Discrete Probability Distributions

Question Types
All Questions
gaokao 2021 Q18 Probability Distribution Table Completion and Expectation Calculation
18.
(1)
The probability distribution of $X$ is:
$$\begin{gathered} P ( X = 0 ) = 0.2 \\ P ( X = 20 ) = 0.8 \times ( 1 - 0.6 ) = 0.32 \\ P ( X = 100 ) = 0.8 \times 0.6 = 0.48 \end{gathered}$$
(2)
Given that type A questions are answered first, the mathematical expectation is...
gaokao 2024 Q18 Expectation and Variance from Context-Based Random Variables
Given that the premium for a certain insurance is 0.4 ten thousand yuan. For the first 3 claims, each claim pays 0.8 ten thousand yuan; the 4th claim pays 0.6 ten thousand yuan.
Number of Claims01234
Number of Policies800100603010

A sample of 100 policies is drawn from the population. Using frequency to estimate probability:
(1) Find the probability that a randomly selected policy has at least 2 claims;
(2) (i) Gross profit is the difference between premium and claim amount. Let gross profit be $X$. Estimate the mathematical expectation of $X$;
(ii) If policies with no claims have their premium reduced by 4\% in the next insurance period, and policies with claims have their premium increased by 20\%, estimate the mathematical expectation of gross profit for the next insurance period.
gaokao 2024 Q18 Binomial Distribution Identification and Application
A shooting competition is divided into two stages. Each participating team consists of two members. The specific rules are as follows: In the first stage, one team member shoots 3 times. If all 3 shots miss, the team is eliminated with a score of 0. If at least one shot is made, the team advances to the second stage, where the other team member shoots 3 times, earning 5 points for each made shot and 0 points for each missed shot. The team's final score is the total points from the second stage. A participating team consists of members A and B. Let the probability that A makes each shot be $p$, and the probability that B makes each shot be $q$. Each shot is independent.
(1) If $p = 0.4$ and $q = 0.5$, with A participating in the first stage, find the probability that the team's score is at least 5 points.
(2) Assume $0 < p < q$.
(i) To maximize the probability that the team's score is 15 points, who should participate in the first stage?
(ii) To maximize the expected value of the team's score, who should participate in the first stage?
grandes-ecoles 2016 QIV.A.1 Proof of Distributional Properties or Symmetry
Let $p \in ]0,1[$. Let $X_1, \ldots, X_n$ be mutually independent random variables, defined on a probability space $(\Omega, \mathcal{A}, P)$ and following the same Bernoulli distribution with parameter $p$.
Calculate the probability that $X_1, \ldots, X_n$ are all equal.
grandes-ecoles 2016 QIV.A.3 Deriving or Identifying a Probability Distribution from a Random Process
Let $p \in ]0,1[$. Let $X_1, \ldots, X_n$ be mutually independent random variables, defined on a probability space $(\Omega, \mathcal{A}, P)$ and following the same Bernoulli distribution with parameter $p$.
Let $i$ and $j$ be in $\{1, \ldots, n\}$. Give the distribution of the random variable $X_{i,j} = X_i \times X_j$.
grandes-ecoles 2016 QIV.A.5 Deriving or Identifying a Probability Distribution from a Random Process
Let $p \in ]0,1[$. Let $X_1, \ldots, X_n$ be mutually independent random variables following the same Bernoulli distribution with parameter $p$. Let $U(\omega) = (X_1(\omega), \ldots, X_n(\omega))^T$ and $M(\omega) = U(\omega)\,{}^t(U(\omega))$.
Give the distribution, expectation and variance of the random variables $\operatorname{tr}(M)$ and $\operatorname{rg}(M)$.
grandes-ecoles 2016 QIV.A.7 Proof of Distributional Properties or Symmetry
Let $p \in ]0,1[$. Let $X_1, \ldots, X_n$ be mutually independent random variables following the same Bernoulli distribution with parameter $p$. Let $U(\omega) = (X_1(\omega), \ldots, X_n(\omega))^T$ and $M(\omega) = U(\omega)\,{}^t(U(\omega))$.
What is the probability that $M$ has two distinct eigenvalues?
grandes-ecoles 2016 Q13a Proof of Distributional Properties or Symmetry
We assume that for all $d \geqslant 0$, $\mathbb{P}(X \in d\mathbb{Z}) < 1$. We consider a function $h$ uniformly continuous and bounded on $\mathbb{R}$ such that for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$, $h(x) \leqslant h(0)$ and $$h(x) = \sum_{i=0}^{+\infty} p_i h\left(x - x_i\right)$$ We recall that for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$ and $n \in \mathbb{N}$, $h(x) = \mathbb{E}\left(h\left(x - S_n\right)\right)$. Show that for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and $x \geqslant 0$ such that $\mathbb{P}\left(S_n = x\right) > 0$, we have $h(-x) = h(0)$.
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q24 Proof of Distributional Properties or Symmetry
Let $x \in \mathbb{R}$ such that $x > 1$. Show that we define the probability distribution of a random variable $X$ taking values in $\mathbb{N}^{*}$ by setting $$\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}, \quad \mathbb{P}(X = n) = \frac{1}{\zeta(x) n^{x}}$$
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q29 Proof of Distributional Properties or Symmetry
Let $x$ be a real number such that $x > 1$ and let $X$ be a random variable that follows the zeta distribution with parameter $x$, i.e. $$\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}, \quad \mathbb{P}(X = n) = \frac{1}{\zeta(x) n^{x}}$$ Let $(q_{1}, \ldots, q_{n}) \in \mathcal{P}^{n}$ be an $n$-tuple of distinct prime numbers. Show that the events $(X \in q_{1}\mathbb{N}^{*}), \ldots, (X \in q_{n}\mathbb{N}^{*})$ are mutually independent.
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q30 Limit and Convergence of Probabilistic Quantities
Let $x$ be a real number such that $x > 1$ and let $X$ be a random variable that follows the zeta distribution with parameter $x$, i.e. $$\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}, \quad \mathbb{P}(X = n) = \frac{1}{\zeta(x) n^{x}}$$ For all $n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}$, denote by $B_{n}$ the event $B_{n} = \bigcap_{k=1}^{n} (X \notin p_{k}\mathbb{N}^{*})$, where $p_1 < p_2 < \cdots$ are the prime numbers in increasing order.
Show that $\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \mathbb{P}(B_{n}) = \mathbb{P}(X = 1)$. Deduce that $$\forall x \in {]1,+\infty[}, \quad \frac{1}{\zeta(x)} = \lim_{n \rightarrow +\infty} \prod_{k=1}^{n} \left(1 - \frac{1}{p_{k}^{x}}\right)$$
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q31 Properties of Named Discrete Distributions (Non-Binomial)
Let $x \in \mathbb{R}$ such that $x > 1$. Let $X$ and $Y$ be two independent random variables each following a zeta probability distribution with parameter $x$, i.e. $$\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}, \quad \mathbb{P}(X = n) = \mathbb{P}(Y = n) = \frac{1}{\zeta(x) n^{x}}$$ Let $A$ be the event ``No prime number divides $X$ and $Y$ simultaneously''. For all $n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}$, denote by $C_{n}$ the event $$C_{n} = \bigcap_{k=1}^{n} \left((X \notin p_{k}\mathbb{N}^{*}) \cup (Y \notin p_{k}\mathbb{N}^{*})\right)$$ Express the event $A$ using the events $C_{n}$. Deduce that $$\mathbb{P}(A) = \frac{1}{\zeta(2x)}$$
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q32 Combinatorial Counting in Probabilistic Context
Let $U_{n}$ and $V_{n}$ be two independent random variables each following the uniform distribution on $\llbracket 1, n \rrbracket$. We denote by $W_{n} = U_{n} \wedge V_{n}$ (the GCD of $U_n$ and $V_n$).
For all $k \in \mathbb{N}^{*}$, show that $$\mathbb{P}\left(W_{n} \in k\mathbb{N}^{*}\right) = \left(\frac{\lfloor n/k \rfloor}{n}\right)^{2}$$
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q33 Limit and Convergence of Probabilistic Quantities
Let $U_{n}$ and $V_{n}$ be two independent random variables each following the uniform distribution on $\llbracket 1, n \rrbracket$, and $W_{n} = U_{n} \wedge V_{n}$. We admit that, for all $k \in \mathbb{N}^{*}$, the sequence $(\mathbb{P}(W_{n} = k))_{n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}}$ converges to a real number $\ell_{k}$.
Show that $$\forall \varepsilon > 0, \quad \exists M \in \mathbb{N}^{*} \text{ such that } \forall m \in \mathbb{N}^{*},\ m \geqslant M \Longrightarrow 1 - \varepsilon \leqslant \sum_{k=1}^{m} \ell_{k} \leqslant 1$$
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q34 Proof of Distributional Properties or Symmetry
Let $(\ell_k)_{k \in \mathbb{N}^*}$ be the limits defined in Q33, where $\ell_k = \lim_{n \to \infty} \mathbb{P}(W_n = k)$ and $W_n = U_n \wedge V_n$ for independent uniform random variables $U_n, V_n$ on $\llbracket 1, n \rrbracket$.
Using the result of Q33, deduce that $(\ell_{k})_{k \in \mathbb{N}^{*}}$ defines a probability distribution on $\mathbb{N}^{*}$.
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q35 Properties of Named Discrete Distributions (Non-Binomial)
Let $W$ be a random variable on $\mathbb{N}^{*}$ that follows the probability distribution $(\ell_k)_{k \in \mathbb{N}^*}$, where $\ell_k = \lim_{n \to \infty} \mathbb{P}(W_n = k)$ and $W_n = U_n \wedge V_n$ for independent uniform random variables $U_n, V_n$ on $\llbracket 1, n \rrbracket$.
We admit that for all $B \subseteq \mathbb{N}^*$, $\mathbb{P}(W \in B) = \lim_{n \to \infty} \mathbb{P}(W_n \in B)$, and that if $X$ and $Y$ are two random variables taking values in $\mathbb{N}^*$ with $\mathbb{P}(X \in a\mathbb{N}^*) = \mathbb{P}(Y \in a\mathbb{N}^*)$ for all $a \in \mathbb{N}^*$, then $X$ and $Y$ have the same distribution.
Specify the distribution of $W$. By considering $\ell_{1}$, what can we then conclude?
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q36 Proof of Distributional Properties or Symmetry
Let $\left(X_{n}\right)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of mutually independent Rademacher random variables. We denote, for every integer $n \geqslant 1$, $S_{n} = \sum_{j=1}^{n} X_{j}$. Let $k$ be an integer such that $-n \leqslant k \leqslant n$. Show that, if $n$ and $k$ do not have the same parity, then $\mathbb{P}\left(S_{n} = k\right) = 0$.
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q37 Deriving or Identifying a Probability Distribution from a Random Process
Let $\left(X_{n}\right)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of mutually independent Rademacher random variables. We denote $S_{n} = \sum_{j=1}^{n} X_{j}$. Let $k$ be an integer such that $-n \leqslant k \leqslant n$. Show that, if $n$ and $k$ have the same parity, $\mathbb{P}\left(S_{n} = k\right) = \binom{n}{(k+n)/2} \frac{1}{2^{n}}$.
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q38 Expectation and Variance from Context-Based Random Variables
Let $\left(X_{n}\right)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of mutually independent Rademacher random variables and $S_{n} = \sum_{j=1}^{n} X_{j}$. For $x$ real, $\lfloor x \rfloor$ denotes the integer part of $x$. For all real numbers $\delta > 0$ and $\tau > 0$, calculate $\mathbb{V}\left(\delta S_{\lfloor 1/\tau \rfloor}\right)$, the variance of the random variable $\delta S_{\lfloor 1/\tau \rfloor}$.
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q39 Limit and Convergence of Probabilistic Quantities
Let $\left(X_{n}\right)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of mutually independent Rademacher random variables and $S_{n} = \sum_{j=1}^{n} X_{j}$. Show that, for every real number $\delta$, $\mathbb{V}\left(\delta S_{\lfloor 1/\tau \rfloor}\right)$ is equivalent to $\frac{\delta^{2}}{\tau}$, as $\tau$ tends to 0 from above.
grandes-ecoles 2018 Q40 Recurrence Relations and Sequences Involving Probabilities
Let $\left(X_{n}\right)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of mutually independent Rademacher random variables and $S_{n} = \sum_{j=1}^{n} X_{j}$. For every $n \in \mathbb{N}^{*}$ and every $k \in \mathbb{Z}$, by setting $p_{n}(k) = \mathbb{P}\left(S_{n} = k\right)$, show that $$\frac{p_{n+1}(k) - p_{n}(k)}{\tau} = \frac{\delta^{2}}{2\tau} \frac{p_{n}(k+1) - 2p_{n}(k) + p_{n}(k-1)}{\delta^{2}}$$
grandes-ecoles 2019 Q8 Recurrence Relations and Sequences Involving Probabilities
We have an infinite supply of black and white balls. An urn initially contains one black ball and one white ball. We perform a sequence of draws according to the following protocol:
  • we randomly draw a ball from the urn;
  • we replace the drawn ball in the urn;
  • we add to the urn a ball of the same color as the drawn ball.
We define the sequence $(X_{n})_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ of random variables by $X_{0} = 1$ and, for all integers $n \geqslant 1$, $X_{n}$ gives the number of white balls in the urn after $n$ draws.
Let $n$ and $k$ be two integers greater than or equal to 1. Establish that $$P(X_{n} = k) = \frac{k-1}{n+1} P(X_{n-1} = k-1) + \frac{n+1-k}{n+1} P(X_{n-1} = k).$$
grandes-ecoles 2019 Q11 Deriving or Identifying a Probability Distribution from a Random Process
We have an infinite supply of black and white balls. An urn initially contains one black ball and one white ball. We perform a sequence of draws according to the following protocol:
  • we randomly draw a ball from the urn;
  • we replace the drawn ball in the urn;
  • we add to the urn a ball of the same color as the drawn ball.
We define the sequence $(X_{n})_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ of random variables by $X_{0} = 1$ and, for all integers $n \geqslant 1$, $X_{n}$ gives the number of white balls in the urn after $n$ draws.
Identify the distribution of $X_{n}$ and give its expectation.
grandes-ecoles 2019 Q12 Deriving or Identifying a Probability Distribution from a Random Process
We consider a balanced urn with $a_{0} = 1, b_{0} = 0, a = d = 0$ and $b = c = 1$. In other words, the urn initially contains one white ball and, at each draw, we add a ball of the opposite color to the one that was drawn.
By listing all possible outcomes, give the distribution of $X_{3}$.
grandes-ecoles 2019 Q13 Deriving or Identifying a Probability Distribution from a Random Process
We consider a balanced urn with $a_{0} = 1, b_{0} = 0, a = d = 0$ and $b = c = 1$. In other words, the urn initially contains one white ball and, at each draw, we add a ball of the opposite color to the one that was drawn. For all real $u$ and $v$, we set $P_{0}(u,v) = u^{a_{0}} v^{b_{0}}$ and $P_{n}(u,v) = \sum_{\omega \in \Omega_{n}} u^{b(\omega)} v^{n(\omega)}$.
Verify that $P_{3}(u,v) = uv^{3} + 4u^{2}v^{2} + u^{3}v$.