Home / IBDP Maths AA Topic: AHL 4.14 Continuous random variables and their probability density functions HL Paper 2

IBDP Maths AA Topic: AHL 4.14 Continuous random variables and their probability density functions HL Paper 2

Question: [Maximum mark: 6]

A discrete random variable, X, has the following probability distribution:

x0123
P(X = x)0.41k – 0.280.460.29 – 2k2

(a) Show that 2k2 – k + 0.12 = 0.
(b) Find the value of k , giving a reason for your answer.
(c) Hence, find E(X).

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

(a) 0.41 + k – 0.28 + 0.46 + 0.29 – 2k2 = 1 OR k – 2k2 + 0.01 = 0.13 (or equivalent)

     2k2 – k + 0.12 = 0

(b) one of 0.2 OR 0.3
      k = 0.3
      reasoning to reject k = 0.2 eg P(1)  = k – 0.28 0 ≥ 0 therefore k ≠ 0.2

(c) attempting to use the expected value formula

E(X) = 0 × 0.41 + 1 × (0.3 – 0.28) + 2 × 0.46 + 3 ×(0.29 – 2 × 0.32)
= 1.27

Note: Award M1A0 if additional values are given.

Question

A continuous random variable X has the probability density function f given by

             F (x) = 0 ≤ x ≤ 4

where \(k\in \mathbb{R}^+\) .

    1. Show that \(\sqrt{16+K}-\sqrt{K}= \sqrt{K}\sqrt{16+K}\)  [5]

    2. Find the value of k . [2]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

(a)

recognition of the need to integrate

\(\frac{x}{\sqrt{(x^{2}+k)^{3}}}\)

\(\int \ \frac{x}{\sqrt{(x^{2}+k)^{3}}} dx(=1)\)

EITHER

\(u= x^{2}+ k \Rightarrow \frac{du}{dx}= 2x\) (or equivalent)

(b)

attempt to solve \(\sqrt{16+k}-\sqrt{k}= \sqrt{k}\sqrt{16+k}\)

k= 0.645038… = 0.645

Question

A continuous random variable X has the probability density function f n given by

\(f_n(x)=\{\begin{matrix}  (n+1)x^n;\;0\leq x\leq 1 & \\ 0 \; otherwise &\end{matrix}.\)

where n ∈ \(\mathbb{R}\) , n ≥ 0 .

(a) Show that  \(E(X)=\frac{n+1}{n+2}\)

(b) Show that Var \(X=\frac{n+1}{(n+2)^2(n+3)}\)

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

 (a) $\begin{eqnarray} \text{E}\left(X\right) &=& \int_0^1 xf\left(x\right) \text{d}x \nonumber \\ &=& \left(n+1\right)\int_0^1 x^{n+1} \text{d}x \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{n+1}{n+2}\left[x^{n+2}\right]_0^1 \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{n+1}{n+2}. \end{eqnarray}$ (b) To obtain $\text{Var}\left(X\right)$, we need to first obtain $\text{E}\left(X^2\right)$, i.e., $\begin{eqnarray} \text{E}\left(X^2\right) &=& \int_0^1 x^2f\left(x\right) \text{d}x \nonumber \\ &=& \left(n+1\right)\int_0^1 x^{n+2} \text{d}x \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{n+1}{n+3}\left[x^{n+3}\right]_0^1 \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{n+1}{n+3}. \end{eqnarray}$ Thus, $\begin{eqnarray} \text{Var}\left(X\right) &=& \text{E}\left(X^2\right)-\left[\text{E}\left(X\right)\right]^2 \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{n+1}{n+3}-\left(\frac{n+1}{n+2}\right)^2 \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{\left(n+1\right)\left(n+2\right)^2-\left(n+2\right)^2\left(n+3\right)}{\left(n+1\right)^2\left(n+3\right)} \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{\left(n+1\right)\left(n^2+4n+4-n^2-4n-3\right)}{\left(n+2\right)^2\left(n+3\right)} \nonumber \\ &=& \frac{n+1}{\left(n+2\right)^2\left(n+3\right)}. \end{eqnarray}$

Question

A continuous random variable X has probability density function

\[f(x) = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}
  {12{x^2}(1 – x),}&{{\text{for }}0 \leqslant x \leqslant 1,} \\
  {0,}&{{\text{otherwise}}{\text{.}}}
\end{array}} \right.\]

Find the probability that X lies between the mean and the mode.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Markscheme

Attempting to find the mode graphically or by using \(f'(x) = 12x(2 – 3x)\)     (M1)

\({\text{Mode}} = \frac{2}{3}\)     A1

Use of \({\text{E}}(X) = \int_0^1 {xf(x){\text{d}}x} \)     (M1)

\({\text{E}}(X) = \frac{3}{5}\)     A1

\(\int_{\frac{3}{5}}^{\frac{2}{3}} {f(x){\text{d}}x = 0.117\,\,\,\,\,\left( { = \frac{{1981}}{{16\,{\text{875}}}}} \right)} \)     M1A1     N4

[6 marks]

Scroll to Top