TN Online TestSamacheer Kalvi · 1–12

12ஆம் வகுப்பு கணிதவியல் — நிகழ்தகவு பரவல்கள்: Book Back MCQs with Answers & Explanations

Every multiple-choice question from நிகழ்தகவு பரவல்கள் (12ஆம் வகுப்பு கணிதவியல், Samacheer Kalvi) with the correct option highlighted and a clear, worked explanation. 20 questions in all — free to read in English and Tamil.

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Q1

Let \(X\) be a random variable with probability density function

\[ f(x)=\begin{cases}\dfrac{2}{x^{3}} & x\ge 1 \\ 0 & x\lt 1 \end{cases} \]

Which of the following statements is correct?

  • A. both mean and variance exist
  • B. mean exists but variance does not existCorrect
  • C. both mean and variance do not exist
  • D. variance exists but mean does not exist
Explanation.

The mean is \(E(X)=\displaystyle\int_{1}^{\infty} x\cdot\dfrac{2}{x^{3}}\,dx=\int_{1}^{\infty}\dfrac{2}{x^{2}}\,dx=\left[-\dfrac{2}{x}\right]_{1}^{\infty}=2\), which is finite. For the variance we first need \(E(X^{2})=\displaystyle\int_{1}^{\infty} x^{2}\cdot\dfrac{2}{x^{3}}\,dx=\int_{1}^{\infty}\dfrac{2}{x}\,dx=\big[\,2\ln x\,\big]_{1}^{\infty}\), and this integral diverges. Since \(E(X^{2})\) is infinite, \(\operatorname{Var}(X)=E(X^{2})-\big(E(X)\big)^{2}\) cannot be evaluated. Hence the mean exists but the variance does not.

Q2

A rod of length \(2l\) is broken into two pieces at random. The probability density function of the shorter of the two pieces is

\[ f(x)=\begin{cases}\dfrac{1}{l} & 0\lt x\lt l \\ 0 & \text{otherwise} \end{cases} \]

The mean and variance of the shorter piece are respectively

  • A. \( \dfrac{l}{2},\ \dfrac{l^{2}}{2} \)
  • B. \( \dfrac{l}{2},\ \dfrac{l^{2}}{3} \)
  • C. \( l,\ \dfrac{l^{2}}{12} \)
  • D. \( \dfrac{l}{2},\ \dfrac{l^{2}}{12} \)Correct
Explanation.

The shorter piece is uniformly distributed on \((0,l)\). Its mean is \(E(X)=\displaystyle\int_{0}^{l} x\cdot\dfrac{1}{l}\,dx=\dfrac{1}{l}\cdot\dfrac{l^{2}}{2}=\dfrac{l}{2}\). Next, \(E(X^{2})=\displaystyle\int_{0}^{l} x^{2}\cdot\dfrac{1}{l}\,dx=\dfrac{1}{l}\cdot\dfrac{l^{3}}{3}=\dfrac{l^{2}}{3}\). Therefore \(\operatorname{Var}(X)=E(X^{2})-\big(E(X)\big)^{2}=\dfrac{l^{2}}{3}-\dfrac{l^{2}}{4}=\dfrac{l^{2}}{12}\). So the mean is \(\dfrac{l}{2}\) and the variance is \(\dfrac{l^{2}}{12}\).

Q3

Consider a game where the player tosses a six-sided fair die. If the face that comes up is \(6\), the player wins ₹36; otherwise he loses ₹\(k^{2}\), where \(k\) is the face that comes up \((k=1,2,3,4,5)\). The expected amount to win at this game (in ₹) is

  • A. \( \dfrac{19}{6} \)
  • B. \( -\dfrac{19}{6} \)Correct
  • C. \( \dfrac{3}{6} \)
  • D. \( -\dfrac{3}{6} \)
Explanation.

Each face of a fair die has probability \(\dfrac{1}{6}\). The player gains ₹36 only when a 6 appears, and loses ₹\(k^{2}\) for the faces \(k=1,2,3,4,5\). Hence the expected winning is \(E=\dfrac{1}{6}(36)+\dfrac{1}{6}\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{5}(-k^{2})=6-\dfrac{1}{6}(1+4+9+16+25)=6-\dfrac{55}{6}=\dfrac{36-55}{6}=-\dfrac{19}{6}\). The negative value shows the game is unfavourable to the player.

Q4

A pair of dice — one a six-sided die numbered \(1,2,3,4,5,6\) and the other a four-sided die numbered \(1,2,3,4\) — is rolled and the sum is determined. Let the random variable \(X\) denote this sum. Then the number of elements in the inverse image of \(7\) is

  • A. \(1\)
  • B. \(2\)
  • C. \(3\)
  • D. \(4\)Correct
Explanation.

We count ordered pairs \((a,b)\) with \(a\in\{1,2,3,4,5,6\}\), \(b\in\{1,2,3,4\}\) and \(a+b=7\). These are \((3,4),(4,3),(5,2)\) and \((6,1)\). A pair such as \((7,0)\) is impossible because the four-sided die has no face \(0\), and taking \(a\lt 3\) would require \(b\gt 4\). So exactly \(4\) outcomes give a sum of \(7\).

Q5

A random variable \(X\) has a binomial distribution with \(n=25\) and \(p=0.8\). Then the standard deviation of \(X\) is

  • A. \(6\)
  • B. \(4\)
  • C. \(3\)
  • D. \(2\)Correct
Explanation.

For a binomial distribution the standard deviation is \(\sigma=\sqrt{npq}\) with \(q=1-p\). Here \(q=1-0.8=0.2\), so \(\sigma=\sqrt{25\times 0.8\times 0.2}=\sqrt{4}=2\).

Q6

Let \(X\) represent the difference between the number of heads and the number of tails obtained when a coin is tossed \(n\) times. Then the possible values of \(X\) are

  • A. \( i+2n,\ i=0,1,2,\dots,n \)
  • B. \( 2i-n,\ i=0,1,2,\dots,n \)Correct
  • C. \( n-i,\ i=0,1,2,\dots,n \)
  • D. \( 2i+2n,\ i=0,1,2,\dots,n \)
Explanation.

Suppose the coin shows \(i\) heads in \(n\) tosses; then it shows \(n-i\) tails. The difference is \(X=i-(n-i)=2i-n\). As \(i\) runs through \(0,1,2,\dots,n\), the attainable values of \(X\) are exactly \(2i-n\).

Q7

If the function \(f(x)=\dfrac{1}{12}\) for \(a\lt x\lt b\) (and \(0\) otherwise) represents a probability density function of a continuous random variable \(X\), then which of the following cannot be the values of \(a\) and \(b\)?

  • A. \(0\) and \(12\)
  • B. \(5\) and \(17\)
  • C. \(7\) and \(19\)
  • D. \(16\) and \(24\)Correct
Explanation.

For a uniform density the total area must equal \(1\), so \(\displaystyle\int_{a}^{b}\dfrac{1}{12}\,dx=\dfrac{b-a}{12}=1\), which forces \(b-a=12\). Checking each pair: \(12-0=12\) (valid), \(17-5=12\) (valid), \(19-7=12\) (valid), but \(24-16=8\neq 12\) (invalid). Hence \(a=16,\ b=24\) cannot occur.

Q8

Four buses carrying \(160\) students from the same school arrive at a football stadium. The buses carry, respectively, \(42,\ 36,\ 34\) and \(48\) students. One of the students is selected at random. Let \(X\) denote the number of students that were on the bus carrying the randomly selected student. One of the \(4\) bus drivers is also selected at random. Let \(Y\) denote the number of students on that bus. Then \(E(X)\) and \(E(Y)\) respectively are

  • A. \(40,\ 40\)
  • B. \(40,\ 40.75\)
  • C. \(40.75,\ 40\)Correct
  • D. \(40.75,\ 40.75\)
Explanation.

Choosing a student at random makes a larger bus more likely to be picked, so \(X\) is size-biased: \(E(X)=\displaystyle\sum(\text{bus size})\times\dfrac{\text{bus size}}{160}=\dfrac{42^{2}+36^{2}+34^{2}+48^{2}}{160}=\dfrac{1764+1296+1156+2304}{160}=\dfrac{6520}{160}=40.75\). Choosing a driver at random makes every bus equally likely, so \(E(Y)=\dfrac{42+36+34+48}{4}=\dfrac{160}{4}=40\). Hence \(E(X)=40.75\) and \(E(Y)=40\).

Q9

Two cards are drawn one after the other, with replacement, from a well-shuffled pack of \(52\) playing cards. Let \(X\) equal the total number of aces drawn. Then the value of \(E(X)\) is

  • A. \( \dfrac{4}{13} \)
  • B. \( \dfrac{2}{13} \)Correct
  • C. \( \dfrac{11}{13} \)
  • D. \( \dfrac{1}{13} \)
Explanation.

Because the draws are made with replacement, each draw independently gives an ace with probability \(\dfrac{4}{52}=\dfrac{1}{13}\). Write \(X=X_{1}+X_{2}\), where \(X_{i}=1\) if the \(i\)-th card is an ace and \(0\) otherwise; each \(X_{i}\) is a Bernoulli variable with mean \(\dfrac{1}{13}\). By the linearity of expectation, \(E(X)=E(X_{1})+E(X_{2})=\dfrac{1}{13}+\dfrac{1}{13}=\dfrac{2}{13}\).

Q10

A test consists of \(5\) multiple-choice questions, each with \(3\) options of which exactly one is correct. A student guesses the answer to every question at random. If \(X\) is the number of correct answers, then the probability of getting at least \(4\) correct answers is

  • A. \( \dfrac{11}{243} \)Correct
  • B. \( \dfrac{3}{243} \)
  • C. \( \dfrac{1}{243} \)
  • D. \( \dfrac{5}{243} \)
Explanation.

Each question is answered correctly with probability \(p=\dfrac{1}{3}\), so \(X\sim B\!\left(5,\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\) with \(q=\dfrac{2}{3}\). Then \(P(X\ge 4)=P(X=4)+P(X=5)=\dbinom{5}{4}\!\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{4}\!\left(\dfrac{2}{3}\right)+\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{5}=\dfrac{10}{243}+\dfrac{1}{243}=\dfrac{11}{243}\).

Q11

For a binomial random variable \(X\) based on \(4\) independent trials, the mean and variance satisfy \(E(X)=3\,\operatorname{Var}(X)\). Then \(P(X=0)\) is

  • A. \( \dfrac{16}{81} \)
  • B. \( \dfrac{8}{81} \)
  • C. \( \dfrac{4}{81} \)
  • D. \( \dfrac{1}{81} \)Correct
Explanation.

For \(B(n,p)\) we have \(E(X)=np\) and \(\operatorname{Var}(X)=npq\). The condition \(E(X)=3\operatorname{Var}(X)\) gives \(np=3npq\), so \(1=3q\), i.e. \(q=\dfrac{1}{3}\) and \(p=\dfrac{2}{3}\). With \(n=4\), \(P(X=0)=\dbinom{4}{0}p^{0}q^{4}=\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{4}=\dfrac{1}{81}\).

Q12

\(X\) is a binomial random variable with expected value \(6\) and variance \(2.4\). Then \(P(X=5)\) is

  • A. \( \dbinom{10}{5}\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{4}\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)^{6} \)
  • B. \( \dbinom{10}{5}\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{6}\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)^{4} \)
  • C. \( \dbinom{10}{6}\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{5}\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)^{5} \)
  • D. \( \dbinom{10}{5}\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{5}\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)^{5} \)Correct
Explanation.

For \(B(n,p)\), \(np=6\) and \(npq=2.4\). Dividing, \(q=\dfrac{npq}{np}=\dfrac{2.4}{6}=0.4=\dfrac{2}{5}\), so \(p=\dfrac{3}{5}\) and \(n=\dfrac{6}{p}=10\). Therefore \(P(X=5)=\dbinom{10}{5}\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{5}\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)^{5}\).

Q13

The distribution function of a continuous random variable \(X\) is

\[ F(x)=\begin{cases}0 & x\lt 0 \\ a+b\,e^{-x} & x\ge 0 \end{cases} \]

where \(F\) increases from \(0\) to \(1\). Then the values of \(a\) and \(b\) are

  • A. \(1\) and \(-1\)Correct
  • B. \(-1\) and \(1\)
  • C. \(2\) and \(1\)
  • D. \(1\) and \(2\)
Explanation.

A cumulative distribution function must satisfy \(F(\infty)=1\) and, for continuity at the origin, \(F(0)=0\). As \(x\to\infty\), \(e^{-x}\to 0\), so \(F(\infty)=a=1\). At \(x=0\), \(F(0)=a+b=0\), giving \(b=-1\). Thus \(F(x)=1-e^{-x}\) for \(x\ge 0\), the standard exponential distribution, so \(a=1\) and \(b=-1\).

Q14

Suppose that \(X\) is a binomial random variable based on \(8\) trials whose mean is \(2k\) and whose variance is \(k\). Then the value of \(k\) is

  • A. \(1\)
  • B. \(2\)Correct
  • C. \(3\)
  • D. \(4\)
Explanation.

For \(B(n,p)\), the mean is \(np=2k\) and the variance is \(npq=k\). Dividing, \(q=\dfrac{npq}{np}=\dfrac{k}{2k}=\dfrac{1}{2}\), so \(p=\dfrac{1}{2}\). With \(n=8\), \(np=8\times\dfrac{1}{2}=4\); since \(np=2k\), we get \(2k=4\), i.e. \(k=2\).

Q15

Consider the following random variables:

I.  The lifetime of an electric bulb.
II.  The number of defective items in a lot.
III.  The time taken to complete a telephone call.

Which of these are continuous random variables?

  • A. I and IIICorrect
  • B. II and III
  • C. I and II
  • D. only III
Explanation.

A continuous random variable takes any value in an interval (it is measured), whereas a discrete one takes isolated, countable values (it is counted). The lifetime of a bulb (I) and the duration of a phone call (III) are measured quantities that can take any value in an interval, so they are continuous. The number of defective items (II) is a count, hence discrete. Therefore I and III are the continuous random variables.

Q16

If the probability mass function of a random variable \(X\) is \(P(X=x)=a\left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^{x}\) for \(x=1,2,3,\dots\), then the value of \(a\) is

  • A. \(1\)Correct
  • B. \(2\)
  • C. \(3\)
  • D. \(4\)
Explanation.

The probabilities of a pmf must add up to \(1\). Here \(\displaystyle\sum_{x=1}^{\infty} a\left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^{x}=a\sum_{x=1}^{\infty}\left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^{x}\). The geometric series \(\displaystyle\sum_{x=1}^{\infty}\left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^{x}=\dfrac{\tfrac{1}{2}}{1-\tfrac{1}{2}}=1\). Hence \(a\cdot 1=1\), giving \(a=1\).

Q17

A random variable \(X\) has the following probability mass function:

\(x\)\(-2\)\(-1\)\(0\)\(1\)\(2\)
\(f(x)\)\(k\)\(2k\)\(3k\)\(4k\)\(5k\)

Then \(E(X)\) is

  • A. \( \dfrac{1}{15} \)
  • B. \( \dfrac{1}{3} \)
  • C. \( \dfrac{1}{2} \)
  • D. \( \dfrac{2}{3} \)Correct
Explanation.

First find \(k\) from \(\sum f(x)=1\): \(k+2k+3k+4k+5k=15k=1\), so \(k=\dfrac{1}{15}\). Then \(E(X)=\displaystyle\sum x\,f(x)=(-2)k+(-1)(2k)+0(3k)+(1)(4k)+(2)(5k)=(-2-2+0+4+10)k=10k=\dfrac{10}{15}=\dfrac{2}{3}\).

Q18

Let \(X\) have a Bernoulli distribution with mean \(0.4\). Then the variance of \(2X-3\) is

  • A. \(0.24\)
  • B. \(0.48\)
  • C. \(0.6\)
  • D. \(0.96\)Correct
Explanation.

For a Bernoulli variable, \(p=\) mean \(=0.4\), so \(q=1-p=0.6\) and \(\operatorname{Var}(X)=pq=0.4\times 0.6=0.24\). Using \(\operatorname{Var}(aX+b)=a^{2}\operatorname{Var}(X)\) with \(a=2\) (the constant \(-3\) does not affect the variance): \(\operatorname{Var}(2X-3)=2^{2}\times 0.24=4\times 0.24=0.96\).

Q19

In \(6\) independent trials, a binomial variable \(X\) satisfies \(9\,P(X=4)=P(X=2)\). Then the probability of success is

  • A. \(0.125\)
  • B. \(0.25\)Correct
  • C. \(0.375\)
  • D. \(0.75\)
Explanation.

With \(n=6\), \(P(X=4)=\dbinom{6}{4}p^{4}q^{2}\) and \(P(X=2)=\dbinom{6}{2}p^{2}q^{4}\). Since \(\dbinom{6}{4}=\dbinom{6}{2}=15\), the relation \(9P(X=4)=P(X=2)\) becomes \(9p^{2}=q^{2}\). Taking positive roots, \(3p=q=1-p\), so \(4p=1\) and \(p=\dfrac{1}{4}=0.25\).

Q20

A computer salesperson knows from past experience that he sells a computer to one in every twenty customers who enter the showroom. What is the probability that he will sell a computer to exactly two of the next three customers?

  • A. \( \dfrac{57}{8000} \)Correct
  • B. \( \dfrac{57}{4000} \)
  • C. \( \dfrac{19}{8000} \)
  • D. \( \dfrac{3}{8000} \)
Explanation.

Selling to a customer is a “success” with probability \(p=\dfrac{1}{20}\), so \(q=\dfrac{19}{20}\), and there are \(n=3\) customers, giving \(X\sim B\!\left(3,\dfrac{1}{20}\right)\). Then \(P(X=2)=\dbinom{3}{2}\left(\dfrac{1}{20}\right)^{2}\left(\dfrac{19}{20}\right)=3\cdot\dfrac{1}{400}\cdot\dfrac{19}{20}=\dfrac{57}{8000}\).

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About these நிகழ்தகவு பரவல்கள் questions

These are the book-back multiple-choice questions for நிகழ்தகவு பரவல்கள் from the Tamil Nadu State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) 12ஆம் வகுப்பு கணிதவியல் syllabus. Each question shows the correct option and an original, step-by-step explanation so you understand the method, not just the answer. Use the answer key above to jump to any question, then take the practice test to check yourself under exam-like conditions.