17 problems found
Solution:
The continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function \[ f(x) = \begin{cases} \lambda e^{-\lambda x} & \text{for } x \geqslant 0, \\ 0 & \text{otherwise,} \end{cases} \] where \(\lambda\) is a positive constant. The random variable \(Y\) is the greatest integer less than or equal to \(X\), and \(Z = X - Y\).
Solution:
Adam and Eve are catching fish. The number of fish, \(X\), that Adam catches in any time interval is Poisson distributed with parameter \(\lambda t\), where \(\lambda\) is a constant and \(t\) is the length of the time interval. The number of fish, \(Y\), that Eve catches in any time interval is Poisson distributed with parameter \(\mu t\), where \(\mu\) is a constant and \(t\) is the length of the time interval The two Poisson variables are independent. You may assume that the expected time between Adam catching a fish and Adam catching his next fish is \(\lambda^{-1}\), and similarly for Eve.
Solution:
An internet tester sends \(n\) e-mails simultaneously at time \(t=0\). Their arrival times at their destinations are independent random variables each having probability density function \(\lambda \e^{-\lambda t}\) (\(0\le t<\infty\), \( \lambda >0\)).
Solution:
The maximum height \(X\) of flood water each year on a certain river is a random variable with probability density function \(\f\) given by \[ \f(x) = \begin{cases} \lambda \e^{-\lambda x} & \text{for \(x\ge0\)}\,, \\ 0 & \text{otherwise,} \end{cases} \] where \(\lambda\) is a positive constant. It costs \(ky\) pounds each year to prepare for flood water of height \(y\) or less, where \(k\) is a positive constant and \(y\ge0\). If \(X \le y\) no further costs are incurred but if \(X> y\) the additional cost of flood damage is \(a(X - y )\) pounds where \(a\) is a positive constant.
Solution:
The lifetime of a fly (measured in hours) is given by the continuous random variable \(T\) with probability density function \(f(t)\) and cumulative distribution function \(F(t)\). The hazard function, \(h(t)\), is defined, for \(F(t) < 1\), by \[ h(t) = \frac{f(t)}{1-F(t)}\,. \]
Solution:
The random variable \(X\) can take the value \(X=-1\), and also any value in the range \(0\le X <\infty\,\). The distribution of \(X\) is given by \[ \P(X=-1) =m \,, \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \P(0\le X\le x) = k(1-\e^{-x})\,, \] for any non-negative number \(x\), where \(k\) and \(m\) are constants, and \(m <\frac12\,\).
Solution:
Brief interruptions to my work occur on average every ten minutes and the number of interruptions in any given time period has a Poisson distribution. Given that an interruption has just occurred, find the probability that I will have less than \(t\) minutes to work before the next interruption. If the random variable \(T\) is the time I have to work before the next interruption, find the probability density function of \(T\,\). I need an uninterrupted half hour to finish an important paper. Show that the expected number of interruptions before my first uninterrupted period of half an hour or more is \(\e^3-1\). Find also the expected length of time between interruptions that are less than half an hour apart. Hence write down the expected wait before my first uninterrupted period of half an hour or more.
In order to get money from a cash dispenser I have to punch in an identification number. I have forgotten my identification number, but I do know that it is equally likely to be any one of the integers \(1\), \(2\), \ldots , \(n\). I plan to punch in integers in order until I get the right one. I can do this at the rate of \(r\) integers per minute. As soon as I punch in the first wrong number, the police will be alerted. The probability that they will arrive within a time \(t\) minutes is \(1-\e^{-\lambda t}\), where \(\lambda\) is a positive constant. If I follow my plan, show that the probability of the police arriving before I get my money is \[ \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1-\e^{-\lambda(k-1)/r}}n\;. \] Simplify the sum. On past experience, I know that I will be so flustered that I will just punch in possible integers at random, without noticing which I have already tried. Show that the probability of the police arriving before I get my money is \[ 1-\frac1{n-(n-1)\e^{-\lambda/r}} \;. \]
A continuous random variable is said to have an exponential distribution with parameter \(\lambda\) if its density function is \(\f(t) = \lambda \e ^{- \lambda t} \; \l 0 \le t < \infty \r\,\). If \(X_1\) and \(X_2\), which are independent random variables, have exponential distributions with parameters \(\lambda_1\) and \(\lambda_2\) respectively, find an expression for the probability that either \(X_1\) or \(X_2\) (or both) is less than \(x\). Prove that if \(X\) is the random variable whose value is the lesser of the values of \(X_1\) and \(X_2\), then \(X\) also has an exponential distribution. Route A and Route B buses run from my house to my college. The time between buses on each route has an exponential distribution and the mean time between buses is 15 minutes for Route A and 30 minutes for Route B. The timings of the buses on the two routes are independent. If I emerge from my house one day to see a Route A bus and a Route B bus just leaving the stop, show that the median wait for the next bus to my college will be approximately 7 minutes.
A random variable \(X\) has the probability density function \[ \mathrm{f}(x)=\begin{cases} \lambda\mathrm{e}^{-\lambda x} & x\geqslant0,\\ 0 & x<0. \end{cases} \] Show that $${\rm P}(X>s+t\,\vert X>t) = {\rm P}(X>s).$$ The time it takes an assistant to serve a customer in a certain shop is a random variable with the above distribution and the times for different customers are independent. If, when I enter the shop, the only two assistants are serving one customer each, what is the probability that these customers are both still being served at time \(t\) after I arrive? One of the assistants finishes serving his customer and immediately starts serving me. What is the probability that I am still being served when the other customer has finished being served?
Solution: \begin{align*} && \mathbb{P}(X > t) &= \int_t^{\infty} \lambda e^{-\lambda x} \d x\\ &&&= \left[ -e^{-\lambda x} \right]_t^\infty \\ &&&= e^{-\lambda t}\\ \\ && \mathbb{P}(X > s + t | X > t) &= \frac{\mathbb{P}(X > s + t)}{\mathbb{P}(X > t)} \\ &&&= \frac{e^{-(s+t)\lambda}}{e^{-t\lambda}} \\ &&&= e^{-s\lambda} = \mathbb{P}(X > s) \end{align*} The probability both are still being served (independently) is \(\mathbb{P}(X > t)^2 = e^{-2\lambda t}\). The probability is exactly \(\frac12\). The property we proved in the first part of the questions shows the distribution is memoryless, ie we are both experiencing samples from the same distribution. Therefore we are equally likely to finish first.
The maximum height \(X\) of flood water each year on a certain river is a random variable with density function \begin{equation*} {\mathrm f}(x)= \begin{cases} \exp(-x)&\text{if \(x\geqslant 0\),}\\ 0&\text{otherwise}. \end{cases} \end{equation*} It costs \(y\) megadollars each year to prepare for flood water of height \(y\) or less. If \(X\leqslant y\) no further costs are incurred but if \(X\geqslant y\) the cost of flood damage is \(r+s(X-y)\) megadollars where \(r,s>0\). The total cost \(T\) megadollars is thus given by \begin{equation*} T= \begin{cases} y&\text{if \(X\leqslant y\)},\\ y+r+s(X-y)&\text{if \(X>y\)}. \end{cases} \end{equation*} Show that we can minimise the expected total cost by taking \[y=\ln(r+s).\]
Solution:
Whenever I go cycling I start with my bike in good working order. However if all is well at time \(t\), the probability that I get a puncture in the small interval \((t,t+\delta t)\) is \(\alpha\,\delta t.\) How many punctures can I expect to get on a journey during which my total cycling time is \(T\)? When I get a puncture I stop immediately to repair it and the probability that, if I am repairing it at time \(t\), the repair will be completed in time \((t,t+\delta t)\) is \(\beta\,\delta t.\) If \(p(t)\) is the probability that I am repairing a puncture at time \(t\), write down an equation relating \(p(t)\) to \(p(t+\delta t)\), and derive from this a differential equation relating \(p'(t)\) and \(p(t).\) Show that \[ p(t)=\frac{\alpha}{\alpha+\beta}(1-\mathrm{e}^{-(\alpha+\beta)t}) \] satisfies this differential equation with the appropriate initial condition. Find an expression, involving \(\alpha,\beta\) and \(T\), for the time expected to be spent mending punctures during a journey of total time \(T\). Hence, or otherwise, show that, the fraction of the journey expected to be spent mending punctures is given approximately by \[ \quad\frac{\alpha T}{2}\quad\ \mbox{ if }(\alpha+\beta)T\text{ is small, } \] and by \[ \frac{\alpha}{\alpha+\beta}\quad\mbox{ if }(\alpha+\beta)T\text{ is large.} \]
Each of my \(n\) students has to hand in an essay to me. Let \(T_{i}\) be the time at which the \(i\)th essay is handed in and suppose that \(T_{1},T_{2},\ldots,T_{n}\) are independent, each with probability density function \(\lambda\mathrm{e}^{-\lambda t}\) (\(t\geqslant0\)). Let \(T\) be the time I receive the first essay to be handed in and let \(U\) be the time I receive the last one.
Solution: