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A random variable X has probability density function given by \[ \mathrm{f}(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}k(3-x) & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant 2 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise, }\end{array}\right. \] where k is a constant. a) Show that \( \mathrm{k}=\frac{2}{3} \). b) Find the median of X .

Ask by Ball Barber. in the Philippines
Mar 20,2025

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Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

\( k = \frac{2}{3} \) and the median of \( X \) is \( 3 - \frac{\sqrt{10}}{2} \).

Solution

To solve the problem, we will follow the steps outlined: ### Part (a): Show that \( k = \frac{2}{3} \) The probability density function (PDF) must satisfy the condition that the total area under the curve is equal to 1. This means we need to integrate the PDF over its defined range and set the result equal to 1. The PDF is given by: \[ \mathrm{f}(x) = k(3 - x) \quad \text{for } 1 \leq x \leq 2 \] We will calculate the integral of \( \mathrm{f}(x) \) from 1 to 2: \[ \int_{1}^{2} \mathrm{f}(x) \, dx = \int_{1}^{2} k(3 - x) \, dx \] Calculating the integral: \[ \int_{1}^{2} (3 - x) \, dx = \left[ 3x - \frac{x^2}{2} \right]_{1}^{2} \] Now, we will evaluate this expression: 1. Calculate at \( x = 2 \): \[ 3(2) - \frac{(2)^2}{2} = 6 - 2 = 4 \] 2. Calculate at \( x = 1 \): \[ 3(1) - \frac{(1)^2}{2} = 3 - 0.5 = 2.5 \] Now, subtract the two results: \[ 4 - 2.5 = 1.5 \] Thus, we have: \[ \int_{1}^{2} k(3 - x) \, dx = k \cdot 1.5 \] Setting this equal to 1: \[ k \cdot 1.5 = 1 \implies k = \frac{1}{1.5} = \frac{2}{3} \] ### Conclusion for Part (a): We have shown that \( k = \frac{2}{3} \). ### Part (b): Find the median of \( X \) The median \( m \) of a random variable is the value such that: \[ P(X \leq m) = 0.5 \] This means we need to find \( m \) such that: \[ \int_{1}^{m} \mathrm{f}(x) \, dx = 0.5 \] Substituting the PDF: \[ \int_{1}^{m} \frac{2}{3}(3 - x) \, dx = 0.5 \] Calculating the integral: \[ \int_{1}^{m} (3 - x) \, dx = \left[ 3x - \frac{x^2}{2} \right]_{1}^{m} \] Evaluating this: 1. At \( x = m \): \[ 3m - \frac{m^2}{2} \] 2. At \( x = 1 \): \[ 3(1) - \frac{(1)^2}{2} = 3 - 0.5 = 2.5 \] Thus, we have: \[ \int_{1}^{m} (3 - x) \, dx = \left( 3m - \frac{m^2}{2} \right) - 2.5 \] Setting this equal to \( 0.5 \): \[ \frac{2}{3} \left( 3m - \frac{m^2}{2} - 2.5 \right) = 0.5 \] Multiplying both sides by \( \frac{3}{2} \): \[ 3m - \frac{m^2}{2} - 2.5 = \frac{3}{4} \] Rearranging gives: \[ 3m - \frac{m^2}{2} = 2.5 + \frac{3}{4} = 2.5 + 0.75 = 3.25 \] Multiplying through by 2 to eliminate the fraction: \[ 6m - m^2 = 6.5 \] Rearranging gives: \[ m^2 - 6m + 6.5 = 0 \] Now we will solve this quadratic equation using the quadratic formula: \[ m = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \] where \( a = 1, b = -6, c = 6.5 \). Calculating the discriminant: \[ b^2 - 4ac = (-6)^2 - 4(1)(6.5) = 36 - 26 = 10 \] Now substituting into the quadratic formula: \[ m = \frac{6 \pm \sqrt{10}}{2} \] Calculating the two possible values: \[ m = 3 \pm \frac{\sqrt{10}}{2} \] Since \( m \) must be between 1 and 2, we take the negative root: \[ m = 3 - \frac{\sqrt{10}}{2} \] ### Conclusion for Part (b): The median of \( X \) is \( m = 3 - \frac{\sqrt{10}}{2} \).

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The Deep Dive

To solve the problem, we will first find the value of the constant \( k \) in the probability density function (PDF) defined as: \[ f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}k(3-x) & 1 \leqslant x \leqslant 2 \\ 0 & \text{otherwise, }\end{array}\right. \] ### Part (a): Show that \( k=\frac{2}{3} \) To determine \( k \), we need the total area under the curve of the PDF to equal 1, since the total probability must equal 1. Thus, we set up the integral: \[ \int_{1}^{2} f(x) \, dx = 1 \] Substituting in the expression for \( f(x) \): \[ \int_{1}^{2} k(3-x) \, dx = 1 \] Now we compute the integral: \[ \int_{1}^{2} (3 - x) \, dx = \left[ 3x - \frac{x^2}{2} \right]_{1}^{2} \] Calculating the limits: 1. For \( x=2 \): \[ 3(2) - \frac{(2)^2}{2} = 6 - 2 = 4 \] 2. For \( x=1 \): \[ 3(1) - \frac{(1)^2}{2} = 3 - \frac{1}{2} = 2.5 \] Thus, the value of the integral from 1 to 2 is: \[ 4 - 2.5 = 1.5 \] Substituting back, we have: \[ k(1.5) = 1 \implies k = \frac{1}{1.5} = \frac{2}{3} \] ### Part (b): Find the median of \( X \) The median \( m \) of a continuous random variable \( X \) is defined such that: \[ P(X \leq m) = \frac{1}{2} \] This means we need to find \( m \) such that: \[ \int_{1}^{m} f(x) \, dx = \frac{1}{2} \] Using \( k = \frac{2}{3} \): \[ \int_{1}^{m} \frac{2}{3} (3 - x) \, dx = \frac{1}{2} \] Calculating the integral: \[ \int_{1}^{m} (3 - x) \, dx = \left[ 3x - \frac{x^2}{2} \right]_{1}^{m} = \left(3m - \frac{m^2}{2}\right) - \left(3 - \frac{1}{2}\right) = 3m - \frac{m^2}{2} - 2.5 \] Substituting this into our equation: \[ \frac{2}{3} \left( 3m - \frac{m^2}{2} - 2.5 \right) = \frac{1}{2} \] Clearing the fraction by multiplying both sides by 3: \[ 2(3m - \frac{m^2}{2} - 2.5) = \frac{3}{2} \] This simplifies to: \[ 6m - m^2 - 5 = \frac{3}{2} \] Rearranging gives us the quadratic equation: \[ -m^2 + 6m - \frac{13}{2} = 0 \] Multiplying through by -2 to eliminate the fraction: \[ m^2 - 12m + 13 = 0 \] We can solve for \( m \) using the quadratic formula: \[ m = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} = \frac{12 \pm \sqrt{(-12)^2 - 4(1)(13)}}{2(1)} \] Calculating the discriminant: \[ 144 - 52 = 92 \] So: \[ m = \frac{12 \pm \sqrt{92}}{2} = 6 \pm \sqrt{23} \] Since \( m \) must be within the range [1, 2], we take: \[ m = 6 - \sqrt{23} \] Calculating: We know that \( \sqrt{23} \approx

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