How to Prove Markov’s Inequality and Chebyshev’s Inequality
Problem 759
(a) Let $X$ be a random variable that takes only non-negative values. Prove that for any $a > 0$,
\[P(X \geq a) \leq \frac{E[X]}{a}.\]
This inequality is called Markov’s inequality.
(b) Let $X$ be a random variable with finite mean $\mu$ and variance $\sigma^2$. Prove that for any $a >0$,
\[P\left(|X – \mu| \geq a \right) \leq \frac{\sigma^2}{a^2}.\]
This inequality is called Chebyshev’s inequality.
Add to solve later How to Use the Z-table to Compute Probabilities of Non-Standard Normal Distributions
Problem 758
Let $X\sim \mathcal{N}(\mu, \sigma)$ be a normal random variable with parameter $\mu=6$ and $\sigma^2=4$. Find the following probabilities using the Z-table below.
(a) Find $P(X \lt 7)$.
(b) Find $P(X \lt 3)$.
(c) Find $P(4.5 \lt X \lt 8.5)$.
Add to solve later Expected Value and Variance of Exponential Random Variable
Problem 757
Let $X$ be an exponential random variable with parameter $\lambda$.
(a) For any positive integer $n$, prove that
\[E[X^n] = \frac{n}{\lambda} E[X^{n-1}].\]
(b) Find the expected value of $X$.
(c) Find the variance of $X$.
(d) Find the standard deviation of $X$.
Add to solve later Condition that a Function Be a Probability Density Function
Problem 756
Let $c$ be a positive real number. Suppose that $X$ is a continuous random variable whose probability density function is given by
\begin{align*}
f(x) = \begin{cases}
\frac{1}{x^3} & \text{ if } x \geq c\\
0 & \text{ if } x < c.
\end{cases}
\end{align*}
(a) Determine the value of $c$.
(b) Find the probability $P(X> 2c)$.
Add to solve later Conditional Probability When the Sum of Two Geometric Random Variables Are Known
Problem 755
Let $X$ and $Y$ be geometric random variables with parameter $p$, with $0 \leq p \leq 1$. Assume that $X$ and $Y$ are independent.
Let $n$ be an integer greater than $1$. Let $k$ be a natural number with $k\leq n$. Then prove the formula
\[P(X=k \mid X + Y = n) = \frac{1}{n-1}.\]
Add to solve later Probability that Three Pieces Form a Triangle
Problem 754
We have a stick of a unit length. Two points on the stick will be selected randomly (uniformly along the length of the stick) and independently. Then we break the stick at these two points so that we get three pieces of the stick. What is the probability that these three pieces form a triangle?
Add to solve later Upper Bound of the Variance When a Random Variable is Bounded
Problem 753
Let $c$ be a fixed positive number. Let $X$ be a random variable that takes values only between $0$ and $c$. This implies the probability $P(0 \leq X \leq c) = 1$. Then prove the next inequality about the variance $V(X)$.
\[V(X) \leq \frac{c^2}{4}.\]
Add to solve later Probability that Alice Tossed a Coin Three Times If Alice and Bob Tossed Totally 7 Times
Problem 752
Alice tossed a fair coin until a head occurred. Then Bob tossed the coin until a head occurred. Suppose that the total number of tosses for Alice and Bob was $7$.
Assuming that each toss is independent of each other, what is the probability that Alice tossed the coin exactly three times?
Add to solve later Probability of Getting Two Red Balls From the Chosen Box
Problem 751
There are two boxes containing red and blue balls. Let us call the boxes Box A and Box B. Each box contains the same number of red and blue balls. More specifically, Box A has 5 red balls and 5 blue balls. Box B has 20 red balls and 20 blue balls. You choose one box. Then draw two balls randomly from the chosen box without replacement, that is, you will not return the first ball into the box before picking up the second ball.
If you draw two balls with the same color, then you win. Otherwise, you lose. To maximize the chance of winning, which box should you pick?
Add to solve later Coupon Collecting Problem: Find the Expectation of Boxes to Collect All Toys
Problem 750
A box of some snacks includes one of five toys. The chances of getting any of the toys are equally likely and independent of the previous results.
(a) Suppose that you buy the box until you complete all the five toys. Find the expected number of boxes that you need to buy.
(b) Find the variance and the standard deviation of the event in part (a).
Add to solve later Can a Student Pass By Randomly Answering Multiple Choice Questions?
Problem 749
A final exam of the course Probability 101 consists of 10 multiple-choice questions. Each question has 4 possible answers and only one of them is a correct answer. To pass the course, 8 or more correct answers are necessary. Assume that a student has not studied probability at all and has no idea how to solve the questions. So the student decided to answer each questions randomly. Thus, for each of 10 questions, the student choose one of the 4 answers randomly and each choice is independent each other.
(1) What is the probability that the student answered correctly only one question among the 10 questions?
(2) Determine the probability that the student passes the course.
(3) What is the expected value of the number of questions the student answered correctly?
(4) Find the variance and standard deviation of the number of questions the student answered correctly.
Add to solve later Given the Variance of a Bernoulli Random Variable, Find Its Expectation
Problem 748
Suppose that $X$ is a random variable with Bernoulli distribution $B_p$ with probability parameter $p$.
Assume that the variance $V(X) = 0.21$. We further assume that $p > 0.5$.
(a) Find the probability $p$.
(b) Find the expectation $E(X)$.
Add to solve later Expectation, Variance, and Standard Deviation of Bernoulli Random Variables
Problem 747
A random variable $X$ is said to be a Bernoulli random variable if its probability mass function is given by
\begin{align*}
P(X=0) &= 1-p\\
P(X=1) & = p
\end{align*}
for some real number $0 \leq p \leq 1$.
(1) Find the expectation of the Bernoulli random variable $X$ with probability $p$.
(2) Find the variance of $X$.
(3) Find the standard deviation of $X$.
Add to solve later Probability that Alice Wins n Games Before Bob Wins m Games
Problem 746
Alice and Bob play some game against each other. The probability that Alice wins one game is $p$. Assume that each game is independent.
If Alice wins $n$ games before Bob wins $m$ games, then Alice becomes the champion of the game. What is the probability that Alice becomes the champion.
Add to solve later Probabilities of An Infinite Sequence of Die Rolling
Problem 745
Consider an infinite series of events of rolling a fair six-sided die. Assume that each event is independent of each other. For each of the below, determine its probability.
(1) At least one die lands on the face 5 in the first $n$ rolls.
(2) Exactly $k$ dice land on the face 5 in the first $n \geq k$ rolls.
(3) Every die roll results in the face 5.
Add to solve later Interchangeability of Limits and Probability of Increasing or Decreasing Sequence of Events
Problem 744
A sequence of events $\{E_n\}_{n \geq 1}$ is said to be increasing if it satisfies the ascending condition
\[E_1 \subset E_2 \subset \cdots \subset E_n \subset \cdots.\]
Also, a sequence $\{E_n\}_{n \geq 1}$ is called decreasing if it satisfies the descending condition
\[E_1 \supset E_2 \supset \cdots \supset E_n \supset \cdots.\]
When $\{E_n\}_{n \geq 1}$ is an increasing sequence, we define a new event denoted by $\lim_{n \to \infty} E_n$ by
\[\lim_{n \to \infty} E_n := \bigcup_{n=1}^{\infty} E_n.\]
Also, when $\{E_n\}_{n \geq 1}$ is a decreasing sequence, we define a new event denoted by $\lim_{n \to \infty} E_n$ by
\[\lim_{n \to \infty} E_n := \bigcap_{n=1}^{\infty} E_n.\]
(1) Suppose that $\{E_n\}_{n \geq 1}$ is an increasing sequence of events. Then prove the equality of probabilities
\[\lim_{n \to \infty} P(E_n) = P\left(\lim_{n \to \infty} E_n \right).\]
Hence, the limit and the probability are interchangeable.
(2) Suppose that $\{E_n\}_{n \geq 1}$ is a decreasing sequence of events. Then prove the equality of probabilities
\[\lim_{n \to \infty} P(E_n) = P\left(\lim_{n \to \infty} E_n \right). \]
Add to solve later Linearity of Expectations E(X+Y) = E(X) + E(Y)
Problem 743
Let $X, Y$ be discrete random variables. Prove the linearity of expectations described as
\[E(X+Y) = E(X) + E(Y).\]
Add to solve later Successful Probability of a Communication Network Diagram
Problem 742
Consider the network diagram in the figure. The diagram consists of five links and each of them fails to communicate with probability $p$. Answer the following questions about this network.
(1) Determine the probability that there exists at least one path from A to B where every link on the path functions without errors. Express the answer in term of $p$.
(2) Assume that exactly one link has failed. In this case, what is the probability that there is a successful path from A to B, that is, each link on the path has not fail.
Add to solve later Lower and Upper Bounds of the Probability of the Intersection of Two Events
Problem 741
Let $A, B$ be events with probabilities $P(A)=2/5$, $P(B)=5/6$, respectively. Find the best lower and upper bound of the probability $P(A \cap B)$ of the intersection $A \cap B$. Namely, find real numbers $a, b$ such that
\[a \leq P(A \cap B) \leq b\]
and $P(A \cap B)$ could take any values between $a$ and $b$.
Add to solve later Find the Conditional Probability About Math Exam Experiment
Problem 740
A researcher conducted the following experiment. Students were grouped into two groups. The students in the first group had more than 6 hours of sleep and took a math exam. The students in the second group had less than 6 hours of sleep and took the same math exam.
The pass rate of the first group was twice as big as the second group. Suppose that $60\%$ of the students were in the first group. What is the probability that a randomly selected student belongs to the first group if the student passed the exam?
Add to solve later 
