Question

70% of the members favour and 30% oppose a proposal in a meeting. The random variable X takes the value 0 if a member opposes the proposal and the value 1 if a member is in favour. Find E(X) and Var(X).

Answer 1

According to the given conditions,

P(X = 0) = `(30)/(100) = (3)/(10)  "and"  "P"("X" = 1) = (70)/(100) = (7)/(10)`

∴ E(X) = \[\sum\limits_{i=1}^{2} x_i\text{P}(x_i)\] = `0 xx (3)/(10) + 1 xx (7)/(10) = (7)/(10)` = 0.7

∴ E(X²) = \[\sum\limits_{i=1}^{2} x_i^2\text{P}(x_i)\] = `0^2 xx (3)/(10) + 1^2 xx (7)/(10) = (7)/(10)` = 0.7

∴ Var(X) = E(X²) – [E(X)]² = `(7)/(10) - (7/10)^2`

= `(70 - 49)/(100)`

= `(21)/(100)`
= 0.21