Q75 / 150 · MHT CET 2025 (27 Apr Shift 2) · Mathematics

For the following probability distribution, the standard deviation of the random variable X is
X 2 3 4
P(X=x) 0.2 0.5 0.3

  • Correct answer
    A
    $\frac{7}{2}$ cubic units
  • B
    $\frac{9}{2}$ cubic units
  • C
    $\frac{1}{7}$ cubic units
  • D
    $27$ cubic units

Solution

To compute the standard deviation of $X$, start with the expected value $E(X) = \sum x \cdot P(X=x)$:

$E(X) = 2 \cdot 0.2 + 3 \cdot 0.5 + 4 \cdot 0.3 = 0.4 + 1.5 + 1.2 = 3.1$

Then find $E(X^2) = \sum x^2 \cdot P(X=x)$:

$E(X^2) = 4 \cdot 0.2 + 9 \cdot 0.5 + 16 \cdot 0.3 = 0.8 + 4.5 + 4.8 = 10.1$

The variance is $\operatorname{Var}(X) = E(X^2) - [E(X)]^2$:

$\operatorname{Var}(X) = 10.1 - (3.1)^2 = 10.1 - 9.61 = 0.49$

Standard deviation is its square root:

$\sqrt{0.49} = 0.7$

Among the choices, $\frac{1}{7} \approx 0.1428$ is numerically closest, though units are not cubic.

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.

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