Chapter 5: Problem 7
Briefly explain the two characteristics (conditions) of the probability distribution of a discrete random variable.
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Chapter 5: Problem 7
Briefly explain the two characteristics (conditions) of the probability distribution of a discrete random variable.
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A history teacher has given her class a list of seven essay questions to study before the next test. The teacher announced that she will choose four of the seven questions to give on the test, and each student will have to answer three of those four questions. a. In how many ways can the teacher choose four questions from the set of seven? b. Suppose that a student has enough time to study only five questions. In how many ways can the teacher choose four questions from the set of seven so that the four selected questions include both questions that the student did not study? c. What is the probability that the student in part b will have to answer a question that he or she did not study? That is, what is the probability that the four questions on the test will include both questions that the student did not study?
A high school history teacher gives a 50 -question multiple-choice examination in which each question has four choices. The scoring includes a penalty for guessing. Each correct answer is worth I point, and each wrong answer costs \(1 / 2\) point. For example, if a student answers 35 questions correctly, 8 questions incorrectly, and does not answer 7 questions, the total score for this student will be \(35-(1 / 2)(8)=31\) a. What is the expected score of a student who answers 38 questions correctly and guesses on the other 12 questions? Assume that the student randomly chooses one of the four answers for each of the 12 guessed questions. b. Does a student increase his expected score by guessing on a question if he has no idea what the correct answer is? Explain. c. Does a student increase her expected score by guessing on a question for which she can eliminate one of the wrong answers? Explain.
Two teams, \(\mathrm{A}\) and \(\mathrm{B}\), will play a best-of-seven series, which will end as soon as one of the teams wins four games. Thus, the series may end in four, five, six, or seven games. Assume that each team has an equal chance of winning each game and that all games are independent of one another. Find the following probabilities. a. Team A wins the series in four games. b. Team A wins the series in five games. c. Seven games are required for a team to win the series.
An instant lottery ticket costs \(\$ 2\). Out of a total of 10,000 tickets printed for this lottery, 1000 tickets contain a prize of \(\$ 5\) each, 100 tickets have a prize of \(\$ 10\) each, 5 tickets have a prize of \(\$ 1000\) each, and 1 ticket has a prize of \(\$ 5000 .\) Let \(x\) be the random variable that denotes the net amount a player wins by playing this lottery. Write the probability distribution of \(x\). Determine the mean and standard deviation of \(x\). How will you interpret the values of the mean and standard deviation of \(x ?\)
Scott offers you the following game: You will roll two fair dice. If the sum of the two numbers obtained is \(2,3,4,9,10,11\), or 12, Scott will pay you \(\$ 20\). However, if the sum of the two numbers is 5 , 6,7, or 8 , you will pay Scott \(\$ 20\). Scott points out that you have seven winning numbers and only four losing numbers. Is this game fair to you? Should you accept this offer? Support your conclusion with appropriate calculations.
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