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36Probability from a density

X\displaystyle X has density f(x)=2x\displaystyle f(x) = 2x on [0,1]\displaystyle [0, 1]. Find P(X≤0.5)\displaystyle P(X \le 0.5).

Probability is the area under the density curve, so P(X ≤ 0.5) = ∫₀^0.5 2x dx. The antiderivative of 2x is x², giving (0.5)² − 0² = 0.25. Check: the full area ∫₀¹ 2x dx = 1, confirming f(x) is a valid density.

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