Let the Mean and Variance of five observations x₁ = 1, x₂ = 3, x₃ = a, x₄ = 7 and x₅ = b, a > b, be 5 and 10 respectively. Then the Variance of the observations n + xₙ, n = 1, 2, 5 is

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

Mean of N observations:

x = (Σ xᵢ)/(N)

Variance of N observations:

σ² = (Σ xᵢ²)/(N) - ( x)²
Core Logic

Given mean is 5 for 5 observations:

(1 + 3 + a + 7 + b)/(5) = 5 a + b + 11 = 25 a + b = 14 --- (1)

Given variance is 10:

(1² + 3² + a² + 7² + b²)/(5) - 5² = 10 (59 + a² + b²)/(5) = 35 a² + b² = 175 - 59 = 116 --- (2)
Step 1: Finding a and b

Using standard algebraic identity (a+b)² = a² + b² + 2ab:

14² = 116 + 2ab 196 = 116 + 2ab ab = 40

Solving a+b=14 and ab=40:

a(14-a) = 40 a² - 14a + 40 = 0 (a-10)(a-4) = 0

Since a > b, we obtain a = 10 and b = 4.

Step 2: Constructing new set and finding variance

The original set is x₁ = 1, x₂ = 3, x₃ = 10, x₄ = 7, x₅ = 4. We construct the new set yₙ = n + xₙ:

  • y₁ = 1 + 1 = 2
  • y₂ = 2 + 3 = 5
  • y₃ = 3 + 10 = 13
  • y₄ = 4 + 7 = 11
  • y₅ = 5 + 4 = 9
  • Mean of new set:

y = (2 + 5 + 13 + 11 + 9)/(5) = (40)/(5) = 8

Variance of new set:

σnew² = (2² + 5² + 13² + 11² + 9²)/(5) - 8² σnew² = (4 + 25 + 169 + 121 + 81)/(5) - 64 = (400)/(5) - 64 = 80 - 64 = 16
Pattern Recognition

Note that adding a changing factor like +n is different from adding a constant C to each observation (which leaves variance unchanged). In this case, calculate individual xₙ variables directly first before applying transformations.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Statistics and Probability

Reference Study Guides

More Statistics and Probability Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Q14 jee_main_2026_24_january_evening Transformation of Mean and Variance
Let X = x in N : 1 ≤ x ≤ 19 and for some a, b in R, Y = ax + b : x in X. If the mean and variance of the elements of Y are 30 and 750, respectively, then the sum of all possible values of b is
  • A. 20
  • B. 80
  • C. 100
  • D. 60

Solution

Related Formula
If yᵢ = axᵢ + b, then y = a x + b Variance(Y) = a² Variance(X) Variance of first n natural numbers: (n² - 1)/(12)
Core Logic

For X = 1, 2, , 19, we find the mean x and variance σₓ².

x = (1 + 2 + + 19)/(19) = ((19 × 20)/(2))/(19) = 10 Variance(X) = (19² - 1)/(12) = (361 - 1)/(12) = 30
Step 1: Creating System of Equations

Given Mean of Y = 30 and Variance of Y = 750.

Using transformations:

y = a x + b 30 = 10a + b (1) Variance(Y) = a² · Variance(X) 750 = a² × 30
Step 2: Solving for a and b

From the variance equation:

a² = (750)/(30) = 25 a = ± 5

Now find the corresponding values of b from equation (1): If a = 5 b = 30 - 10(5) = 30 - 50 = -20 If a = -5 b = 30 - 10(-5) = 30 + 50 = 80

Step 3: Finding Sum of b Values

The possible values for b are -20 and 80.

Sum = -20 + 80 = 60

Pattern Recognition

When a dataset undergoes linear transformation Y = aX + b, the variance isolates a² entirely decoupled from b. Solve variance first to get a, then back-substitute into the mean equation.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Statistics

Q15 jee_main_2026_28_january_morning Mean Deviation and Variance
The mean and variance of 10 observations are 9 and 34.2, respectively. If 8 of these observations are 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, 21, then the mean deviation about the median of all the 10 observations is
  • A. 5
  • B. 4
  • C. 6
  • D. 7

Solution

Related Formula

Mean x = (Σ xᵢ)/(n) Variance σ² = (Σ xᵢ²)/(n) - ( x)² Mean Deviation about Median = (Σ |xᵢ - M|)/(n) where M is the median.

Core Logic

Let the two missing observations be a and b. From the given mean:

(2 + 3 + 5 + 10 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 21 + a + b)/(10) = 9 (80 + a + b)/(10) = 9 a + b = 10

From the given variance:

(Σ xᵢ²)/(10) - 9² = 34.2 (2² + 3² + 5² + 10² + 11² + 13² + 15² + 21² + a² + b²)/(10) = 34.2 + 81 = 115.2
Step 1: Solve for a and b

Sum of squares of knowns:

4 + 9 + 25 + 100 + 121 + 169 + 225 + 441 = 1094 1094 + a² + b² = 1152

a² + b² = 58

We know a+b = 10 b = 10-a.

a² + (10-a)² = 58 2a² - 20a + 100 = 58 2a² - 20a + 42 = 0 a² - 10a + 21 = 0 (a-3)(a-7) = 0

Thus, the missing observations are 3 and 7.

Step 2: Find the Median

Arrange all 10 observations in ascending order: 2, 3, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 21 Since there are 10 observations, median M is the average of the 5th and 6th terms:

M = (7 + 10)/(2) = 8.5
Step 3: Calculate Mean Deviation about Median

Find absolute deviations |xᵢ - M|: |2-8.5|=6.5 |3-8.5|=5.5 |3-8.5|=5.5 |5-8.5|=3.5 |7-8.5|=1.5 |10-8.5|=1.5 |11-8.5|=2.5 |13-8.5|=4.5 |15-8.5|=6.5 |21-8.5|=12.5

Sum of absolute deviations:

6.5 + 5.5 + 5.5 + 3.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 + 2.5 + 4.5 + 6.5 + 12.5 = 50 Mean Deviation = (50)/(10) = 5
Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Statistics

Q61 jee_main_2025_02_april_evening Mean and Variance
If the mean and the variance of 6, 4, a, 8, b, 12, 10, 13 are 9 and 9.25 respectively, then a + b + ab is equal to :
  • A. 105
  • B. 103
  • C. 100
  • D. 106

Solution

Related Formula
Mean: x = (Σ xᵢ)/(N) Variance: σ² = (Σ xᵢ²)/(N) - x²
Core Logic

We set up algebraic equations using the definitions of mean and variance to determine the values of a+b and ab.

Step 1: Apply the Mean condition

Given mean x = 9 for N=8 observations:

(6 + 4 + a + 8 + b + 12 + 10 + 13)/(8) = 9 53 + a + b = 72 a + b = 19 --- (1)
Step 2: Apply the Variance condition

Given variance σ² = 9.25 = (37)/(4):

(36 + 16 + a² + 64 + b² + 144 + 100 + 169)/(8) - 81 = (37)/(4) (529 + a² + b²)/(8) = 81 + 9.25 = 90.25 = (361)/(4) 529 + a² + b² = 722 a² + b² = 193 --- (2)
Step 3: Solve for ab and calculate the target expression

We know (a+b)² = a² + b² + 2ab. Substitute equations (1) and (2):

19² = 193 + 2ab 361 = 193 + 2ab 2ab = 168 ab = 84

Now, calculate the target value:

a + b + ab = 19 + 84 = 103
Pattern Recognition

Direct symmetric evaluation: Statistics problems in JEE with missing observations often ask for symmetric combinations of variables like a+b+ab or a²+b². These can be calculated using quadratic expansions without solving for a and b individually.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Statistics

Q63 jee_main_2025_03_april_evening Probability Distributions
If the probability that the random variable X takes the value x is given by P(X = x) = k(x + 1) 3-x, x = 0, 1, 2, 3, where k is a constant, then P(X ≥ 3) is equal to
  • A. (7)/(27)
  • B. (4)/(9)
  • C. (8)/(27)
  • D. (1)/(9)

Solution

Related Formula

Sum of all probabilities in a distribution:

Σx=0∞ P(X = x) = 1

Complementary probability:

P(X ≥ 3) = 1 - [P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2)]
Core Logic

Let's first determine the constant k:

k Σx=0∞ (x+1) 3-x = 1

This is an Arithmetico-Geometric Progression (AGP). Let S = Σx=0∞ (x+1)((1)/(3))^x:

S = 1 + (2)/(3) + (3)/(9) + (4)/(27) + --- (1) (1)/(3)S = (1)/(3) + (2)/(9) + (3)/(27) + --- (2)
Step 1: Finding k

Subtracting (2) from (1):

S(1 - (1)/(3)) = 1 + (1)/(3) + (1)/(9) + (1)/(27) + (2)/(3)S = (1)/(1 - 1/3) = (3)/(2) S = (9)/(4)

Substitute back:

k · ((9)/(4)) = 1 k = (4)/(9)
Step 2: Calculating P(X ≥ 3)

Calculate initial probability values:

  • P(X=0) = k(1)(1) = (4)/(9)
  • P(X=1) = k(2)((1)/(3)) = (2)/(3) · (4)/(9) = (8)/(27)
  • P(X=2) = k(3)((1)/(9)) = (1)/(3) · (4)/(9) = (4)/(27)
Sum P(X < 3) = (12)/(27) + (8)/(27) + (4)/(27) = (24)/(27) = (8)/(9) P(X ≥ 3) = 1 - (8)/(9) = (1)/(9)
Pattern Recognition

The infinite AGP sum with factor (x+1)r^x always converges to (1)/((1-r)²). Here r = 1/3, so the sum is (1)/((2/3)²) = 9/4. This mental check saves doing the full subtraction sequence.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Statistics and Probability Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series

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