Practice Questions Chapter 51 Consider The Following Probabi

Practice Questions Chapter 51 Consider The Following Probability Dist

Consider the following probability distribution X P(X) 0...5 a. Find the Expected Value of X, E (X) b. Find the Variance of X. c. Find the Standard Deviation of X. d. Find P (X = .

Consider the following probability distribution X P(X) 0....25 a. Find the Expected Value of X, E (X) b. Find the Variance of X. c. Find the Standard Deviation of X. d. Find P (X = .

An FBI survey shows that 20% of all property crimes go unsolved. Suppose that in your town 5 such crimes are committed independently of each other. Assume a binomial distribution. a. What is the probability that 2 of these 5 crimes will be solved? b. What is the probability that at least 1 crime will be solved? c. What is the expected number of crimes that are solved?

Suppose the number of individual plants of a given species we expect to find in a one-meter square quadrat follows the Poisson distribution with a mean of 3 plants. a. What is the probability of finding that exactly 2 plants in a one-meter square? b. What about the probability that at least 2 plants in a given one-meter square? c. What is the probability that there are exactly 7 plants in two-meter squares?

Suppose that the probability of selling a defective item on a Friday is 0.3. There are 10 items in a store. Assuming a binomial distribution. a. Find the probability that exactly 4 defective items will be sold on a Friday? b. Find the probability that at most 1 defective item will be sold? c. Find the expected number and standard deviation of defective items sold.

In an online shop, the average number of items returned by a customer is 4 per day. Use Poisson distribution to calculate the probability that a. Exactly 3 items will be returned in a day. b. At least 2 items will be returned in a day. c. Exactly 4 items will be returned in 2 days.

The number of Emergency calls in Virginia has a Poisson distribution with a mean of 10 calls a day. Assume a Poisson distribution. a. Find the probability of seven Emergency calls in a day. b. Find the probability of No Emergency calls in a day. c. Find the probability of more than one Emergency call in a day.

Paper For Above instruction

Probability distributions are fundamental concepts in statistics and probability theory, serving as tools to model and analyze random phenomena across diverse fields including economics, engineering, medicine, and social sciences. These distributions describe the likelihood of different outcomes in experiments or processes where outcomes are uncertain but governed by inherent probabilities. Understanding key parameters such as expected value, variance, standard deviation, and specific probability calculations within these distributions is crucial to interpret and make predictions about real-world data accurately.

Expected Value and Variance

The expected value (E[X]) of a probability distribution signifies the long-run average or mean value that the random variable X would take over numerous repetitions. Calculation of E[X] involves summing the products of possible values and their probabilities: E[X] = Σx P(x). Variance (Var(X)), measuring the dispersion or spread of the distribution, is determined by Var(X) = Σ(x - E[X])^2 P(x), which quantifies how much the outcomes vary around the expected value. The standard deviation (SD), the square root of variance, provides a measure of typical deviation from the mean, facilitating interpretation in the same units as the data.

Application in Binomial and Poisson Distributions

The binomial distribution models the number of successes in a fixed number of independent Bernoulli trials, each with the same probability of success p. Its parameters are n (number of trials) and p (probability of success). Key calculations include the probability of a fixed number of successes, as well as cumulative probabilities such as "at least" or "at most" successes. For example, calculating the probability that exactly 2 crimes are solved out of 5, given a success probability, employs the binomial probability formula: P(X = k) = (n choose k) p^k (1-p)^{n-k}.

Poisson distribution models the number of events occurring within a fixed interval or space based on an average rate λ. It is appropriate for modeling rare events such as the number of cars arriving at a gas station per minute or the number of births in a hospital per hour. The probability of exactly k events is given by P(k; λ) = (λ^k * e^{-λ})/k!. Probability calculations for at least a certain number of events or specific counts are derived directly from this formula, often requiring summation of multiple probabilities for cumulative estimates.

Case Studies and Real-world Applications

The properties of these distributions have practical applications. For example, estimating the probability of solving crimes based on known solve rates uses the binomial distribution, aiding law enforcement resource allocation. Healthcare professionals use Poisson models to predict the number of patient arrivals, optimizing staffing. Manufacturers assess defect rates in quality control, while online retailers analyze return rates—all employing these probabilistic models to inform decision-making processes.

Furthermore, understanding these models contributes to risk management, policy design, and economic forecasting. For instance, calculating the likelihood of a certain number of emergency calls facilitates emergency response planning. In transportation, predicting punctuality rates of flights improves scheduling and customer services. Statistical reasoning rooted in these distributions offers a powerful framework for deciphering the uncertainty inherent in numerous systems.

Conclusion

Mastering probability distributions like binomial and Poisson distributions equips analysts and researchers with essential tools to interpret data, quantify risks, and make informed decisions. Their applications are vast, spanning from public safety to commerce, medicine, and environmental studies. The ability to calculate expected values, variances, and specific event probabilities underpins many statistical inference techniques crucial for empirical research and data-driven strategies. As data continues to proliferate, proficiency in these models remains vital for advancing knowledge and improving operational effectiveness across sectors.

References

  • DeGroot, M. H., & Schervish, M. J. (2012). Probability and Statistics (4th ed.). Pearson.
  • Mendenhall, W., Beaver, R. J., & Beaver, B. M. (2013). Introduction to Probability and Statistics (14th ed.). Brooks Cole.
  • Casella, G., & Berger, R. L. (2002). Statistical Inference (2nd ed.). Duxbury.
  • Ross, S. (2014). Introduction to Probability Models (11th ed.). Academic Press.
  • Devore, J. L. (2011). Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Walpole, R. E., Myers, R. H., Myers, S. L., & Ye, K. (2012). Probability and Statistics for Engineering and Scientists (9th ed.). Pearson.
  • Agresti, A., & Finlay, B. (2009). Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences (4th ed.). Pearson.
  • Moivre, A. (1733). The Doctrine of Chances: A Method of Calculating the Probabilities of Events in Play. reprint 2nd edition, 1967.
  • Kendall, M. G. (1962). Advanced Theory of Statistics.
  • Mooney, P. (2014). An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Applications. Wiley.