Binomial and geometric distributions

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving problems related to binomial and geometric distributions. The user seeks confirmation on calculations for expected values, probabilities, and variance, specifically for X~B(5,0.25) and X~Geom(1/3). Corrections are provided for the expected value E(x^2) and the probability P(X=4), with guidance on using binomial coefficients and proper formulas. The user is advised on the correct approach to calculating probabilities for geometric distributions, particularly the error in their calculation for P(X>2). Overall, the thread emphasizes the importance of using accurate formulas and understanding the definitions of the distributions involved.
sara_87
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i was doing some exercises nut I'm not sure if my answers are correct
1) X~B(5,0.25) i have to find:
a) E(x^2) and my answer was 2.5, is this correct?
b) P(x(>or=to)4) and my answer was 0.0889, is this correct?

2) X~Geom(1/3) i have to find:
a) E(x) my answer is 1/3
b) E(x^2)
c) var(x)
d) P(X=4) my answer is 0.988
e) P(X>2) my answer is... -(1/18)
i don't know how to compute b) and c)
and i think d) is wrong
and i know e) is wrong.
can someone help please.
Thank you very much
 
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Would "yes" or "no" answers help you? Show what you did to get those answers and we can point out exactly where, if at all, you went wrong.
 
my working out is:
1) a) E(x^2)= var(x)+E(x)^2 = np(1-p+np)= 5(1/4)(1-1/4-5/4)=2.5
b) P(x(>or = to)4)= 1-P(x=3)-P(x=2)-P(x=1)-P(x=0)
using the formula P(x=m)=(nCm)P^m(1-p)^(n-m)
=1-(15/1024)-(135/512)-(405/1024)-(243/1024)=91/1024=0.0889

2) a)E(x)=1/p=1/(1/3)=3
b) and c) i have no idea
d) using the formula P(x=m)=P(1-P)^(m-1)
P(x=4)=1/3(1-1/3)^3=8/81=0.988
e) P(x>2)=1-P(x(<or=to)2)=1-P(x=2)-P(x=1)-P(x=0)
=1-(1/3)(2/3)-(1/3)(2/3)^0-(1/3)(2/3)^-1=-1/18
thank u very much
 
1a is correct except you meant +5/4) not -5/4).

For 1b can you write out the nCm terms?

2a is correct.

For 2b use the same formula as in 1a.

2c: Var(Geometric(p)) = (1-p)/p^2; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_distribution

2d: 1/3(1-1/3)^3 = 8/81 < 0.1 so it cannot be > 0.9 (i.e., you have made a fraction computation error).

2e: if the exponent is k-1 then k = 1, 2, ... OTOH, if the exponent is k, then k = 0, 1, 2, ... In either case, exponent term > 0 so it cannot be -1. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_distribution
 
for 1b:
my working including the ncm terms:
P(x(>or = to)4)= 1-P(x=3)-P(x=2)-P(x=1)-P(x=0)
using the formula P(x=m)=(nCm)P^m(1-p)^(n-m)
=1-[(5C3)(1/4)^3(1-1/4)^2]-[(5C2)(1/4)^2(1-1/4)^3]-[(5C1)(1/4)(1-1/4)^4]-[(5C0)(1/4)^0(1/1/4)^5]
=1-(15/1024)-(135/512)-(405/1024)-(243/1024)
=91/1024=0.0889

for 2e:
i looked at the link but i still haven't figured out what i had done wrong with my working out.

thank u very much for everything else.
 
sara_87 said:
for 2e:
i looked at the link but i still haven't figured out what i had done wrong with my working out.
You have the exponential term -1, which shouldn't be there under either definition of the geometric distribution (referenced on the page I linked to).

My guess is you should have 1 - (1/3)(2/3)^2 - (1/3)(2/3)^1 - (1/3)(2/3)^0, but you should verify that.

For 1b, you have:
1 - Binomial[5, 3] (1/4)^3 (1 - 1/4)^2 - Binomial[5, 2] (1/4)^2 (1 - 1/4)^3 - Binomial[5, 1] (1/4) (1 - 1/4)^4 - Binomial[5, 0] (1/4)^0 (1/1/4)^5, where Binomial[n,m] stands for nCm.

Binomial[5, 3] = Binomial[5, 2] = 10
Binomial[5, 1] = 5
Binomial[5, 0] = 1

so the expression is:
1 - 10 (1/4)^3 (1 - 1/4)^2 - 10 (1/4)^2 (1 - 1/4)^3 - 5 (1/4) (1 - 1/4)^4 - 1 (1/4)^0 (1 - 1/4)^5
=1 - 10 (1/4)^3 (3/4)^2 - 10 (1/4)^2 (3/4)^3 - 5 (1/4) (3/4)^4 - 1 (1/4)^0 (3/4)^5
= 1 - 10 (9/1024) - 10 (27/1024) - 5 (81/1024) - 1 (243/1024)
= 1- (90 + 270 + 405 + 243)/1024
= 1 - 1008/1024
= 1 - 504/512
= 8/512
= 1/64
= 0.015625
 
Last edited:
oh okay i see so the formula i used will only work if k=1,2,3... (as u said before)
so if i used the formula P(x=m)=P(1-P)^(m-1)
and did 1-P(x=2)-P(x=1)
=1-(1/3)(2/3)-(1/3)(2/3)^0
=4/9
would that work?
 
Shouldn't x=3 be part of your formula?
 
no it should only be for x=2 and x=1 as these are the ones strictly less than three
 
  • #10
Your OP stated "P(x(>or = to)4)," doesn't that exclude x=3?
 
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