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In this module the student will explore the properties of data with a uniform distribution. The original module of practice problems for the Uniform distribution in Collaborative Statistics by Dr. Barbara Illowsky and Susan Dean has been modified by removing the problems involving conditional probability.

Student learning outcomes

  • The student will explore the properties of data with a uniform distribution.

Given

The age of cars in the staff parking lot of a suburban college is uniformly distributed from six months (0.5 years) to 9.5 years.

Describe the data

What is being measured here?

The age of cars in the staff parking lot

In words, define the Random Variable X size 12{X} {} .

X size 12{X} {} = The age (in years) of cars in the staff parking lot

Are the data discrete or continuous?

Continuous

The interval of values for X size 12{X} {} is:

0.5 - 9.5

The distribution for X size 12{X} {} is:

X size 12{X} {} ~ U ( 0 . 5,9 . 5 ) size 12{U \( 0 "." 5,9 "." 5 \) } {}

Probability distribution

Write the probability density function.

f ( x ) size 12{f \( x \) } {} = 1 9 size 12{ { {1} over {9} } } {}

Graph the probability distribution.

  • A

    Sketch the graph of the probability distribution.
  • B

    Identify the following values:
    • I

      Lowest value for X size 12{X} {} :
    • Ii

      Highest value for X size 12{X} {} :
    • Iii

      Height of the rectangle:
    • Iv

      Label for x-axis (words):
    • V

      Label for y-axis (words):
  • B.i

    0.5
  • B.ii

    9.5
  • B.iii

    Age of Cars
  • B.iv

    1 9 size 12{ { {1} over {9} } } {}
  • B.v

    f ( x ) size 12{f \( x \) } {}

Random probability

Find the probability that a randomly chosen car in the lot was less than 4 years old.

  • A

    Sketch the graph. Shade the area of interest.
  • B

    Find the probability. P ( X < 4 ) size 12{P \( X<"5730" \) } {} =
  • B.

    3 . 5 9 size 12{ { {3 "." 5} over {9} } } {}

Quartiles

Find the average age of the cars in the lot.

μ size 12{μ} {} = 5

Find the third quartile of ages of cars in the lot. This means you will have to find the value such that 3 4 size 12{ { {3} over {4} } } {} , or 75%, of the cars are at most (less than or equal to) that age.

  • A

    Sketch the graph. Shade the area of interest.
  • B

    Find the value k size 12{k} {} such that P ( X < k ) = 0 . 75 size 12{P \( X<k \) =0 "." "75"} {} .
  • C

    The third quartile is:
  • B

    k size 12{k} {} = 7.25

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Source:  OpenStax, Collaborative statistics: custom version modified by r. bloom. OpenStax CNX. Nov 15, 2010 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col10617/1.4
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