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Simulation of random processes

Learning goals

  • Designs a simulation that represents the random process.
  • Generates or interprets repeated trial results.
  • Computes experimental probabilities from relative frequencies.
  • Compares experimental results with theoretical expectations.
  • Explains how increasing the number of trials affects variability.

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Simulation of random processes 1
A token starts at \(0\). Fair-coin results move it one unit right for heads and one unit left for tails. Each trial stops when the token reaches \(3\) or \(-2\). In \(2000\) simulated trials, the token reaches \(3\) first in \(812\) trials. Estimate the probability that the token reaches \(3\) first.

Hints

- Identify which simulated trials count as successes. - Estimate probability with successes divided by all completed trials. - Express the result as a decimal or percentage.

Solution

1. A success is a trial in which the token reaches \(3\) before \(-2\). 2. The simulation estimate is \(\frac{812}{2000}=0.406\).

Answer

The estimated probability is \(0.406\), or \(40.6\%\).
Simulation of random processes 2
A random digit from \(0\) through \(9\) will simulate an event that happens with probability \(0.30\). Which rule is valid? A. Event occurs for digits \(0,1,2\). B. Event occurs for digits \(0,1,2,3\). C. Event occurs only for digit \(0\).

Hints

- Count how many equally likely digit outcomes there are altogether. - Match the desired probability to the required number of digit outcomes.

Solution

1. The ten digits are equally likely. 2. A probability of \(0.30=\frac{3}{10}\) requires three of the ten digits to represent the event. 3. Choice A assigns exactly three digits, so it is valid.

Answer

A. Event occurs for digits \(0,1,2\).
Simulation of random processes 3
A player makes \(25\%\) of long-range shots. A random number generator chooses equally likely digits from \(0\) through \(7\). Give one valid rule for using the digits to simulate a make or a miss.

Hints

- How many of the eight equally likely digits should represent success? - Make sure every digit is assigned to exactly one outcome.

Solution

1. A \(25\%\) success chance is \(\frac{1}{4}=\frac{2}{8}\). 2. Assign any two digits to a make, such as \(0\) and \(1\), and assign the other six digits to a miss.

Answer

For example, digits \(0\) and \(1\) mean make; \(2\) through \(7\) mean miss. Any choice of two success digits works.
Simulation of random processes 4
A computer simulates whether each of \(20\) seeds sprouts. <table><tr><th>Outcome</th><th>Number of trials</th></tr><tr><td>Sprouted</td><td>\(9\)</td></tr><tr><td>Did not sprout</td><td>\(11\)</td></tr></table> Find the experimental probability that a seed sprouts. Write a fraction and a percentage.

Hints

- Which row counts the outcome of interest? - Which two counts should an experimental probability compare?

Solution

1. Nine of the \(20\) trials are successes. 2. The experimental probability is \(\frac{9}{20}=0.45=45\%\).

Answer

\(\frac{9}{20}\), or \(45\%\).
Simulation of random processes 5
Two students independently flip a fair coin \(8\) times. One student gets \(3\) heads, and the other gets \(6\) heads. Must one student have made a mistake because their head counts differ? Explain.

Hints

- Think of a few different sequences of eight fair coin flips. - Which features of a fair coin stay the same when a new run begins?

Solution

1. Each set of eight flips is a separate random run. 2. Random results vary from run to run; fair coins can produce three heads in one run and six in another.

Answer

No. Different results can occur in separate runs of the same fair process.
Simulation of random processes 6
The two urns show experiments 1 and 2. One ball is drawn at random from each urn. a) Group the outcomes of experiment 1 into two events to simulate one toss of a fair coin. b) Explain how experiment 1 can simulate experiment 2, and give a specific assignment of the numbered balls.
Figure for problem 530842

Hints

- Match the number of assigned balls to the desired probability. - Rewrite \(\frac{3}{5}\) and \(\frac{2}{5}\) with denominator \(10\). - More than one valid assignment of the numbered balls is possible.

Solution

1. A fair coin has two outcomes with probability \(0.5\) each, so assign \(5\) numbered balls to each outcome. For example, \(\{1,2,3,4,5\}\) represents heads and \(\{6,7,8,9,10\}\) represents tails. 2. In experiment 2, \(P(\text{red})=\frac{3}{5}=\frac{6}{10}\) and \(P(\text{blue})=\frac{2}{5}=\frac{4}{10}\). Assign \(6\) numbered balls to red and \(4\) to blue. For example, balls \(1\) through \(6\) represent red, and balls \(7\) through \(10\) represent blue.

Answer

a) Example: \(\{1,2,3,4,5\}\) for heads and \(\{6,7,8,9,10\}\) for tails. b) Example: balls \(1\) through \(6\) for red and balls \(7\) through \(10\) for blue.
Simulation of random processes 7
A bag contains three red balls and seven blue balls. You will use random digits to simulate drawing twice with replacement. Describe a valid assignment of digits to colors. Then identify which ordered digit pairs represent drawing red exactly once.

Hints

- Assign the ten equally likely digits in the same proportions as the colors in the bag. - Red can occur exactly once in either of two positions.

Solution

1. One valid assignment is red \(\{0,1,2\}\) and blue \(\{3,4,5,6,7,8,9\}\). 2. A favorable ordered pair has its first digit in the red set and its second digit in the blue set, or vice versa.

Answer

For example, assign \(\{0,1,2\}\) to red and \(\{3,4,5,6,7,8,9\}\) to blue. The favorable ordered pairs are \((r,b)\) and \((b,r)\), where \(r\in\{0,1,2\}\) and \(b\in\{3,4,5,6,7,8,9\}\).
Simulation of random processes 8
The diagrams show two proposed computer simulations, A and B, for drawing two balls without replacement from a bag containing four red balls and six blue balls. Which simulation models the experiment correctly? Explain how the second-draw probabilities support your choice.
Figure for problem 537540

Hints

- Compare the denominators on the second branches of each diagram. - Without replacement, both the total number of balls and one color count change after the first draw.

Solution

1. In Simulation A, the second-draw probabilities remain \(\frac{4}{10}\) for red and \(\frac{6}{10}\) for blue after either first result. This models drawing with replacement. 2. In Simulation B, the second draw uses the \(9\) remaining outcomes. After red, the probabilities are \(\frac{3}{9}\) and \(\frac{6}{9}\); after blue, they are \(\frac{4}{9}\) and \(\frac{5}{9}\). 3. Therefore, Simulation B correctly models drawing without replacement.

Answer

Simulation B, because its second-draw probabilities use the \(9\) remaining balls and change according to the color drawn first.
Simulation of random processes 9
A birthday simulation generates \(23\) independent integers from \(1\) through \(365\) per trial and records whether any value repeats. In \(10{,}000\) trials, \(5076\) contain a repeat. Estimate the probability of a shared birthday and explain whether this run proves that the true probability is greater than \(0.5\).

Hints

- A duplicate day number represents the event of interest. - Divide matching trials by all trials. - Treat a simulation result as an estimate subject to random variation.

Solution

1. A repeated integer represents at least two people sharing a simulated birthday. 2. The simulation estimate is \(\frac{5076}{10{,}000}=0.5076\). 3. The result suggests a probability near and slightly above \(0.5\), but one random simulation run does not prove the exact inequality.

Answer

The estimated probability is \(0.5076\). The run suggests that the true probability is slightly above \(0.5\), but it does not prove that claim.
Simulation of random processes 10
A basketball player has a \(70\%\) chance of making each free throw. Assume the next two shots are independent. A simulation uses independent random digits \(0\)–\(9\); digits \(0\)–\(6\) mean make (M), and digits \(7\)–\(9\) mean miss (X). a) Describe one complete simulation trial. b) Which two-result outcome counts as a success for making both throws? c) In \(100\) trials, \(49\) are successes. Estimate the probability of making both throws.

Hints

- One trial must represent both of the next two attempts. - Which pair satisfies the full condition that both throws are made? - Divide the number of successes by the total number of trials.

Solution

1. Generate two independent random digits, convert each to M or X using the rule, and record the ordered pair. 2. Both throws are made only for the outcome M, M. 3. The simulation estimate is \(\frac{49}{100}=0.49=49\%\).

Answer

a) Generate two independent digits, code each as M or X, and record the pair. b) M, M. c) \(0.49\), or \(49\%\).
Simulation of random processes 11
A pottery shop ships ceramic mugs. Each mug has a \(30\%\) chance of being cracked, independently of the others. A simulation uses random digits \(0\)–\(9\): \(0\), \(1\), or \(2\) means cracked (C), and the other digits mean uncracked (U). Describe one trial to test whether exactly one of two mugs is cracked. Which ordered outcomes count as success?

Hints

- One trial must include both mugs in the event. - What does 'exactly one' rule out? - Does it matter which mug is cracked?

Solution

1. Generate two independent digits, one for each mug, and convert each to C or U. 2. Exactly one cracked mug corresponds to C,U or U,C. C,C and U,U do not count.

Answer

Generate two independent digits and code both mugs. Success outcomes: C,U and U,C.
Simulation of random processes 12
At a school raffle, a ticket can win only once. A student simulates picking two winners by drawing a ball, putting it back, and drawing again. Suppose ticket \(2\) is picked first. What chance does the student's method give of picking ticket \(5\) next? What should that chance be in the real raffle? Explain which rule to change.
Figure for problem 560627

Hints

- Count the pictured tickets before any draw. - After the first ticket wins, what tickets are still eligible to win next? - Compare the possible second outcomes under the student's rule and under the raffle rule.

Solution

1. The urn has five equally likely labeled balls. If the first ball is replaced, ticket \(5\) has probability \(\frac{1}{5}\) on the second draw. 2. In the real raffle the first winner is removed. Four tickets remain, including ticket \(5\), so the chance is \(\frac{1}{4}\). 3. The simulator should not return the first ball; doing so can select the same winner twice and gives the wrong second-draw chances.

Answer

The student's replacement method gives \(\frac{1}{5}\); the real raffle gives \(\frac{1}{4}\). Leave the first ball out before drawing again.
Simulation of random processes 13
A shipping simulation predicts that a parcel gets delayed in \(26\) out of \(200\) trials. Using that estimate, about how many delayed parcels would you expect among \(500\) shipments? Explain why the actual number may differ.

Hints

- First use the simulated delayed fraction as a probability estimate. - How can a probability be converted into an expected count for a larger number of shipments? - Is an expected count a guaranteed outcome?

Solution

1. The estimated delay probability is \(\frac{26}{200}=0.13\). 2. The expected number among \(500\) shipments is \(500\cdot0.13=65\). 3. The actual number may vary because individual delays are random.

Answer

About \(65\) delayed parcels; the actual number could differ because outcomes vary.
Simulation of random processes 14
A fair coin has a theoretical head probability of \(0.5\). One simulation has \(7\) heads in \(10\) flips; another has \(52\) heads in \(100\) flips. Which simulation's relative frequency is closer to theory? Does using more flips guarantee a closer result every time?

Hints

- Convert both counts to proportions. - Compare each proportion's distance from the theoretical probability. - If you repeated either simulation, what parts of the results could change?

Solution

1. The first frequency is \(\frac{7}{10}=0.70\), which is \(0.20\) away from \(0.5\). 2. The second is \(\frac{52}{100}=0.52\), only \(0.02\) away, so the second is closer. 3. More trials tend to reduce the variability of relative frequency, but do not guarantee a closer result in every individual run.

Answer

The \(100\)-flip simulation is closer. More flips usually make estimates steadier, but do not guarantee better agreement every time.
Simulation of random processes 15
A student is simulating two independent coin flips with digits \(0\)–\(9\): even means heads and odd means tails. For each trial, the student generates one digit and uses it as the result of both flips. Why does this fail, and how should the simulation be fixed?

Hints

- What kinds of two-flip outcomes can the student's rule actually produce? - Could real independent flips produce different results? - How could the digit choices be made independent?

Solution

1. Using one digit twice forces the results to be the same, so the simulation cannot produce one head and one tail. 2. Two independent coin flips can give different results. Generate a new independent random digit for each flip.

Answer

It wrongly forces both flips to match. Use two independent digits per trial, one for each flip.
Simulation of random processes 16
A delivery service models each package as late with probability \(0.20\). To simulate a delivery, the service generates one independent random digit from \(0\) through \(9\). Digits \(0\) and \(1\) mean late; all others mean on time. Use these ten trial digits: \(0,7,1,5,4,1,9,2,6,0\). a) How many simulated deliveries are late? b) Find the experimental late-delivery probability. c) Is the result inconsistent with the \(0.20\) model? Explain.

Hints

- Which digits stand for the late outcome? - What part of the ten-trial list do those digits account for? - Does a model probability fix the exact outcome of every small batch of trials?

Solution

1. The late digits are \(0,1,1,0\), so four of the ten trials are late. 2. The experimental probability is \(\frac{4}{10}=0.40\). 3. A small number of random trials can give a proportion different from the model's probability. This result alone does not disprove a \(0.20\) model.

Answer

a) \(4\) deliveries. b) \(0.40\), or \(40\%\). c) No. Ten random trials can differ noticeably from the long-run probability.
Simulation of random processes 17
A board game needs a random event with a specified probability, but only a fair six-sided die is available. a) Describe how one die roll can simulate an event with probability \(\frac{1}{3}\). b) Explain why one die roll cannot simulate an event with probability \(0.4\) exactly. c) Describe how two die rolls can simulate an event with probability \(0.25\).

Hints

- Count how many equally likely outcomes must be designated as success. - Determine whether the target probability can be written as \(\frac{k}{6}\) for an integer \(k\). - Two rolls create \(36\) equally likely ordered pairs.

Solution

1. A fair die has \(6\) equally likely outcomes. Designate any \(2\) outcomes, such as \(1\) and \(2\), as success. Then \(P(\text{success})=\frac{2}{6}=\frac{1}{3}\). 2. Any event based on one roll must contain an integer number \(k\) of the \(6\) outcomes, so its probability must be \(\frac{k}{6}\). The equation \(\frac{k}{6}=0.4\) gives \(k=2.4\), not an integer, so exact simulation is impossible. 3. Two rolls produce \(36\) equally likely ordered pairs. Designate \(9\) pairs as success. For example, define success as both rolls being at most \(3\). This gives \(3\cdot3=9\) successful pairs and probability \(\frac{9}{36}=0.25\).

Answer

a) Designate two die results, such as \(1\) and \(2\), as success. b) One-roll event probabilities must be multiples of \(\frac{1}{6}\), and \(0.4\) is not such a multiple. c) Roll twice and call it a success when both results are at most \(3\); the probability is \(\frac{9}{36}=0.25\).
Simulation of random processes 18
A game designer wants to simulate a fair twelve-sided die labeled \(1\) through \(12\). Available devices are fair coins, fair four-sided dice, and fair six-sided dice. 1. Determine whether adding the results of one four-sided die and one six-sided die gives a valid simulation of a fair twelve-sided die. Explain. 2. Describe two different ways to construct \(12\) equally likely outcomes labeled \(1\) through \(12\) using the available devices.

Hints

- A fair simulation must produce all \(12\) outcomes with probability \(\frac{1}{12}\). - Combine devices whose numbers of equally likely outcomes multiply to \(12\). - Check both the range and the probability distribution.

Solution

1. The sum ranges only from \(2\) through \(10\), and the sums are not equally likely. Therefore, it is not a valid simulation. 2. Method 1: Toss a coin and roll a six-sided die. If the coin shows heads, use the die result \(1\) through \(6\). If it shows tails, add \(6\) to obtain \(7\) through \(12\). Each outcome has probability \(\frac{1}{2}\cdot\frac{1}{6}=\frac{1}{12}\). 3. Method 2: Roll a four-sided die and a six-sided die. Convert the six-sided result to one of three equally likely values by mapping \(1,2\) to \(1\), \(3,4\) to \(2\), and \(5,6\) to \(3\). If the four-sided result is \(T\) and the converted value is \(R\), output \(3(T-1)+R\). The \(4\cdot3=12\) combinations are equally likely.

Answer

1. No. The sums range from \(2\) to \(10\) and are not equally likely. 2. Use a coin with a six-sided die, or use a four-sided die with a six-sided die grouped into three equally likely outcomes.
Simulation of random processes 19
In a simplified “3 from 12” lottery, \(3\) numbered balls are drawn from \(12\) without replacement, and order does not matter. 1. Find the number of possible winning combinations. 2. Using only a fair coin and a fair six-sided die, describe how to simulate one complete drawing of three winning numbers.

Hints

- Use combinations because order does not matter. - A coin and die together can create \(12\) equally likely outcomes. - Reject repeated numbers to model drawing without replacement.

Solution

1. The number of combinations is \(\binom{12}{3}=220\). 2. Generate one number from \(1\) through \(12\) by tossing the coin and rolling the die: use the die result after heads and add \(6\) after tails. Repeat until three distinct numbers have been generated. If a number repeats within the same simulated drawing, discard that result and generate another number. Because each remaining number is equally likely at every accepted stage, every three-number set is equally likely. The final three-number set is the simulated lottery outcome.

Answer

1. \(220\) 2. Use the coin to choose \(1\)–\(6\) or \(7\)–\(12\), use the die to select within that range, and reject repeats until three distinct numbers are obtained.
Simulation of random processes 20
A computer program is intended to generate a random sequence of the letters \(A\) and \(B\). Each letter is generated independently, and the two outcomes are equally likely. The program produced this \(20\)-letter sequence: \(A, B, B, A, B, A, A, B, A, B, B, A, B, B, A, A, B, A, B, B\) 1. Find the relative frequencies of \(A\) and \(B\). 2. Examine the \(19\) overlapping adjacent pairs. Find the count and relative frequency of each pair: \(AA\), \(AB\), \(BA\), and \(BB\). 3. For this ideal random generator, each pair has probability \(0.25\). Find the expected count of each pair in a sequence of this length and compare the expected values with the observed counts.

Hints

- Count the total number of letters and the number of occurrences of each letter. - A sequence of \(n\) letters contains \(n-1\) overlapping adjacent pairs. - Use independence to find the probability of each ordered pair. - Compare each observed pair count with its expected count.

Solution

1. The sequence contains \(9\) occurrences of \(A\) and \(11\) occurrences of \(B\). Thus, the relative frequencies are \(\frac{9}{20}=0.45\) for \(A\) and \(\frac{11}{20}=0.55\) for \(B\). 2. Counting the \(19\) adjacent pairs gives counts of \(2\) for \(AA\), \(7\) for \(AB\), \(6\) for \(BA\), and \(4\) for \(BB\). The corresponding relative frequencies are \(\frac{2}{19}\approx 0.105\), \(\frac{7}{19}\approx 0.368\), \(\frac{6}{19}\approx 0.316\), and \(\frac{4}{19}\approx 0.211\). 3. Because consecutive letters are independent and each letter has probability \(0.5\), every ordered pair has probability \(0.5\cdot 0.5=0.25\). The expected count for each pair is \(19\cdot 0.25=4.75\). Compared with this value, \(AA\) and \(BB\) occur less often, while \(AB\) and \(BA\) occur more often.

Answer

1. The relative frequencies are \(0.45\) for \(A\) and \(0.55\) for \(B\). 2. The counts are \(2\) for \(AA\), \(7\) for \(AB\), \(6\) for \(BA\), and \(4\) for \(BB\); the relative frequencies are approximately \(0.105\), \(0.368\), \(0.316\), and \(0.211\), respectively. 3. The expected count is \(4.75\) for each pair. The observed counts of \(AA\) and \(BB\) are lower, and those of \(AB\) and \(BA\) are higher.
Simulation of random processes 21
Rafael is asked to invent a random-looking sequence of \(24\) coin tosses without actually tossing a coin. Rafael writes: \(H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T\) 1. Find the relative frequencies of heads and tails in the sequence. 2. Find the counts of the overlapping adjacent pairs \(HH\), \(HT\), \(TH\), and \(TT\). 3. Evaluate how plausible this sequence is as the result of \(24\) tosses of a fair coin. Use the expected counts of \(HH\) and \(TT\) in your explanation.

Hints

- Count adjacent pairs by moving one position at a time through the sequence. - For independent fair tosses, determine the probability of each two-toss pair. - Compare expected pair counts with the observed pattern, not just the overall heads-and-tails balance.

Solution

1. The sequence contains \(12\) heads and \(12\) tails, so the relative frequency of each outcome is \(\frac{12}{24}=0.5\). 2. There are \(23\) overlapping adjacent pairs. The counts are \(0\) for \(HH\), \(12\) for \(HT\), \(11\) for \(TH\), and \(0\) for \(TT\). 3. For a fair coin, each ordered pair has probability \(0.25\), so the expected count of \(HH\) is \(23\cdot0.25=5.75\), and the expected count of \(TT\) is also \(5.75\). The sequence contains neither pair and alternates perfectly throughout. Although its single-outcome frequencies are balanced, its pair pattern is extremely atypical of independent fair-coin tosses and suggests deliberate alternation rather than random generation.

Answer

1. The relative frequencies of heads and tails are both \(0.5\). 2. The counts are \(0\) for \(HH\), \(12\) for \(HT\), \(11\) for \(TH\), and \(0\) for \(TT\). 3. The sequence is extremely atypical of fair, independent coin tosses. The expected counts of \(HH\) and \(TT\) are each \(5.75\), but both observed counts are \(0\).
Simulation of random processes 22
A component has probability \(0.08\) of being defective. To simulate a box of \(5\) independently selected components, a program generates five random integers from \(00\) through \(99\), with \(00\)–\(07\) representing defective. It records \(1\) if the box contains at least one defective component and \(0\) otherwise. The first \(20\) simulated boxes produced: \(0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0\) a) Find the simulation estimate. b) Compute the theoretical probability. c) Explain whether the difference is surprising for only \(20\) trials.

Hints

- Count the recorded successes before interpreting the proportion. - It is often simpler to calculate the complement of the event requested. - Judge a discrepancy in relation to the small number of simulation trials.

Solution

1. There are \(6\) simulated boxes with at least one defective component, so the estimate is \(\frac{6}{20}=0.30\). 2. The probability of no defective components is \((0.92)^5\approx 0.6591\). Thus the theoretical probability is \(1-(0.92)^5\approx 0.3409\). 3. The simulation estimate differs by about \(0.041\). With only \(20\) trials, substantial random variation is plausible, so the discrepancy does not by itself indicate an invalid model.

Answer

a) \(0.30\). b) \(1-(0.92)^5\approx 0.3409\). c) No. A \(20\)-trial simulation can vary noticeably from the theoretical probability.
Simulation of random processes 23
Six students will be assigned at random to two tutoring methods, with exactly three students per method. The urn contains the assignment labels shown. Each student, in alphabetical order, draws one ball without replacement. a) Explain why this creates a random assignment with exactly three students in each group. b) Find the probability that the first two students draw the same method label. c) Explain why replacing each ball after a draw would not satisfy the design requirement.
Figure for problem 549255

Hints

- Track both randomness and the fixed group-size condition. - After the first draw, count the remaining labels that match it. - Consider what group totals become possible if the urn composition never changes.

Solution

1. The urn has three A labels and three B labels. Drawing without replacement makes each ordering of three A labels and three B labels equally likely and guarantees group sizes of three. 2. After the first draw, two of the remaining five balls match its label, so the probability is \(\frac{2}{5}=0.4\). 3. With replacement, group counts could be unequal because all six draws would remain independent with no constraint on the number of A and B labels.

Answer

a) Three labels of each type and drawing without replacement guarantee balanced random groups. b) \(\frac{2}{5}=0.4\). c) Replacement could produce group sizes other than three and three.
Simulation of random processes 24
The spinner shown has four equal sectors. A simulation spins it twice and records a success when exactly one spin lands on R. In \(200\) trials, \(74\) successes occur. a) Find the simulation estimate. b) Find the theoretical probability. c) Compare the two results and state whether the simulation seems reasonable.
Figure for problem 549257

Hints

- Convert the success count into a relative frequency. - Account for both possible orders of the desired two-spin outcome. - Judge the discrepancy relative to the number of trials rather than requiring exact equality.

Solution

1. The simulation estimate is \(\frac{74}{200}=0.37\). 2. One sector is R, so \(P(R)=\frac{1}{4}\) and \(P(\text{not }R)=\frac{3}{4}\). Exactly one R can occur in either order, giving \(2\cdot\frac{1}{4}\cdot\frac{3}{4}=\frac{3}{8}=0.375\). 3. The estimate differs from the theoretical value by \(0.005\), which is very small for \(200\) trials. The simulation appears consistent with the model.

Answer

a) \(0.37\). b) \(\frac{3}{8}=0.375\). c) The results are very close, so the simulation is reasonable.
Simulation of random processes 25
A Monte Carlo program generates \(5000\) points uniformly in the square \([-1,1]\times[-1,1]\). It finds that \(3930\) points satisfy \(x^2+y^2\le1\). Use the circle-to-square area ratio to estimate \(\pi\).

Hints

- Compare the area of the unit circle with the area of the surrounding square. - Use the simulated fraction inside the circle as an estimate of the area ratio. - Relate that estimated ratio back to \(\pi\).

Solution

1. The circle has area \(\pi\) and the square has area \(4\), so the probability that a uniformly generated point is inside the circle is \(\frac{\pi}{4}\). 2. The simulated inside fraction is \(\frac{3930}{5000}=0.786\). 3. Therefore, \(\pi\approx4\cdot0.786=3.144\).

Answer

\(\pi\approx3.144\)
Simulation of random processes 26
Simulation A records \(39\) successes in \(100\) trials. Simulation B records \(4172\) successes in \(10{,}000\) trials for the same event. Which simulation generally gives the more stable probability estimate? Support the choice with both estimates, and explain why the larger run still does not guarantee error below \(0.001\).

Hints

- Estimate probability with successes divided by trials. - More independent trials usually reduce simulation variability. - Reduced variability is not the same as a deterministic error bound.

Solution

1. Simulation A estimates \(\frac{39}{100}=0.39\). 2. Simulation B estimates \(\frac{4172}{10{,}000}=0.4172\). 3. Simulation B is generally more stable because it uses many more independent trials. 4. A larger trial count reduces random variation but does not guarantee that one realized estimate lies within any specified distance of the true probability.

Answer

The estimates are \(0.39\) and \(0.4172\). Simulation B is generally more stable, but \(10{,}000\) trials do not guarantee that its error is less than \(0.001\).
Simulation of random processes 27
A population contains the values \(2, 4, 6, 8\). A computer repeatedly selects two values independently with replacement and records their mean. The exact distribution of the simulated sample mean is shown. a) Find the mean of this sampling distribution. b) Find the population mean. c) Explain the relationship between the two means. d) Which sample mean is most likely?
Figure for problem 549260

Hints

- Use the frequencies as weights when averaging the possible sample means. - Compute the center of the original four-value population separately. - Identify the tallest stack in the displayed distribution for the most likely result.

Solution

1. Using the displayed counts, the sampling-distribution mean is \(\frac{2\cdot 1+3\cdot 2+4\cdot 3+5\cdot 4+6\cdot 3+7\cdot 2+8\cdot 1}{16}=5\). 2. The population mean is \(\frac{2+4+6+8}{4}=5\). 3. The two means are equal. Repeated sample means are centered at the population mean for this random sampling process. 4. The value \(5\) has count \(4\), the largest displayed frequency, so it is most likely.

Answer

a) \(5\). b) \(5\). c) The sampling distribution of the sample mean is centered at the population mean. d) \(5\).
Simulation of random processes 28
A commute-delay simulation models rain and heavy traffic as independent events, using \(P(\text{rain})=0.30\) and \(P(\text{traffic})=0.40\). Historical data show \(P(\text{traffic}\mid\text{rain})=0.70\). a) What probability of both events does the independent simulation use? b) What probability of both events is supported by the historical conditional rate? c) Explain how the independence assumption affects simulations of severe delays caused by both events.

Hints

- Write the joint probability implied by independence. - Use the conditional relationship supplied by the historical data for the alternative calculation. - Compare the two joint probabilities to determine the direction of model error.

Solution

1. The independent simulation uses \(0.30\cdot 0.40=0.12\). 2. The historical relationship gives \(P(\text{rain and traffic})=P(\text{rain})P(\text{traffic}\mid\text{rain})=0.30\cdot 0.70=0.21\). 3. The simulation produces both events too rarely by \(0.21-0.12=0.09\). It will underestimate the frequency of severe combined delays because the real events are positively associated.

Answer

a) \(0.12\). b) \(0.21\). c) The model underestimates joint severe delays by treating positively associated events as independent.
Simulation of random processes 29
A pilot sample of commute times is \(12, 14, 15, 18, 21\) minutes. To study how a sample mean can vary, a program draws five values with replacement from these observations. Three resamples are: A: \(12, 12, 15, 18, 21\) B: \(14, 14, 14, 18, 21\) C: \(12, 15, 15, 15, 18\) a) Find the mean of each resample. b) Explain why sampling with replacement is essential in this resampling method. c) What feature of the original data limits the conclusions from this simulation?

Hints

- Average each resample independently before comparing them. - Consider what would happen if five values were drawn without replacement from a five-value data set. - A simulation based on observed data inherits weaknesses of those observations.

Solution

1. The resample means are \(\frac{78}{5}=15.6\) for A, \(\frac{81}{5}=16.2\) for B, and \(\frac{75}{5}=15.0\) for C. 2. Replacement allows each observed value to appear zero, one, or several times, creating new samples of the same size that mimic repeated sampling from an estimated population. 3. The simulation can reproduce only values and patterns represented by the five observations. A small or unrepresentative original sample limits the usefulness of the resampling distribution.

Answer

a) A: \(15.6\); B: \(16.2\); C: \(15.0\) minutes. b) Replacement creates varied same-size resamples and allows repeated observations. c) The method cannot repair a small or unrepresentative original sample.
Simulation of random processes 30
A cereal promotion places one of four equally likely cards in each box. The dot plot shows \(20\) simulated trials of the number of boxes needed to collect all four cards. a) Find the simulated mean and median. b) Explain why the mean exceeds the median. c) Which summary better describes a typical trial, and why? d) State one reason to run many more trials.
Figure for problem 549263

Hints

- Use the dot counts and x-values to reconstruct the \(20\) simulated outcomes. - Compare how the points far to the right affect the mean and the median. - Choose the center that is less distorted by the displayed tail.

Solution

1. Reading the dot plot gives a total of \(215\) boxes across \(20\) trials, so the mean is \(\frac{215}{20}=10.75\) boxes. The middle two ordered values are \(8\) and \(9\), so the median is \(\frac{8+9}{2}=8.5\) boxes. 2. A few long waits, especially the values near \(22\) and \(31\), pull the mean upward, while the median is less affected. 3. The median of \(8.5\) boxes better describes a typical trial because the simulated waiting-time distribution is right-skewed. 4. More trials would reduce random simulation variability and stabilize estimates of the distribution, center, and tail behavior.

Answer

a) Mean \(10.75\) boxes; median \(8.5\) boxes. b) A few long waits pull the mean upward. c) The median better represents a typical right-skewed trial. d) More trials reduce random simulation variability.
Simulation of random processes 31
A hospital's hallway lights work if the power supply (A) works and at least one of two control circuits (B and C) works. A fails with probability \(0.10\); B and C each fail with probability \(0.20\). The failures are independent. A simulation uses a fresh, independent random digit from \(0\) through \(9\) for each part. Digit \(0\) means A fails; digit \(0\) or \(1\) means B fails; the same two digits mean C fails. a) Explain why the digit assignments represent the failure probabilities correctly. b) Find the theoretical probability that the system works. c) In \(5000\) simulation trials, the system works \(4318\) times. Compare the result with theory.

Hints

- Count how many of the ten possible digits represent failure for each component. - For the system to work, what must happen to A and to B or C? - Compare the fraction of simulated successes with the probability found from the component model.

Solution

1. Each digit has probability \(\frac{1}{10}\). One failure digit represents \(0.10\); two represent \(0.20\). Independent digits also match the independent component failures. 2. A works with probability \(0.90\). At least one of B or C works with probability \(1-0.20\cdot0.20=0.96\). Hence the system works with probability \(0.90\cdot0.96=0.864\). 3. The simulation estimate is \(\frac{4318}{5000}=0.8636\), which is \(0.0004\) below the theoretical probability.

Answer

a) The digit sets have the right sizes out of ten; independent digits represent the independent component outcomes. b) \(0.864\). c) \(0.8636\), very close to \(0.864\).
Simulation of random processes 32
A randomized experiment compares two study methods. The observed difference in mean scores is \(4.0\) points. Under a no-effect model, the treatment labels are shuffled \(1000\) times. Only \(28\) shuffled trials produce an absolute mean difference of at least \(4.0\) points. a) Estimate the probability of a result at least as extreme as the observed one under the no-effect model. b) Is the observed difference common or unusual under that model? c) State the conclusion supported by the simulation without claiming that every student benefits.

Hints

- Use the shuffled outcomes at least as extreme as the observed result as the numerator. - Interpret the resulting proportion under the no-effect model. - Phrase the conclusion about average outcomes rather than every individual.

Solution

1. The estimated tail probability is \(\frac{28}{1000}=0.028\). 2. A result this extreme occurs in only about \(2.8\%\) of no-effect randomizations, so it is unusual under the no-effect model. 3. The simulation provides evidence that the study methods differ in mean effect for the experimental setting. It does not show that every individual responds in the same way.

Answer

a) \(0.028\), or \(2.8\%\) b) Unusual under the no-effect model. c) There is evidence of a difference in average outcomes between the methods, not a guarantee for every student.
Simulation of random processes 33
A population proportion is \(0.60\). A simulation takes \(1000\) random samples of size \(50\) and records each sample proportion. The simulated sampling distribution has mean \(0.598\), standard deviation \(0.069\), and about \(95\%\) of results from \(0.46\) to \(0.74\). a) Explain why the center is close to \(0.60\). b) Interpret the standard deviation \(0.069\). c) If the sample size becomes \(200\), predict how the standard deviation changes using the \(1/\sqrt{n}\) pattern. d) Predict a rough \(95\%\) range for the larger samples.

Hints

- Relate the center of repeated estimates to the fixed value used to generate the samples. - Interpret spread across repetitions, not spread among individuals in one sample. - Compare the two sample sizes through their square roots.

Solution

1. Random sample proportions vary around the true population proportion, so the simulated center \(0.598\) is close to \(0.60\). 2. Across repeated samples of size \(50\), a sample proportion typically differs from the population proportion by about \(0.069\). 3. Increasing size from \(50\) to \(200\) multiplies \(n\) by \(4\), so the standard deviation is divided by \(\sqrt{4}=2\), giving about \(0.0345\). 4. A rough \(95\%\) range is \(0.60\pm2\cdot0.0345\), or approximately \([0.531,0.669]\).

Answer

a) Repeated random-sample proportions are centered near the population proportion. b) A size-\(50\) sample proportion typically varies by about \(0.069\) from \(0.60\). c) About \(0.0345\). d) Approximately \([0.531,0.669]\).
Simulation of random processes 34
The spinner shows the probabilities for a bus dispatch choosing Route A, Route B, or Route C. A simulation spins twice per trial and records a success when both dispatches are Route C. In \(300\) trials, \(13\) successes occur. a) Find the theoretical success probability. b) Find the simulation estimate. c) Compare the observed success count with the theoretical expected count. d) Explain why using three equal sectors would be invalid.
Figure for problem 549270

Hints

- Read the probability of Route C from the spinner before considering two dispatches. - A simulation estimate comes from successful trials divided by all trials. - Compare the observed count with the count predicted by the theoretical probability.

Solution

1. From the spinner, \(P(C)=0.20\). For two independent dispatches, the theoretical success probability is \((0.20)^2=0.04\). 2. The simulation estimate is \(\frac{13}{300}\approx0.0433\). 3. The theoretical expected count is \(300\cdot0.04=12\). The observed count \(13\) is close and is consistent with random variation. 4. Three equal sectors would assign probability \(\frac13\) to every route, which does not match the displayed route probabilities.

Answer

a) \(0.04\) b) Approximately \(0.0433\) c) Expected \(12\), observed \(13\); the results are consistent. d) Equal sectors would assign the wrong route probabilities.
Simulation of random processes 35
Two students run the same \(500\)-trial computer simulation with the same pseudorandom-number seed. They obtain identical outcome sequences, average their two estimates, and call the result a \(1000\)-trial estimate. Explain the flaw and describe how to obtain two independent, reproducible runs.

Hints

- Ask what information the seed determines. - Repeating the same outcome sequence does not increase the number of independent trials. - Reproducibility requires recording seeds, not reusing one sequence as new data.

Solution

1. The seed determines the pseudorandom sequence, so using the same seed duplicates the same \(500\) outcomes. 2. Averaging duplicate runs does not create \(1000\) independent trials or add new simulation information. 3. To obtain two reproducible runs, use two distinct recorded seeds that initialize separate pseudorandom streams. The two runs should produce different sequences while the recorded seeds make each run reproducible.

Answer

The two runs duplicate the same \(500\) outcomes, so they are not a \(1000\)-trial simulation. Use two distinct recorded seeds so the runs produce different reproducible sequences.
Simulation of random processes 36
A simulation studies a rare event with probability \(0.002\) per independent trial. In the first \(500\) trials, the event never occurs. a) Does this result show that the event probability is \(0\)? Explain. b) Find the model probability of observing zero events in \(500\) trials. c) Evaluate whether the observed result is surprising. d) State why far more trials are useful for estimating a rare-event probability.

Hints

- A relative frequency of zero is not automatically the same as a model probability of zero. - Use the complement probability repeatedly across independent trials. - Judge surprise from the calculated probability of the observed outcome.

Solution

1. No. A positive-probability event can fail to appear in a finite simulation. 2. The probability of no event on one trial is \(0.998\), so the probability of zero events in \(500\) trials is \((0.998)^{500}\approx 0.3675\). 3. A probability of about \(36.8\%\) is not small, so zero observed events is not surprising under the model. 4. Rare events produce few successes, so their relative-frequency estimates are unstable unless the trial count is very large.

Answer

a) No. b) \((0.998)^{500}\approx 0.3675\). c) Not surprising; the no-event outcome has probability about \(36.8\%\). d) More trials are needed to accumulate enough rare successes for a stable estimate.
Simulation of random processes 37
In a dice game, a player rolls two fair six-sided dice. A sum of \(7\) earns \(\$5\); any other sum loses \(\$1\). A simulation of \(1200\) plays records \(198\) wins. a) Find the simulated average payoff per play. b) Find the theoretical expected payoff. c) Is the simulation evidence consistent with a fair game? d) Explain why a near-zero long-run average does not mean every short session ends near \(\$0\).

Hints

- Convert the win and loss counts into a total net payoff before averaging. - Count the equally likely two-die outcomes producing the winning sum. - Interpret expected value as a long-run center rather than a promise for one session.

Solution

1. The total simulated payoff is \(198\cdot 5-1002\cdot 1=-12\) dollars, so the average is \(\frac{-12}{1200}=-\$0.01\) per play. 2. A sum of \(7\) has probability \(\frac{6}{36}=\frac{1}{6}\). The expected payoff is \(5\cdot\frac{1}{6}-1\cdot\frac{5}{6}=0\). 3. The simulated average of \(-\$0.01\) is close to the theoretical value \(\$0\), so it is consistent with fairness. 4. Individual outcomes and short runs vary substantially; expected value describes a long-run average, not a guaranteed session result.

Answer

a) \(-\$0.01\) per play. b) \(\$0\) per play. c) Yes; the simulation is close to the theoretical fair value. d) Short-run random variation can still produce substantial gains or losses.
Simulation of random processes 38
A juice bottling plant checks one batch each day. Engineers simulate \(5000\) days when the bottles are filled correctly. The check incorrectly flags \(62\) batches. Estimate the chance of a false alarm on a day with correct filling, and the expected number of false alarms over \(300\) such days. What else should the engineers simulate to find out whether the check catches bottles filled incorrectly?

Hints

- Which simulated days count as false alarms? - How does a daily probability relate to an expected number over many days? - What kind of batches have not yet been tested in the simulation?

Solution

1. The estimated daily false-alarm probability is \(\frac{62}{5000}=0.0124=1.24\%\). 2. In \(300\) correctly operating days, the expected number of false alarms is \(300\cdot0.0124=3.72\), or about \(4\). 3. Simulate batches of bottles filled incorrectly and measure how often the check flags them.

Answer

Daily false-alarm probability: \(0.0124\), or \(1.24\%\). Expected false alarms over \(300\) correctly filled batches: \(3.72\) (about \(4\)). Simulate incorrectly filled batches to measure detection.
Simulation of random processes 39
A fair coin is flipped \(12\) times. A trial is called a success if the sequence contains at least one run of \(4\) consecutive heads. In a simulation of \(1000\) trials, \(304\) trials were successes. a) Use the simulation to estimate the probability of success. b) An exact enumeration finds \(1224\) successful sequences among all \(4096\) equally likely sequences. Find the exact probability and compare it with the estimate. c) Explain why counting only sequences that begin with HHHH would not correctly model the event.

Hints

- Turn the number of successful trials into a relative frequency. - Use the complete set of equally likely sequences for the exact comparison. - Think about every possible starting position of the consecutive pattern.

Solution

1. The simulated estimate is \(\frac{304}{1000}=0.304\). 2. The exact probability is \(\frac{1224}{4096}\approx0.2988\). 3. The simulation estimate differs by \(0.304-0.2988\approx0.0052\), which is reasonable for \(1000\) trials. 4. A run of four heads can begin in any of nine positions, and sequences can contain overlapping runs, so restricting attention to the first four flips misses valid outcomes.

Answer

a) \(0.304\). b) \(\frac{1224}{4096}\approx0.2988\); the estimate is about \(0.0052\) higher. c) A qualifying run may start later than the first flip, and runs can overlap.
Simulation of random processes 40
The data set \(8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 40\) contains one unusually large value. A computer repeatedly drew bootstrap samples of size \(6\), with replacement, and calculated each sample's mean and median. The boxplots summarize the two bootstrap distributions. a) Which statistic appears more resistant to the unusual value? Use a feature of the boxplots to justify your answer. b) Which bootstrap distribution has the larger interquartile range? Explain how the plot shows this. c) Explain why this simulation does not prove that the median is always the better statistic.
Figure for problem 549278

Hints

- Compare the widths and locations of the two boxes rather than relying only on their labels. - The interquartile range is represented by the width of the box itself. - Separate what these bootstrap results show for this data set from a universal claim about means and medians.

Solution

1. The median bootstrap distribution has a much narrower box and is concentrated near the center of the original non-outlying values, while the mean bootstrap distribution is much more spread out toward larger values. Therefore, the median appears more resistant to the unusual value. 2. The mean bootstrap distribution has the larger interquartile range because its box is visibly much wider than the median's box. 3. The comparison concerns this data pattern and this purpose. Other distributions or statistical goals can make the mean an appropriate or preferable summary.

Answer

a) The median; its bootstrap boxplot is much more tightly concentrated and is less pulled toward large values. b) The mean bootstrap distribution; its box is much wider, so its interquartile range is larger. c) The result concerns this data pattern and purpose, not every possible distribution or statistical goal.
Simulation of random processes 41
Eight technicians tried a new checklist. Their changes in completion time, measured as old time minus new time in minutes, were \(4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, -1, -1\). To model no systematic improvement, a randomization simulation independently changed the sign of each absolute difference. Among all \(256\) possible sign patterns, \(9\) produced a mean change at least as large as the observed mean. a) Find the observed mean change. b) Estimate the one-sided probability of a result at least this large under the no-improvement model. c) Explain what conclusion is supported and what limitation remains.

Hints

- Use the signs in the observed data when finding the original average change. - The relevant simulated fraction uses only outcomes at least as favorable as the observed result. - Keep evidence about an effect separate from claims about a larger population.

Solution

1. The observed total change is \(4+3+3+2+2+1-1-1=13\), so the mean change is \(\frac{13}{8}=1.625\) minutes. 2. The randomization probability is \(\frac{9}{256}\approx0.0352\). 3. A result this favorable is uncommon under the no-systematic-improvement model, which supports evidence of a positive checklist effect for these technicians. 4. Without random sampling from a broader population, the result cannot automatically be generalized to all technicians.

Answer

a) \(1.625\) minutes. b) \(\frac{9}{256}\approx0.0352\). c) The simulation gives evidence of improvement for the studied technicians, but broader generalization requires an appropriate sampling design.
Simulation of random processes 42
The tree shows a two-stage inspection process. An item accepted at either inspection leaves the process; an item that fails the second inspection is rejected. a) Describe a two-digit random-number simulation for one item using digits \(00\) through \(99\) at each stage. b) Find the model probability that an item is eventually accepted. c) In \(2000\) simulated items, \(1837\) were accepted. Compare the simulation estimate with the model probability.
Figure for problem 549280

Hints

- Give each outcome a number of equally likely two-digit results proportional to its probability. - An item can be accepted along either of two nonoverlapping paths. - Compare the simulated relative frequency with the probability from the full process.

Solution

1. For the first inspection, assign \(00\)–\(77\) to pass and \(78\)–\(99\) to fail. Use a second independent two-digit number only after a first failure, assigning \(00\)–\(64\) to pass after rework and \(65\)–\(99\) to fail. 2. The eventual acceptance probability is \(0.78+0.22\cdot 0.65=0.923\). 3. The simulated estimate is \(\frac{1837}{2000}=0.9185\). 4. The estimate is \(0.923-0.9185=0.0045\) below the model probability.

Answer

a) Use \(00\)–\(77\) for an initial pass; after an initial failure, use \(00\)–\(64\) for a rework pass. b) \(0.923\). c) The estimate is \(0.9185\), which is \(0.0045\) below the model probability.
Simulation of random processes 43
Twenty participants are assigned independently to treatment A or treatment B by fair coin flips. A simulation of \(1000\) assignments found \(267\) in which one group had at least \(6\) more participants than the other. a) Estimate the probability of such an imbalance. b) The exact probability is \(0.2632\). Is the simulation result consistent with the model? Quantify the difference. c) A researcher instead places exactly \(10\) A cards and \(10\) B cards in an urn and draws without replacement. Explain how this changes the randomization and the imbalance probability.

Hints

- Use the proportion of simulated assignments meeting the stated condition. - Compare the estimate and exact value by their absolute difference. - Distinguish randomizing identities from randomizing group sizes.

Solution

1. The simulated probability is \(\frac{267}{1000}=0.267\). 2. The absolute difference from the exact probability is \(|0.267-0.2632|=0.0038\), so the result is consistent with ordinary simulation variability. 3. Drawing from ten cards of each type still randomizes which participants receive each treatment, but it forces equal group sizes. 4. Under the urn procedure, the probability of a group-size difference of at least \(6\) is \(0\).

Answer

a) \(0.267\). b) Yes. The difference is \(0.0038\). c) The urn method preserves random assignment while guaranteeing \(10\) participants per group, so the imbalance probability becomes \(0\).
Simulation of random processes 44
The urn contains the six tokens shown. Two tokens are drawn, and the event of interest is drawing two tokens of the same color. Algorithm A records a token's color, returns the token, mixes, and draws again. Algorithm B records a token's color, sets that token aside, mixes, and draws again. a) Which algorithm correctly simulates drawing without replacement? b) Find the probability of the event for the actual process. c) Find the probability Algorithm A produces the event, and explain the direction of its modeling error.
Figure for problem 549282

Hints

- Match what happens to the first selected object in the real process. - Count which unordered pairs satisfy the color condition. - Changing whether an object is returned changes the second-draw probabilities.

Solution

1. Algorithm B matches drawing without replacement because the first token is unavailable for the second draw. 2. There are \(\binom{6}{2}=15\) unordered pairs. Only the red pair and the blue pair match, so the actual probability is \(\frac{2}{15}\approx 0.1333\). 3. With replacement, the probability is \(2\cdot\left(\frac{2}{6}\right)^2+2\cdot\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^2=\frac{5}{18}\approx 0.2778\). 4. Algorithm A overestimates the event by \(\frac{5}{18}-\frac{2}{15}=\frac{13}{90}\approx 0.1444\).

Answer

a) Algorithm B. b) \(\frac{2}{15}\approx0.1333\). c) Algorithm A gives \(\frac{5}{18}\approx0.2778\), an overestimate of about \(0.1444\).
Simulation of random processes 45
A simulation estimates the probability of at least one head in \(5\) fair-coin flips. It stops each trial as soon as a head occurs or after the fifth flip. Among \(1000\) trials, \(970\) contain a head. Compare the simulation estimate with the exact probability and explain which denominator estimates the event probability.

Hints

- Estimate from the fraction of trials containing at least one head. - Use the complement of five tails for the exact probability. - Trial length is not the denominator for the probability of a trial-level event.

Solution

1. The simulation estimate is \(\frac{970}{1000}=0.970\). 2. The exact probability is \(1-\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^5=\frac{31}{32}=0.96875\). 3. The simulation estimate is \(0.00125\) higher. Event probability is estimated with successful trials divided by all trials, not with the number of flips used.

Answer

The simulation estimate is \(0.970\); the exact probability is \(\frac{31}{32}=0.96875\). The estimate is \(0.00125\) high, and its denominator is the \(1000\) completed trials.
Simulation of random processes 46
A delivery outcome has probabilities \(P(\text{early})=0.15\), \(P(\text{on time})=0.25\), and \(P(\text{late})=0.60\). Salma proposes using one random digit: \(0\) for early, \(1\)–\(3\) for on time, and \(4\)–\(9\) for late. a) State the probabilities produced by this simulation. b) Identify each modeling error. c) Give an exact two-digit assignment using \(00\) through \(99\).

Hints

- Count how many equally likely digits are assigned to each outcome. - Compare the simulated distribution category by category with the target distribution. - A larger set of equally likely labels can represent hundredths exactly.

Solution

1. The one-digit assignment produces probabilities \(0.10\), \(0.30\), and \(0.60\). 2. It understates early delivery by \(0.15-0.10=0.05\) and overstates on-time delivery by \(0.30-0.25=0.05\); the late probability is correct. 3. An exact assignment is \(00\)–\(14\) for early, \(15\)–\(39\) for on time, and \(40\)–\(99\) for late.

Answer

a) Early: \(0.10\); on time: \(0.30\); late: \(0.60\). b) Early is \(0.05\) too low and on time is \(0.05\) too high. c) One valid assignment is \(00\)–\(14\), \(15\)–\(39\), and \(40\)–\(99\), respectively.
Simulation of random processes 47
In a board game, a player rolls a fair die repeatedly and adds each result to a running total until the total is at least \(10\). A simulation of \(1000\) games produced the following results. <table><thead><tr><th>Number of rolls</th><th>2</th><th>3</th><th>4</th><th>5</th><th>6</th><th>7</th><th>8</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Frequency</td><td>75</td><td>344</td><td>357</td><td>163</td><td>49</td><td>10</td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table> a) Estimate the mean number of rolls. b) Estimate the median number of rolls. c) Estimate the probability that a game ends within \(3\) rolls. d) Explain why replacing each die roll by its mean value \(3.5\) does not reproduce the full simulation.

Hints

- Use each possible roll count as a value and its frequency as a weight. - Locate where the cumulative count first passes the halfway position. - A random process contains more information than its average step size.

Solution

1. The weighted total is \(2\cdot 75+3\cdot 344+4\cdot 357+5\cdot 163+6\cdot 49+7\cdot 10+8\cdot 2=3805\), so the estimated mean is \(\frac{3805}{1000}=3.805\) rolls. 2. The cumulative frequency through \(3\) rolls is \(419\), and through \(4\) rolls it is \(776\), so the median is \(4\) rolls. 3. The estimated probability of ending within \(3\) rolls is \(\frac{75+344}{1000}=0.419\). 4. Using \(3.5\) every time removes roll-to-roll variability and cannot model the distribution of stopping times.

Answer

a) \(3.805\) rolls. b) \(4\) rolls. c) \(0.419\). d) Constant rolls of \(3.5\) preserve only the single-roll mean, not the random paths or stopping-time distribution.
Simulation of random processes 48
To simulate a process with success probability \(0.25\), Sopheak reads the digit string \(3141592653589793\) and treats \(00\)–\(24\) as success. Sopheak forms overlapping pairs: \(31,14,41,15,59,92,26,65,53,35,58,89,97,79,93\). a) How many successes occur in these \(15\) simulated trials? b) Explain why the overlapping-pair method does not produce independent trials. c) List the first \(8\) nonoverlapping pairs that should be used instead and find their success count.

Hints

- Check each two-digit value against the assigned success interval. - Look for information reused from one proposed trial to the next. - Partition the digit string into disjoint blocks starting at the first digit.

Solution

1. Among the overlapping pairs, \(14\) and \(15\) are in \(00\)–\(24\), so there are \(2\) successes. 2. Consecutive overlapping pairs share one digit; for example, \(31\) and \(14\) both use the digit \(1\). Therefore adjacent trials are dependent. 3. The nonoverlapping pairs are \(31,41,59,26,53,58,97,93\). 4. None of these eight pairs is in \(00\)–\(24\), so the success count is \(0\).

Answer

a) \(2\) successes. b) Adjacent pairs share a digit, so the simulated trials are not independent. c) \(31,41,59,26,53,58,97,93\); \(0\) successes.
Simulation of random processes 49
A simulation needs one of five outcomes, A through E, each with probability \(\frac{1}{5}\). A fair six-sided die is available. Procedure 1 assigns rolls \(1\)–\(5\) to A–E and rerolls every \(6\). Procedure 2 assigns \(1\) to A, \(2\) to B, \(3\) to C, \(4\) to D, and \(5\) or \(6\) to E. a) Which procedure has the correct outcome probabilities? b) Find the probability distribution produced by Procedure 2. c) For Procedure 1, how many recorded outcomes are expected from \(600\) die rolls?

Hints

- Check whether each recorded outcome receives the same number of accepted die faces. - A rejected roll is not itself a recorded outcome. - Multiply the number of rolls by the probability that a roll is accepted.

Solution

1. Procedure 1 is correct because, conditional on a roll in \(1\)–\(5\), all five accepted values are equally likely. 2. Procedure 2 gives probabilities \(\frac{1}{6}\) for A, B, C, and D, and \(\frac{2}{6}=\frac{1}{3}\) for E. 3. Each roll is accepted with probability \(\frac{5}{6}\), so \(600\cdot\frac{5}{6}=500\) recorded outcomes are expected.

Answer

a) Procedure 1. b) A–D each have probability \(\frac{1}{6}\); E has probability \(\frac{1}{3}\). c) \(500\) recorded outcomes.
Simulation of random processes 50
Twelve students are paired by similar pretest scores. Within each pair, a fair coin determines which student receives Method A; the other receives Method B. a) Describe one simulation trial for the full assignment. b) Explain two features that this assignment method guarantees. c) Greta instead flips a coin independently for every student. Explain one new kind of imbalance that can occur under that procedure.

Hints

- Use one random decision for each matched unit rather than for each individual. - Track both the overall treatment counts and the composition within every pair. - Consider what independent decisions could do to two partners from the same pair.

Solution

1. For each of the six pairs, flip one fair coin. Assign A to the first-listed student after heads and to the second-listed student after tails; assign B to the partner. 2. The procedure guarantees exactly six students per method and exactly one student from each matched pair in each method. 3. Independent flips can produce unequal group sizes and can place both members of a matched pair in the same treatment, weakening the intended control for pretest score.

Answer

a) Flip one fair coin independently within each of the six pairs and assign opposite methods to the two partners. b) It guarantees equal treatment sizes and one member of every pair in each treatment. c) Independent student-level flips can unbalance both total group sizes and the distribution of matched pretest levels.
Simulation of random processes 51
Two checkout policies are compared in \(10\) simulated store scenarios. Each row uses the same customer arrival times and service times for both policies. The values shown are Policy X wait minus Policy Y wait, in minutes: \(2, 1, -1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 4, -2, 2\). a) Find the mean simulated difference. b) In how many scenarios did Policy Y produce the shorter wait? c) Explain why using the same random customer scenario for both policies makes the comparison more informative than generating unrelated scenarios for X and Y.

Hints

- Interpret the sign of each difference before counting favorable scenarios. - Average the scenario-by-scenario differences, not the two policy totals separately. - Ask what source of random variation is canceled when both policies face the same inputs.

Solution

1. The differences sum to \(12\), so the mean difference is \(\frac{12}{10}=1.2\) minutes. 2. A positive difference means Policy X had the longer wait, so Policy Y was shorter in \(7\) scenarios. 3. Using matched random inputs removes variation caused merely by different customer streams, so each difference more directly reflects the policy change.

Answer

a) \(1.2\) minutes. b) \(7\) scenarios. c) Matched inputs isolate the policy effect by holding the simulated customer conditions constant within each comparison.
Simulation of random processes 52
A factory model assumes that each day's equipment failure is independent of other days. The observed \(200\)-day record contains \(6\) pairs of consecutive failure days. In \(5000\) simulated \(200\)-day records from the independent model, only \(9\) had at least \(6\) consecutive-failure pairs. a) Estimate the probability of a result at least this clustered under the model. b) Is the observed clustering reasonably consistent with the independence model? Explain. c) Name one kind of process feature the factory should investigate.

Hints

- Use the fraction of simulated records at least as extreme as the observed record. - Judge consistency by how often the model reproduces the observed feature. - Think of a mechanism that could make neighboring days more alike.

Solution

1. The simulated tail probability is \(\frac{9}{5000}=0.0018\). 2. A result at least this clustered occurs in only about \(0.18\%\) of simulated records, so the observed pattern is not reasonably consistent with the independent-failure model. 3. A plausible feature to investigate is a persistent condition, such as an unresolved mechanical problem, that raises failure risk on neighboring days.

Answer

a) \(0.0018\), or \(0.18\%\). b) No. The observed clustering is extremely unusual under the independence model. c) For example, investigate a persistent equipment condition that carries elevated risk from one day to the next.
Simulation of random processes 53
A raffle bag holds one ticket for each symbol on the spinner. A player draws two tickets without replacement and wins if one ticket is marked A. Describe a fair way to use the spinner to simulate one complete game. State when the trial ends and what counts as a win.
Figure for problem 560622

Hints

- How can one spin stand for picking one ticket from the bag? - In what way does spinning twice differ from drawing two tickets from a bag? - When would you have enough information to decide whether the game was won?

Solution

1. Spin once to choose the first ticket. 2. Spin again for the second ticket. If the second symbol matches the first, ignore that spin and keep spinning until a different symbol appears. This gives two different tickets, as in a draw without replacement. 3. Record a win if either selected ticket is A; otherwise record a loss. One pair of different symbols is one completed trial.

Answer

Spin to choose the first ticket. Keep spinning for the second until it has a different symbol. Record a win if either of the two chosen symbols is A; otherwise record a loss.
Simulation of random processes 54
A computer randomly arranges the integers \(1\) through \(100\). A fixed point occurs when an integer \(k\) appears in position \(k\). The goal is to estimate the probability of at least one fixed point. a) Describe how to simulate this experiment with a spreadsheet or programming language. b) In \(5000\) simulation trials, at least one fixed point occurred in \(3162\) trials. Find the relative frequency. c) The theoretical limiting probability is \(1-\frac{1}{e}\approx 0.6321\). Evaluate the simulation estimate using the law of large numbers.

Hints

- Each simulated arrangement should be a uniformly random permutation. - Divide successful trials by total trials. - Distinguish long-run stabilization from a guarantee for one finite simulation.

Solution

1. In each trial, generate a random permutation of \(1\) through \(100\). Check whether any position \(i\) contains the value \(i\), record a success if so, and repeat many times. 2. The relative frequency is \(\frac{3162}{5000}=0.6324\). 3. The estimate differs from \(0.6321\) by only \(0.0003\), so this simulation happened to be very close. The law of large numbers explains why estimates tend to stabilize as the number of trials grows, but it does not guarantee such a small error in every \(5000\)-trial simulation.

Answer

a) Repeatedly generate a random permutation and check whether at least one value is in its own position. b) \(0.6324\) c) The estimate is very close to \(0.6321\), but a finite simulation has no guarantee of that exact level of accuracy.
Simulation of random processes 55
A program simulates how many attempts it takes to get the first success. Each attempt succeeds with probability \(0.20\). The program stops after \(10\) failures and records the waiting time as \(10\). a) Why is recording a waiting time of \(10\) wrong when the first \(10\) attempts all fail? b) Does this error make the simulated average waiting time too high or too low? c) Give one way to change the simulation to estimate the average waiting time fairly. If the program must stop at \(10\) attempts, what should it record for a trial with no success?

Hints

- Does ten failures tell you when success will first happen? - What happens to an average when larger outcomes are replaced by smaller ones? - What result can a capped trial report without claiming to know the unfinished waiting time?

Solution

1. After ten failures, the first success has not occurred. The waiting time is greater than \(10\), not equal to \(10\). 2. Replacing every longer waiting time with \(10\) cuts large values down and makes the simulated average too low. 3. To estimate the average waiting time, keep simulating each trial until its first success and record that attempt number. 4. If a cap is necessary, record 'no success in the first 10 attempts' separately. The exact waiting time is unknown, so it cannot be included as though it were exactly \(10\).

Answer

a) The waiting time is greater than \(10\), because success has not occurred yet. b) Too low. c) Run each trial until success to calculate an ordinary average. With a cap, mark unfinished trials separately instead of assigning them a waiting time of \(10\).
Simulation of random processes 56
A simple weather simulation has two states. After a dry day, the next day is rainy with probability \(0.20\). After a rainy day, the next day is rainy with probability \(0.60\). The simulation starts with a dry day. For each next day, use one random digit: after dry, \(0\)–\(1\) means rain; after rain, \(0\)–\(5\) means rain. Use the digit stream \(1, 7, 4, 0, 8, 3\) to simulate the next six days. List the weather sequence and the number of rainy days. Then explain why using \(0\)–\(1\) for rain every day would be invalid.

Hints

- Update the current state after every digit before interpreting the next digit. - The same digit can represent different outcomes under different current states. - A valid simulation must preserve the stated dependence from one day to the next.

Solution

1. Starting after dry, digit \(1\) gives rain. After rain, digit \(7\) gives dry. 2. After dry, digit \(4\) gives dry; digit \(0\) then gives rain. 3. After rain, digit \(8\) gives dry; after dry, digit \(3\) gives dry. 4. The six-day sequence is R, D, D, R, D, D, with \(2\) rainy days. 5. A fixed \(0.20\) rule ignores the current state and would fail to model the higher \(0.60\) persistence of rain after a rainy day.

Answer

The sequence is R, D, D, R, D, D, so there are \(2\) rainy days. A fixed \(0.20\) rule is invalid because the next-day probability depends on the current weather state.
Simulation of random processes 57
For a simulation estimate \(\hat p\) based on \(N\) independent trials, an approximate standard deviation is \(\sqrt{\frac{p(1-p)}{N}}\). A designer wants the standard deviation to be at most \(0.01\) without knowing \(p\) in advance. a) Explain why using \(p=0.5\) gives a conservative trial count. b) Find the minimum \(N\) using this worst case. c) If the target standard deviation is cut in half, by what factor must the trial count increase?

Hints

- Find where the variability term in the numerator is largest. - Translate the desired precision into an inequality and remove the square root carefully. - Use the inverse square-root relationship to compare precision targets.

Solution

1. The product \(p(1-p)\) is largest at \(p=0.5\), where it equals \(0.25\). Using this value produces the largest standard deviation for a fixed \(N\). 2. Require \(\sqrt{\frac{0.25}{N}}\le0.01\). Squaring gives \(\frac{0.25}{N}\le0.0001\), so \(N\ge2500\). 3. Standard deviation varies as \(1/\sqrt{N}\). Halving it requires multiplying \(N\) by \(2^2=4\).

Answer

a) \(p=0.5\) maximizes \(p(1-p)\), so it gives the largest required \(N\). b) \(N=2500\). c) Increase the trial count by a factor of \(4\).
Simulation of random processes 58
Eight songs are placed in a uniformly random order. A success means that no song appears in its original position. In \(5000\) simulated shuffles, \(1841\) were successes. a) Estimate the probability of success. b) The exact probability is \(\frac{14833}{40320}\). Compare it with the simulation estimate. c) Daan computes \(\left(\frac{7}{8}\right)^8\), treating the eight “not in the original position” events as independent. Explain why that model is invalid.

Hints

- Use successful shuffles divided by total simulated shuffles. - Compare the decimal forms before judging agreement. - Ask whether fixing one song's location leaves every other song's possibilities unchanged.

Solution

1. The simulated estimate is \(\frac{1841}{5000}=0.3682\). 2. The exact probability is \(\frac{14833}{40320}\approx0.3679\), so the absolute difference is about \(0.0003\). 3. Song positions in a shuffle are dependent because assigning one song to a position changes the positions available to all other songs. 4. The independent calculation gives \(\left(\frac{7}{8}\right)^8\approx0.3436\), which is not the probability for a random permutation.

Answer

a) \(0.3682\) b) The exact value is about \(0.3679\); the difference is about \(0.0003\). c) The position events are dependent because a shuffle assigns positions without replacement.
Simulation of random processes 59
A company flags an experiment when its result is unusually large. Under a no-effect model, a simulation shows that one experiment is falsely flagged with probability about \(0.066\). The company runs \(10\) independent experiments and reports any flagged result. In \(1000\) simulated sets of ten experiments, \(496\) sets contained at least one false flag. a) Estimate the probability of at least one false flag from the simulation. b) Use the one-experiment rate to calculate a model probability for at least one false flag. c) Explain why the chance is much larger than \(0.066\), even though the rule for each individual experiment did not change.

Hints

- The complement event may be easier to combine across independent experiments. - Use the probability that one experiment is not falsely flagged. - Distinguish a per-experiment error rate from an error rate for an entire collection.

Solution

1. The simulated estimate is \(\frac{496}{1000}=0.496\). 2. The probability of no false flags in ten independent experiments is \((1-0.066)^{10}=0.934^{10}\approx0.5052\). 3. Therefore the probability of at least one false flag is \(1-0.5052\approx0.4948\). 4. Ten opportunities to trigger the rule create many chances for at least one rare event to occur.

Answer

a) \(0.496\). b) \(1-0.934^{10}\approx0.4948\). c) Repeating the test creates ten opportunities for a false flag, so the overall probability accumulates.
Simulation of random processes 60
A support-ticket simulation begins with one active ticket, called generation \(0\). For each active ticket in generations \(0\), \(1\), and \(2\), read the next random digit. Digits \(0\)–\(7\) mean the ticket closes; digits \(8\)–\(9\) mean it creates exactly two tickets in the next generation. New tickets are processed in the order created. Tickets created in generation \(3\) are counted but are not processed. For the digit stream \(9, 7, 8, 8, 1\): a) Trace the simulated process and find the total number of tickets created, including the original ticket. b) Find the greatest generation reached and state how many active tickets remain when the cap stops the simulation. c) Explain why the generation cap must be reported when simulation results are summarized.

Hints

- Label the original ticket as generation \(0\), then process the queue one ticket at a time. - Count tickets when they are created, including tickets that the cap prevents from being processed. - Compare the capped process with what could happen if generation-\(3\) tickets were allowed to continue.

Solution

1. The generation-\(0\) ticket uses digit \(9\) and creates two generation-\(1\) tickets. The first uses \(7\) and closes. The second uses \(8\) and creates two generation-\(2\) tickets. 2. The first generation-\(2\) ticket uses \(8\) and creates two generation-\(3\) tickets. The second uses \(1\) and closes. The generation-\(3\) tickets are counted but not processed. 3. The total number of tickets is \(1+2+2+2=7\). The greatest generation reached is generation \(3\), and \(2\) active tickets remain when the cap stops the simulation. 4. The cap truncates paths that would continue beyond generation \(3\), so it can lower total ticket counts and limit the simulated process depth relative to the uncapped process.

Answer

a) The process creates \(7\) tickets in total. b) Generation \(3\), with \(2\) active generation-\(3\) tickets left unprocessed. c) The cap truncates continuing branches and therefore changes the distribution being estimated.
Simulation of random processes 61
Two trains travel through the same weather region. On a good-weather day, each train is delayed with probability \(0.10\); on a bad-weather day, each is delayed with probability \(0.60\). A day is good with probability \(0.80\) and bad with probability \(0.20\). Conditional on the day's weather, the two delay events are independent. Algorithm A simulates one weather state for the day and then both trains under that state. Algorithm B independently simulates a separate weather state for each train. a) Which algorithm correctly represents the model? b) Find the model probability that both trains are delayed. c) Find the probability Algorithm B produces two delays and explain why it is different.

Hints

- Identify which random condition is shared by both trains. - Find the two-delay probability separately within each weather condition. - Compare conditional independence with what happens if the shared weather state is removed.

Solution

1. Algorithm A is correct because both trains share the same daily weather state. 2. Under good weather, both are delayed with probability \((0.10)^2=0.01\). Under bad weather, both are delayed with probability \((0.60)^2=0.36\). 3. The model probability is \(0.80\cdot0.01+0.20\cdot0.36=0.08\). 4. For either train, the marginal delay probability is \(0.80\cdot0.10+0.20\cdot0.60=0.20\). Algorithm B makes the train outcomes independent, so it gives \((0.20)^2=0.04\). 5. Algorithm B removes the positive dependence created by shared weather and understates simultaneous delays.

Answer

a) Algorithm A. b) \(0.08\) c) Algorithm B gives \(0.04\) because it incorrectly gives the trains separate weather conditions and removes their shared dependence.

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