A discrete random variable has probability mass function p ( x ) = c x 2 , x = 1 , 2 , 3 . Find the value of c such that this is a probability mass function. Please give your answer to 2 decimal places.

A First Course in Probability (10th Edition)
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ISBN:9780134753119
Author:Sheldon Ross
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Chapter1: Combinatorial Analysis
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A discrete random variable has probability mass function p ( x ) = c x 2 , x = 1 , 2 , 3 . Find the value of c such that this is a probability mass function. Please give your answer to 2 decimal places.

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Step 1
  • Probability mass function : 

A function f can only be a probability mass function if it satisfies certain conditions.

(i) As f (x) represents the probability that the variable X takes the value x, f (x) can never be negative. So f (x) ≥ 0 for all x.

(ii) Also if we sum over all values of x (in the range of X), the total must be equal to one  . 

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