EXAMPLES/EXERCISES on DISCRETE PROBABILITY

Random Experiments, Sample Spaces tosses?

and Eventse 4. Consider tossing a die twice. What is the
1. For each of the following random probability of obtaining
experiments, identify the sample points in a) an odd number both times?
the sample space, and if possible, the event b) an even number on the first die and a
space: number less than five on the second die?
a) Rolling a die
b) Tossing a coin
c) Tossing two(2) distinguishable coins Discrete Random Variables and
d) Shooting a ball from the free-throw line Probability Distributions
in to a basket until a shot is made. 1. Define a valid random variable for the
e) Taking the Masters comprehensive exam random experiment of selecting four balls
until one passes the exam or the exam from an urn containing five red balls, three
has been taken three times. blue balls and four white balls.
2. Consider rolling two(2) distinguishable dice. 2. For each of the following determine if the
List down the sample points of given random variable is valid and explain
a) the sample space S briefly why or why not.
b) the event that the first die results in a
a) Consider tossing a coin twice. Define X
one(1)
such that X=1 if at least one head is
c) the event that the sum of the two dice is
obtained and X=0 if the outcomes on
four(4)
both tosses are the same.
d) the event that both dice are even
e) the event that the outcome on the first b) Consider rolling two dice. Define X to be
die is greater than or equal to the the absolute difference of the outcomes
outcome on the second die. observed, i.e., X=|a-b| where a is the
outcome on the first die; and b that of
3. Consider rolling two(2) indistinguishable
the second.
dice. List down the sample points of
a) the sample space S c) Consider rolling a die. Define the
b) the event that the one of the die results random variable Y such that Y=0 if the
in a one(1) number obtained is greater than 2 and
c) the event that the sum of the two dice is Y=1 if the number obtained is greater
four(4) than 2.
d) the event that both dice are even 3. Consider the random experiment of tossing
4. Consider drawing two balls with three coins. Let X be the number of heads
replacement from an urn containing one red obtained in the outcome. List down the
ball and two blue balls. List down the sample points corresponding to the event
sample points of: where X > 1.
a) the sample space S 4. A mail man distributes three letters at
b) the event of obtaining exactly one red random to three mailboxes.
ball a) Find the values of the random variable M
c) the event of obtaining at least one red that represents the number of correct
ball matches for each of the sample points in
the sample space.
Mutually Exclusive Events, Conditional b) Also find the probabilities associated
Probability and Independent Events with each possible value of M.
1. Consider tossing two coins. What is the 5. Find the probability distribution of the sum
probability of obtaining two tails or a head of the numbers when a pair of dice is
on the first coin? tossed. (That is, list down all possible
values of the sum of the numbers and their
2. Consider drawing a red card or a spade from
corresponding probabilities.)
a deck of 52 cards. What is the probability
of such an outcome? 6. Find the probability distribution of the
number of tails obtained when tossing a
3. Wakko and Yakko take turns tossing a coin
coin four times.
until a head turns up. If the coin is biased
such that P({H}) = 1/3 and Wakko is the 7. Consider tossing a coin five times where it is
first to toss the coin, what is the probability known that the probability of obtaining a
head is three times that of obtaining a tail.
a) of each winning?
What is the probability of obtaining
b) of Wakko winning after no more than six
 a) exactly three heads? b) the boxer will be able to retain the title
b) less than two heads? for at most five years?
8. Consider rolling a die six times. What is the 18. Pinky and Brain play a game of alternately
probability that rolling a die where the first one to get a six
a) exactly four dice will result in a number wins the game. What is the probability that
less than three? Pinky will win the game (i.e., he rolls the die
b) more than four dice will result in a and obtains a six) in eight rolls if Brain rolls
number less than three? the die first?
9. Suppose three balls are drawn with 19. Suppose a chip is drawn with replacement
replacement from an urn containing five from a bag containing three green chips and
gold balls and three silver balls. Find the one red chip until a red chip is drawn. What
probability that is the probability that it will take at least five
draws before a red chip will be drawn?
a) exactly two gold balls are obtained.
b) less than two gold balls are obtained.
10. Repeat item 9, but this time consider
drawing the balls without replacement.
11. Consider rolling a die six times. It is known
that the coin is biased such that obtaining
an even number is twice that of obtaining an
odd number. What is the probability that
three 2’s, two 1’s and one 4 will be
obtained.
12. An urn contains three green balls, two red
balls and four blue balls. If three balls are
drawn with replacement from the urn, find
the probability of obtaining:
a) one ball of each color;
b) two green balls and one blue ball;
c) three green balls;
13. Repeat item 12 but this time consider
drawing the balls without replacement.
14. A lot containing 50 bulbs is known to include
10 defective fuses. What is the probability
that a sample of five fuses will include three
defective fuses?
15. A committee of five people are to be
selected at random from a high school class
of 40 students of which 22 are boys. Find
the probability that the committee will
consist of
a) exactly three boys.
b) at most three boys.
16. Consider obtaining a poker hand (five cards)
from a deck of 52 cards. What is the
probability that
a) three cards are spades, one is a heart
and one is a diamond?
b) four a face cards and one is a number
less than 5?
17. A certain boxer wins a boxing title and
defends it every year. Suppose the boxer
has a 0.85 probability of winning a match
(regardless of who he fights) and as the
rules usually go, the boxer loses the title
once he loses. What is the probability that
a) the boxer will be able to retain the title
for 3 years (and lose it on the 4th year)?