Consider a binary code with 5 bits (0 or 1) in each code word. An example of a code word is 01001. In each code word, a bit is zero with probability 0.8, independent of any other bit. What is the probability that a code word contains exactly one zero?

the probability that a code word contains exactly one zero is 0.0064 (0.64%)

Step-by-step explanation:

Since each bit is independent from the others, then the random variable X = number of 0 s in the code word follows a binomial distribution, where

p (X) = n! / ((n-x) !*x!*p^x * (1-p) ^ (n-x)

where

n = number of independent bits=5

x = number of 0 s

p = probability that a bit is 0 = 0.8

then for x=1

p (1) = n*p * (1-p) ^ (n-1) = 5*0.8*0.2^4 = 0.0064 (0.64%)

therefore the probability that a code word contains exactly one zero is 0.0064 (0.64%)