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Date None Specimen Marks available 4 Reference code SPNone.3sp.hl.TZ0.2
Level HL only Paper Paper 3 Statistics and probability Time zone TZ0
Command term Determine and Hence Question number 2 Adapted from N/A

Question

When Andrew throws a dart at a target, the probability that he hits it is 13 ; when Bill throws a dart at the target, the probability that he hits the it is 14 . Successive throws are independent. One evening, they throw darts at the target alternately, starting with Andrew, and stopping as soon as one of their darts hits the target. Let X denote the total number of darts thrown.

Write down the value of P(X=1) and show that P(X=2)=16.

[2]
a.

Show that the probability generating function for X is given by

G(t)=2t+t263t2.

[6]
b.

Hence determine E(X).

[4]
c.

Markscheme

P(X=1)=13     A1

P(X=2)=23×14     A1

=16     AG

[2 marks]

a.

G(t)=13t+23×14t2+23×34×13t3+23×34×23×14t4+     M1A1

=13t(1+12t2+)+16t2(1+12t2+)     M1A1

=t31t22+t261t22     A1A1

=2t+t263t2     AG

[6 marks]

b.

G(t)=(2+2t)(63t2)+6t(2t+t2)(63t2)2     M1A1

E(X)=G(1)=103     M1A1

[4 marks]

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Topic 7 - Option: Statistics and probability » 7.1 » Probability generating functions for discrete random variables.

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