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Question

Suppose $X$ follows an exponential distribution with parameter $\lambda > 0$. Fix $a > 0$. Define the random variable $Y$ by $Y = k, \text{ if } ka \leq X < (k+1)a, \quad k = 0, 1, 2, \dots$ 

Which of the following statements are correct?

The problem involves a random variable X following an exponential distribution and defines another discrete random variable Y based on intervals of X. We need to determine the properties and distribution of Y.

Defining Random Variable Y

The random variable X follows an exponential distribution with PDF $f_X(x) = \lambda e^{-\lambda x}$ for $x \geq 0$. The variable Y is defined as:

  • $Y = k$, if $ka \leq X < (k+1)a$, for $k = 0, 1, 2, \dots$

This definition implies that Y is a discrete random variable taking non-negative integer values ($0, 1, 2, \dots$).

Evaluating Option A: $P(4 < Y < 5) = 0$

Since Y can only take integer values ($0, 1, 2, \dots$), it is impossible for Y to fall strictly between 4 and 5.

Therefore, the probability $P(4 < Y < 5)$ must be 0.

Conclusion: Option A is correct.

Evaluating Option B: Y follows an exponential distribution

An exponential distribution is a continuous probability distribution.

As established, the random variable Y is discrete.

A discrete random variable cannot follow a continuous distribution.

Conclusion: Option B is incorrect.

Evaluating Option C: Y follows a geometric distribution

We calculate the probability mass function (PMF) for Y.

For any integer $k \geq 0$:

$ P(Y=k) = P(ka \leq X < (k+1)a) $

$ P(Y=k) = \int_{ka}^{(k+1)a} \lambda e^{-\lambda x} dx $

$ P(Y=k) = \left[ -e^{-\lambda x} \right]_{ka}^{(k+1)a} $

$ P(Y=k) = -e^{-\lambda (k+1)a} - (-e^{-\lambda ka}) $

$ P(Y=k) = e^{-\lambda ka} - e^{-\lambda (k+1)a} $

Factor out $e^{-\lambda ka}$:

$ P(Y=k) = e^{-\lambda ka} (1 - e^{-\lambda a}) $

Let $p = 1 - e^{-\lambda a}$. Since $\lambda > 0$ and $a > 0$, we have $0 < e^{-\lambda a} < 1$, which implies $0 < p < 1$.

Also, let $q = e^{-\lambda a} = 1 - p$. Note that $0 < q < 1$.

The PMF becomes:

$ P(Y=k) = q^k \cdot p $

$ P(Y=k) = p \cdot (1-p)^k $

This is the probability mass function of a geometric distribution defined for $k = 0, 1, 2, \dots$, with parameter $p = 1 - e^{-\lambda a}$.

Conclusion: Option C is correct.

Evaluating Option D: Y follows a Poisson distribution

The PMF of a Poisson distribution is given by $P(Y=k) = \frac{e^{-\mu} \mu^k}{k!}$ for $k = 0, 1, 2, \dots$.

The derived PMF for Y is $P(Y=k) = (1 - e^{-\lambda a}) (e^{-\lambda a})^k$.

This form does not match the Poisson PMF (it lacks the $k!$ term and the structure is different).

Conclusion: Option D is incorrect.

Final Result

Based on the analysis, the correct statements are A and C.

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Important Questions from Random Variables

  1. Let $X_1$ and $X_2$ be a random sample from Uniform$[0, \theta]$ distribution, where $\theta > 0$. For testing the hypothesis
    $H_0: \theta = 1$ against $H_1: \theta = 2$,
    consider a test which rejects $H_0$ if $X_1 + X_2 > \frac{4}{5}$. Then, the probability of type-I error is

  2. Let $\{Y_n: n \ge 1\}$ be a sequence of independent and identically distributed random variables, where $Y_1 \sim \text{Bernoulli}(\frac{1}{2})$. Define $Z = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{4Y_n}{5^n}$. Then, which of the following statements is true?
  3. Let $X$ be a single sample from an absolutely continuous distribution with probability density function
    $f(x|\theta) = \begin{cases} \frac{2}{\theta^2}(\theta - x), & \text{if } 0 < x < \theta \\ 0, & \text{otherwise,} \end{cases}$
    where $\theta > 0$ is unknown. Which of the following intervals is a $95\%$ confidence interval for $\theta$?

  4. Let $X$ and $Y$ be two independent random variables such that the moment generating func-tions of $X$ and $Y$ are
    $M_X(t) = e^{3(e^t-1)}, t \in R$,
    and
    $M_Y(t) = (\frac{1}{2}e^{-3t} + \frac{1}{2}e^{3t})^2, t \in R$,
    respectively. Then which of the following statements are true?
  5. Let $X_1, X_2, ..., X_7$ be a random sample drawn from a continuous distribution with unknown unique median $M$. The null hypothesis $H_0: M = 2$ is tested against the alternative $H_1: M \gt 2$ at level of significance 0.05 using the right-tailed test based on the Sign test statistic $K$, which is the number of observations in the sample greater than 2. If the observed sample is $-3, -6, 1, 9, 4, 10, 12$, which of the following statements are true?

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