variable X has a probability density function:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥(3 − 𝑥) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘(4 − 𝑥) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4,
𝑓(𝑥) = 0 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒
Find (i)the value of k,
(ii) the mean,
(iii) F(x), the cumulative distribution function,
(iv) P (1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3)
8. A random variable X has the probability density function
2
(𝑥 + 𝑎); −𝑎 < 𝑥 ≤ 0
3𝑎
𝑓 (𝑥) = { 1
(2𝑎 − 𝑥); 0 < 𝑥 ≤ 2𝑎
3𝑎

Where a is a constant, Determine

(i)the value of a, (ii)the median of X.
(iii) P [(x ≤ 1.5) / (x >0)]
(iv) the cumulative distribution function F(X). Sketch the graph of F(X).
9. A probability density function is given as
2 ; 0 ≤ x ≤ 2,
𝑓 (𝑥) = {𝑘𝑥 (4 − 𝑥 ) ; Elsewhere
0
Find the (i) value of k.
(ii) median,
(iii) mean
(iv) standard deviation.
10. A continuous random variable X is defined by the p.d.f
1
𝑘 [𝑥 − 𝑎] 0 < x < 3.
𝑓 (𝑥) = { ,
0, Elsewhere

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 Given that P(x> 1) = 0.8, find the
(i) Values of a and k, (06 marks)
(ii) Probability that X lies between 0.5 and 2.5, (03 marks)
(iii) Mean of X. (03 marks)
11. (a) A random variable X has the probability density function
1
, a ≤ x ≤ b;
𝑓 (𝑥) = {𝑏−𝑎
0 , else where

(𝑏−𝑎)2
Show that the variance of X is . (06 marks)
12

(b) During rush hours, it was observed that the number of vehicles departing
for Entebbe from Kampala old taxi park take on a random variable X with a uniform
distribution over the interval [x1, x2]. If in 1 hour the expected number of vehicles leaving
is 24 with a variance of 12, calculate the;
i. Values of 𝑥1 and 𝑥2
ii. Probability that at least 22 vehicles leave the stage.
12. Given the cumulative distribution function,
𝑥2 – 1
− 𝑥 ; 1 ≤ x < 2;
2
𝐹(𝑥) = { 𝑥2 ; 2 ≤ x < 3;
3𝑥 − 2 ; x ⩾ 3.
1
(a) Find (i) p.d.f.
(ii) P (1.2 < x < 2.4)
(iii) the mean of x.
(b) Sketch f (x).
13. The probability density function of a random variable X is given b
𝑘(𝑥 + 2) ;-1<x<0
2𝑘 ; 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘 ; 1 < x ≤ 3.
(5 − 𝑥)
2 ; elsewhere
{ 0
(a) Sketch the function f (x).
(b)Find the:
(i) Value of k,
(ii) Mean of X c) P(0 < x <1/x> 0)
14. The probability density function of a random variable X is given by
2𝑘𝑥 ; 0 < x < 1,
𝑓 (𝑥) = {𝑘(3 − 𝑥) ; 1 < x < 2,
0 ; Elsewhere.
(a) Sketch the function 𝑓 (𝑥).
(b) Find the

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 (i) Value of k (ii) Mean of x,
(iii) P (1 < x <2/𝑥 > 0)
15. A continuous random variable X has the probability density
𝜋
function.
𝜆 (1 − cos 𝑥) ; 0 ≤ x < 2
,
𝜋
𝑓(𝑥) = { 𝜆 sin 𝑥 ; < x< π
2
0 elsewhere
(a) Find:
𝜋 3𝜋
(i) The value of λ, ii) P(3 < 𝑋 < ).
4

𝜋
(b) Show that the mean, µ of the distribution is 1 + 4 .
16. A continuous random variable X has a probability density function (p.d.f.) f(x) as shown
in the graph below.

(a) Find the:

(i) Value of k,
(ii) Expression for the probability density function (p.d.f.) of X
Calculate the:
(i) Mean of X,
(ii) P(X<1.5 / X>0.5). (07 marks)
17. A continuous random variable X has a pdf given by the graph below;
4𝑘, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1;
𝑓 (𝑥) = {𝑘(5 − 𝑥), 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5;
0 elsewhere
a) Sketch f(x) and use your graph to find the value of constant k.
b) Find the; i) mean of X
ii) median, m
c) Determine the CDF, F(x) and hence
(i) Sketch it
(ii) 𝑃(0.5 < 𝑋 <4)

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 18. A continuous random variable X has a pdf whose sketch is given below

X
a) From the sketch, find the
(i) Value of β
(ii) Mode
(iii)Equations of the pdf
b) Calculate the ;
(i) Mean
(ii) Median of X
c) Obtain the cumulative distribution function, F(x)
19. X is a continuous random variable whose distribution function is given by ;
𝑎(𝑥 2 − 1), 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2;
𝐹(𝑥) = { 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏, 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3;
𝑥≥3
1
a) Find the constants a and b ;hence sketch the graph of F(x).
b) Compute 𝑃(𝑋 < 2.5/𝑋 > 1.5)
c) Calculate, E(X) the mean of X.
20. A continuous random variable X has a pdf given by the graph below.

Find the;
i) Value of ∝ and 𝛽
ii) Determine the cumulative distribution Function of x . Hence find the 90th percentile.

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