Chapter 23: Problem 7
If a variable \(x\) takes values \(0,1,2, \ldots, n\) with frequencies proportional to the binomial coefficients \({ }^{n} C_{0}\), \({ }^{n} C_{1},{ }^{n} C_{2}, \ldots,{ }^{n} C_{n}\), then the Var \((x)\) is (A) \(\frac{n^{2}-1}{12}\) (B) \(\frac{n}{2}\) (C) \(\frac{n}{4}\) (D) None of these
Short Answer
Expert verified
(C) \(\frac{n}{4}\)
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Setup
The problem states that a variable \( x \) takes values from \( 0 \) to \( n \) with frequencies proportional to binomial coefficients \( ^nC_0, ^nC_1, ^nC_2, \ldots, ^nC_n \). This means that these values follow a binomial distribution with parameters \( n \) and \( p = \frac{1}{2} \). This is because each \( x \) value is chosen according to the probability of achieving \( x \) successes in \( n \) trials with success probability \( \frac{1}{2} \) (which defines a symmetric binomial distribution).
02
Recall the Variance Formula for Binomial Distribution
The variance of a binomial distribution \( \text{Var}(x) \) for a random variable \( x \) with parameters \( n \) (number of trials) and \( p \) (probability of success) is given by the formula \( \text{Var}(x) = np(1-p) \).
03
Apply to Given Parameters
Given that \( p = \frac{1}{2} \), substitute into the variance formula: \[ \text{Var}(x) = n\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) \left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) = n \cdot \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{2} = \frac{n}{4}. \]
04
Identify the Correct Answer from Options
Compare the calculated variance \( \frac{n}{4} \) with the given options. Option (C) \( \frac{n}{4} \) matches our calculation.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
variance of binomial distribution
The variance of a binomial distribution helps us understand how much variation or spread there is within a set of data. For a binomial distribution with parameters \( n \) (number of trials) and \( p \) (probability of success in each trial), the variance is determined by the formula \( \text{Var}(x) = np(1-p) \). This formula represents why variance is directly related to the parameters \( n \) and \( p \). The number of trials \( n \) dictates the amount of data, and the probability \( p \) impacts the expected outcomes. Hence, variance gives insight into the reliability and predictability of outcomes in a binomial experiment. To grasp these changes, consider
- A larger \( n \), indicating more trials, typically increases the variance, suggesting more potential variation.
- A \( p \) closer to 0 or 1 decreases the variation, as results lean heavily towards consistent success or failure.
binomial coefficients
Binomial coefficients play a crucial role in algebra and probability and are typically expressed as \( { }^{n}C_{k} \) or simply \( C(n, k) \). These coefficients count the number ways of choosing \( k \) successes in \( n \) trials, providing the combinatorial backbone for the binomial distribution.The value of a binomial coefficient is calculated using the formula:\[ { }^{n}C_{k} = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}. \]This formula relies on factorial calculations to determine the coefficients, which describe the number of different combinations possible in a given scenario. Key points to consider about binomial coefficients:
- They are symmetric, meaning \( { }^{n}C_{k} = { }^{n}C_{n-k} \).
- Each binomial coefficient corresponds to the entries of Pascal's Triangle.
probability distributions
Probability distributions provide us with a mathematical framework for understanding the likelihood of different outcomes in a random process. A probability distribution assigns a probability to each possible outcome of a statistical experiment.There are several types of probability distributions, and the binomial distribution is one such straightforward example. It describes the probability of obtaining a fixed number of successes in a specific number of independent trials, which can result in questions like those in the original exercise. Consider these features of binomial probability distributions:
- The distribution is defined for trials with two possible outcomes: success or failure.
- Each trial is independent, meaning the outcome of one trial does not affect another.
- The distribution is controlled by two parameters, \( n \) (number of trials) and \( p \) (probability of success for each trial).
- Binomial distribution is symmetric when \( p = 0.5 \), which reflects a fair set of trials.