SOLUTION: Please help me with this probability question.It is due tomorrow. 5. Consider the ‘symmetric’ distribution as shown in the table below, where a and b are any numbers between 0 and

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: Please help me with this probability question.It is due tomorrow. 5. Consider the ‘symmetric’ distribution as shown in the table below, where a and b are any numbers between 0 and      Log On


   



Question 349379: Please help me with this probability question.It is due tomorrow.
5. Consider the ‘symmetric’ distribution as shown in the table below, where a and b are any numbers between 0 and 1.
x=1 Pr(X)=b,x=2 Pr(X)=a,x=3 Pr(X)=a,x=4 Pr(X)=b
Prove that E(X)=2.5

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

        x   P(x)    x*P(x)
        1    b       b
        2    a      2a
        3    a      3a 
        4    b      4b
       ----------------- 
    Totals:  1      E(X)

The totals of the individual probabilities must be 1. 
The totals of the individual expectations equals the
total expectation E(X).


Therefore
summing the middle column:

b + a + a + b = 1
      2b + 2a = 1
     2(b + a) = 1
        b + a = 1%2F2

Summing the right-most column:

E(X) = b + 2a + 3a + 4b

E(X) = 5b + 5a

E(X) = 5(b + a)

Substituting 1%2F2 for b + a,

E(X) = 5(1%2F2) = 5%2F2 = 2.5

Edwin