Expectation and Variance from Context-Based Random Variables
The question defines a random variable through a real-world scenario (insurance, profit, games) and asks the student to compute or interpret its expectation and/or variance without necessarily identifying a named distribution.
A store sells a popular action figure through a lottery. Each lottery draw is independent with a probability of winning of $\frac{2}{5}$. Participants can participate in the lottery using one of the following two methods. Method 1: Pay 225 yuan to get two lottery chances. Stop drawing as soon as you win and receive one action figure. If you fail to win in both draws, you must pay an additional 75 yuan to receive one action figure. Method 2: Unlimited number of lottery draws, paying 100 yuan per draw. Assuming there is no limit on spending until obtaining one action figure, find the expected value of the amount paid to obtain one action figure using each of the two lottery methods, and explain the relationship between these two expected values. (Non-multiple choice question, 6 points)
A holiday market stall offers ``test your luckācute dolls regularly priced at 480 yuan can be purchased for as low as 240 yuan''. The rules are: customers flip a fair coin up to 5 times. If 3 consecutive heads are obtained in the first 3 flips, they can purchase a doll for 240 yuan. If 3 heads are accumulated by the 4th flip, they can purchase for 320 yuan. If 3 heads are accumulated by the 5th flip, they can purchase for 400 yuan. If 3 heads are not accumulated after 5 flips, they can purchase for 480 yuan. The expected value of the amount a customer spends to purchase a doll is (15-1) (15-2) (15-3) yuan.