In a vase a 10 balls: 4 red and 6 white. They are taken out one by one without replacement. Let X be the stochastic variable that denotes how often we need to draw balls before we draw a white ball. Calculate the probability function of X.

grippeb9

grippeb9

Open question

2022-08-19

In a vase a 10 balls: 4 red and 6 white. They are taken out one by one without replacement.
Let X be the stochastic variable that denotes how often we need to draw balls before we draw a white ball.
Calculate the probability function of X.

Answer & Explanation

ambivalentnoe1

ambivalentnoe1

Beginner2022-08-20Added 20 answers

Step 1
Clearly, X is between 1 and 5. The probability that X equals 1 is the probability of drawing a white ball on the first try, thus P ( X = 1 ) = 6 / 10 = .6
Similarly, the probability that X equals 2 is the probability of drawing first a red ball and then a white ball, thus P ( X = 2 ) = 4 / 10 × 6 / 9.
Step 2
The probability that X equals 3 is the probability of drawing first two red balls and then a white ball, that is P ( X = 3 ) = 4 / 10 × 3 / 9 × 6 / 8.

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