# State which of the following are not the probability distributions of a random variable. Give reasons for your answer.

Question:

State which of the following are not the probability distributions of a random variable. Give reasons for your answer.

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

Solution:

It is known that the sum of all the probabilities in a probability distribution is one.

(i) Sum of the probabilities = 0.4 + 0.4 + 0.2 = 1

Therefore, the given table is a probability distribution of random variables.

(ii) It can be seen that for X = 3, P (X) = −0.1

It is known that probability of any observation is not negative. Therefore, the given table is not a probability distribution of random variables.

(iii) Sum of the probabilities = 0.6 + 0.1 + 0.2 = 0.9 ≠ 1

Therefore, the given table is not a probability distribution of random variables.

(iv) Sum of the probabilities = 0.3 + 0.2 + 0.4 + 0.1 + 0.05 = 1.05 ≠ 1

Therefore, the given table is not a probability distribution of random variables.