Lesson 1: Understanding Random Variables

A random variable is the numerical quantity, which is the quantity is assigned to the result or
outcome of the probability or an experiment of an event. The numerical quantity is capitalize
letter as we use to present a random variables.
Probability in field of mathematics that deals with chance or prediction of an event. Experiment
is an activity in which the result cannot be predicted with certainly. Outcomes is the result of an
experiment. The sample space for a given experiment is a set S that contains all possible
outcomes of the experiment.
Example : Suppose two coin are tossed. Let Z be the random variables representing the number
of tails that occur. Find the values of the random variable Z.
Step 1: find the sample space of the tossed coins. And the probability getting a tails.
Sample space = { HH,HT,TH,TT} = 4 H (head), T(tail)
Step 2: count the number of tails in each outcomes that is assigned for each possible outcomes.

Possible Value of random

outcomes variable Z
(number of tails)
HH 0
HT 1
TH 1
TT 2
The value of the number of tails Z = 0,1,2.
Discrete and Continuous Random Variables
A random variable may be classified either as discrete or. A discrete random variable that can
assume as countable number of value. A continuous random variable is assume infinite number
or uncountable value of one or more intervals.
Example 1:

Discrete Random Continuous

Variables Random
Variables
Number of Weight of flour
students attend used to bake
the examination
Number of Speed of a sports
notebooks in a car
box
Number of The electricity
people debating used in a radio
 on the meeting batteries

Lesson 2: Discrete Probability Distribution

A discrete probability distribution consists of the values of a random variable that can assume
and corresponding probabilities. To find the probability use the formula.
Formula:
n ( numberoffinding )
P ( event )=
n ( sample space )

Where:
n(number of findings) = number of all outcomes that your going to find, such as head or tail, etc..
n(sample space) = number of all possible outcomes or chance that predicted.
Example 2: A peso coin is tossed.
Step 1: find the sample space.
Sample space = (head, tail)
N(sample space) = 2
Step 2: the probability of getting a head. Using the formula.
n ( head ) 1
P ( head )= =
n( sample space) 2

Example 3: if two coin are tossed. If X is the random variable for the number of head.
Step 1: list the sample space of the tossed coins.
Sample space = {HH,HT,TH,TT}= 4
STEP 2: construct the probability distribution of the value of heads X. That is assigned for each
possible outcomes of each number.

Possible Value of the

Outcomes random variable
X (number of
head)
HH 2
HT 1
 TH 1
TT 0
Step 3: construct a probability distribution of the value of X.

Number of 0 1 2
head X
Probability ¼ ½ ¼
P(X)

Properties of a Discrete Probability Distribution

The probabilities for each outcomes must be equal to one or must be non-negative and less than
or equal to 1(0 ≤ P(x) ≤ 1).
Example 4: consider the probability distribution of the number of head X below.

Number of head 0 1 2
X
Probability P(X) ¼ ½ ¼

Find the following:

1.P(X=2)
2.P(X>1)
3.∑P(X)
4. P(X=1)
5.P(X <2)
Solution:
1. P(X=2) = ¼
2. there is one possible value of X. P(X>1) = P(2) = ¼
3. To find ∑P(X) we need to find the sum of all the probability values.
∑P(X) = P(2) + P(1) + P(0)
=¼+½+¼
=1
4. P(X =1) = ½
5. There is two possible value of X
(X <2) = P(1)+ P(0)
=½+¼
=¾
Graphical Presentation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The graphical presentation of a Discrete Probability Distribution that can be shown graphically
by constructing a histogram. The graph is also called a probability histogram.
Example 5: construct the probability histogram of the probability distribution of the number of
head X.
Number of head X 0 1 2
Probability P(X) ¼ ½ ¼
Histogram

Lesson 3: finding the Mean and the Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution
To find the mean (μ) or the expected value E(X) of the random variable by its probability and
add the product
Formula: μ= E(X)= ∑[X • P(X)]
Where:
μ = mean
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = is the probability value of the random variable
Example 6: find the mean of the discrete random variable X with the following probability
distribution.
 Value of head P(X)
X
2 ¼
1 ½
0 ¼

Step 1: multiply the value of X by the probability value of P (X).

Value of heads X P(X) X • P(X)

2 ¼ ½
1 ½ ½
0 ¼ 0
Step 2: find the mean or the expected value of the probability distribution by getting the sum of
the value under the column X • P(X).
μ= E(X)= ∑[X • P(X)]
=½ +½+0
= 4/4 =1
The Variance and the Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
By finding the variance of a discrete probability distribution is by finding each deviation from its
expected value and square it, then multiply it by its probability and add the products, to get the
value of the variance deviation. To find the standard deviation σ of a probability distribution,
square the root of the value of the variance σ² to get the value of the standard deviation by using
the two formulas.
σ² = ∑[X² • P(X)] – μ² σ = √∑[X² • P(X)] – μ²
Where:
Μ = mean
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = is the probability value of the random variable
σ² = Variance
σ = standard deviation
Example 7: find the Variance and the Standard Deviation of the discrete random variable X with
the following probability distribution.

Value of X P(X)
2 ¼
 1 ½
0 1/4

Solution:
Step 1: multiply the value of X by its corresponding probability value of P (X).

Value P(X) X•
of X P(X)
2 ¼ ½
1 ½ ½
0 ¼ 0
Step 2: find the mean or the expected value of the probability distribution by getting the sum of
the value under the column X • P(X).
μ= E(X)= ∑[X • P(X)]
=½+½+0
=1
Thus, the value of the mean or the expected value of the probability distribution is equal to 1.
Step 3: square each of the value of the random variable and multiply by the corresponding
probability value of (X² • P(X )].

X P(X) X² X² •
P(X)
2 ¼ 2² 1
1 ½ 1² ½
0 ¼ 0 0

Step 4: find the Variance and standard deviation using the two formulas.
σ² = ∑[X² • P(X)] – μ²
= ( 1+ ½ + 0) – 1²
=½
= 0.5
The standard deviation is computed by getting the square root of the variance.
σ = √0.5
= 0.707
Thus, the variance deviation is 0.5 and the standard deviation is 0.707.
Lesson 4: Applied Problems Involving the Mean and the Variance of a Discrete Probability
Distribution
The mean of a discrete random variable can be thought of as “anticipated “ value. It is the
average to be the result when a random experiment is continually repeated. It is the sum of the
possible outcomes of the experiment multiplied by their corresponding probabilities. To find the
mean (μ) or the expected value E(X) of the random variable by its probability and add the
product
The variance of a discrete random variable is by finding each deviation from its expected value
and square it, then multiply it by its probability and add the products, to get the value of the
variance deviation. The mean of a discrete random variable also known the expected value of a
random variable is denoted as E(X) and it is computed using the formula.
To find the standard deviation σ of a probability distribution, square the root of the value of the
variance σ² to get the value of the standard deviation. The mean of a discrete random variable
also known the expected value of a random variable is denoted as E(X).
Formulas:
μ= E (X) = ∑[X • P(X)] = mean or expected value
μ= ∑[X • P(X)] = mean
E (X) = ∑[X • P(X)] = expected value
σ² = ∑[X² • P(X)] – μ² = Variance deviation of a random variable
σ = √∑[X² • P(X)] – μ² = Standard deviation of a random variable
Example 8: the random variable X, representing the number of nuts in a chocolate bar has the
following probability distribution. Compute the variance and the Standard Deviation of a
random variable.

Value of X P(X) X• X² X² • P(X)

P(X)
1 1/10 1/10 1² 1/10
2 3/10 3/5 2² 6/5
3 3/10 9/10 3² 27/10
4 2/10 4/5 4² 16/5
5 1/10 1/2 5² 5/2

Step 1: first find the mean of the probability distribution. Using a scientific calculator.
μ= ∑[X • P(X)]
= 1/10 + 3/5 + 9/10 + 4/5 + 1/2
= 2.9
Step 2: find the Variance and standard deviation of a random variable using the formula.
σ² = ∑[X² • P(X)] – μ²
= 1/10 + 3/5 + 9/10 + 4/5 + ½ – (2.9)²
= 1.29
Therefore, to get the standard deviation is computed by getting the square root of the variance.
σ = √∑[X² • P(X)] – μ²
= √1/10 + 3/5 + 9/10 + 4/5 + ½ – (2.9)²
= √ 1.29
= 1.135
Thus, the value of the variance deviation of a random variable is 1.29 and the standard deviation
is 1.135.
Example 9: the probabilities that a market inspector will discover violations of the public health
code in a public market are given in the following table.

Number of Probability P(X)

violations X
0 0.41
1 0.22
2 0.17
3 0.13
4 0.05
5 0.02
Find the following:
A. What is the probability that a market inspector will discover, at least, two violations of
the public health code?
Solution:
Step 1: find the probability that at least two violations of the public health code, use X = 2, 3,
4, and 5.
P(X ≥ 2) = P(2) + P(3) + P(4) + P(5)
= 0.17 + 0.13 + 0.05 + 0.02
= 0.37
B. What is the probability that a market inspector will discover at least two, but fewer than
five violations of the public health code?
Solution:
Step 1: to find the probability that at least two, but fewer than five violations of the public
health code, use X = 2, 3, 4.
P(2 ≤ X < 5) = P(2) + P(3) + P(4)
= 0.17 + 0.13 + 0.05
= 0.35