RANDOM VARIABLES

*
Examples of continuous random variables:
length, pressure, temperature, time, weight

Examples of discrete random variables:
Number of bulldozer that remain operating after 6
months, the opening and closing of highway routes
Decide whether a discrete or continuous random variable is the
best model for each of the following variables:
(a) The time until a projectile returns to earth.
(b) The number of times a transistor in a computer memory
changes state in one operation.
(c) The volume of gasoline that is lost to evaporation during the
lling of a gas tank.
(d) The outside diameter of a machined shaft.
(e) The number of cracks exceeding one-half inch in 10 miles of
an interstate highway.
(f) The weight of an injection-molded plastic part.
(g) The number of molecules in a sample of gas.
(h) The concentration of output from a reactor.
(i) The current in an electronic circuit.
For each of the following exercises, determine the range (possible
values) of the random variable.
3-1. The random variable is the number of nonconforming solder
connections on a printed circuit board with 1000 connections.
3-2. In a voice communication system with 50 lines, the random
variable is the number of lines in use at a particular time.
3-3. An electronic scale that displays weights to the nearest pound is
used to weigh packages. The display shows only ve digits. Any weight
greater than the display can indicate is shown as 99999. The random
variable is the displayed weight.
3-4. A batch of 500 machined parts contains 10 that do not conform to
customer requirements. The random variable is the number of parts
in a sample of ve parts that do not conform to customer
requirements.
3-5. A batch of 500 machined parts contains 10 that do not conform to
customer requirements. Parts are selected successively, without
replacement, until a nonconforming part is obtained. The random
variable is the number of parts selected
E 1 The sample space of a random experiment is
{a, b, c, d, e, f}, and each outcome is equally
likely. A random variable is defined as follows:



*Determine the probability mass function of X. Use
the probability mass function to determine the
following probabilities:
*(a) = 2 (b) 0.6 < < 2.7
*(c) > 3 (d) 0 < 2
*(e) = 0 or = 2
outcome a b c d e f
x 0 0 1.5 1.5 2 3

E2 Determine the cumulative distribution
function for random variable.




Also determine the following probabilities:
*(a) 1.25 (b) 2.2
*(c) 1.1 < 1 (d) > 0
x 2 1 0 1 2
f(x) 1/8 2/8 2/8 2/8 1/8
E3 The thickness of wood paneling ( cm) that a
customer orders is a random variable with the
following cumulative distribution function:
* =
0 < 1/8
0.2 1/8 < 1/4
0.9 1/4 < 3/8
1 3/8

*Determine each of the following probabilities:
*(a) 1/8 (b) 1/4
*(c) 5/16 (d) > 1/4
*(e) 1/2
E4 A contractor is planning the acquisition of bulldozer
for a new project. He estimated that there is a 50% chance
that each bulldozer can remain operational after 6 months.
He purchased 3 bulldozers.

Using X as the random variable whose values represent the
number of operating bulldozer after 6 months,, the events
of interest should be mapped into the real line. Thus X=0
X=1 X=2 X=3 now represent the corresponding events of
interest.

Find the probability mass function ( probability distribution)
of X

Determine the cumulative distribution function.
*The mean or expected value of the discrete
random variable X, denoted as or E(X), is
* = =

*(3-3)
*The variance of X, denoted as
2
or V(X), is
*
2
= =
2
=
2

*=
2

2

*The standard deviation of X is =
2
.
*
Determine the mean and variance of the random variable
in E1


Determine the mean , variance , standard deviation, and
coefficient of variation of the random variables in E4

The probability density function of the length of a cutting
blade is f(x)=1.25 for 74.6< < 75.4 . Determine the
following:

a) P(X<74.7)
b) P(X < 74.8 or X > 75.2)
c) If the specifications for this process are from 74.7 to 75.3
mm, what proportion of blades meets specifications?
For a continuous random variable, consider a 100 kg load
on a simply supported beam 10 meters long. If the load is
equally likely to be placed anywhere along the span of the
beam, determine the PDF ( probability density function)
and CDF(cumulative distribution function) of the random
variable X which is the load position 0 < 10.


What is the probability that the load position will be
between 2m and 5m on the beam.

Let the continuous random variable X denote the diameter
of a drilled hole on a metal plate. The target diameter is
12.5mm. Most random disturbances to the process result in
larger diameters. Data shows that the distribution of X can
be modeled by a probability density function =
20
20(12.5)
; 12.5

Determine the cumulative distribution function.