Expected Value of Random Variables
Expected Value of Random Variables
Expected Value of Random Variables
Expected Value – one of the most important probabilistic Let X be a discrete random variable with probability
concepts in statistics. distribution given by
– it is also referred to as the population mean.
– it is denoted by E(x) or simply 𝜇. x x1 x2 ... xn
it is a weighted average of the F(x) = P(X = x) f(x1) f(x2) ... f(xn)
possible values of x.
For a discrete random variables x with values x1, x2, x3, The expected value of g(X), a function of the discrete
… and corresponding probabilities P(X = xi), the random variable X, is E( g (X)) = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑔 (xi) f (xi)
expected value of x is completed as
EXAMPLE:
𝜇 = E(x) = ∑(𝑥) • P(X = x) A used car dealer finds that in any day, the probability of
selling no car is 4.0, one car is 0.2, two cars is 0.15, 3 cars is 0.10, 4
EXAMPLE: cars is 0.08, five cars is 0.06, and six cars is 0.01. Let X = number of
In a game of chance, a man is paid ₱ 50 if he gets all heads or cars sold and let Y = g (X) = 500 + 1, 500 X representing the
all tails when 3 coins are tossed and he pays ₱ 30 if either 1 or 2 heads salesman’s daily earning. Find the salesman’s expected daily earnings.
show. What is his expected gain?
Probability Distribution:
Let x = gain, x is a discrete random variable with 2 possible values: x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
50 and -30.
x = 50 is associated with the event (HHH, TTT), while f(x) 0.4 0.2 0.15 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.01
x = -30 is associated with the event (HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT,
TTH)
x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
g(x) 500 2,000 3,500 5,000 6,500 8,000 9,500
x 50 -30
2 6 E(Y) = E ( g(X))
P(X = x)
8 8 = (500)(0.4) + (2,000)(0.2) + (3, 500)(0.15) + (5, 000)(0.1) +
(6, 500)(0.08) + (8, 000)(0.06) + (9, 500)(0.01)
2 6
E(x) = (50)(8) + (-30)(8) = 200 + 400 + 525 + 500 + 520 + 480 + 95
= 2, 720
= 12.5 + (-22.5)
= -10 The salesman is expected to earn ₱ 2, 720 per day.
The expected value of a linear function of a random Let x be the number on each ball.
variable is E ( aX + b) = aE ( X ) + b, where a and b are
fixed numbers. Probability distribution:
EXAMPLES: 4 16 36 64
= (0 + + + + ) – 16
Five balls numbered 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are placed in a bag. 5 5 5 5
After the balls are mixed, one ball is picked and its number is
noted, then it is replaced in the bag. If this experiment is repeated = 24 – 16
many times, find the variance and the standard deviation of the
numbers on the balls. =8
The standard deviation is:
SD (X) = 𝜎 = √8 = 2.83
x P (X = x) x • P (X = x) x2 • P (X = x)
0 0.2 0 0
∑ 𝑥 • P (X = x) = 4.0 ∑ 𝑥2 • P (X = x) = 24
Var (X) = 𝜎 2 = 24 – 42 = 8