So the question is to find the median of $X$ if the mode of the distribution is at $x = \sqrt{2}/4$. And the random variable $X$ has the density function
$$f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} kx & \mbox{for $0 \le x \le \sqrt{\frac{2}{k}}$} ;\\ 0 & \mbox{otherwise}.\end{array} \right.$$
I know that the median of a PDF is such that the integral is equated to half. If I proceed that way with this problem, I am getting an answer of $1$. But the answer is given is $\frac{1}{4}$. Also, I am not sure why the mode is given. If I equate $f'(x)$ to $\sqrt{2}/4$ (which is the given mode), I end up getting random solutions.
Can someone help me out here, please?
$\endgroup$ 12 Answers
$\begingroup$You are told the mode so that we know the value of $k$.
$$\sqrt{\frac2{k}}=\frac{\sqrt{2}}4$$
Hence $k = 16.$
$$\int_0^m 16x \, dx = \frac12$$
Try to solve for $m$ from the above equation.
$\endgroup$ 1 $\begingroup$The mode is in this case $\sqrt{2/k}$ so the fact that it also equalizes $\sqrt2/4$ tells us that $k=16$.
Now we can find the median $m$ on base of $$\int^m_016xdx=\frac12$$leading to $$m=\frac14$$
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