Statistics and

Probability
Quarter 3 – Module 1
Random Variable and Probability
Distribution

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

Statistics & Probability – Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 3 – Module: Random Variable & Probability Distribution
First Edition, 2020

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 Statistics and
Probability
Quarter 3 – Module 1
Random Variable and Probability
Distribution

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Page i
Copyright Page ii
Title Page iii
Table of Contents iv
Module Overview 1
Lesson 1. Random Variables and Probability Distribution
What I Need To Know 2
What I Know 2
What’s In 3
What’s New Activity 1. Tossing Three Coins 3
What’s New Activity 2. Drawing Balls from an Urn 3
What’s New Activity 3. Number of Heads 3
What Is It? Random Variables 4
What Is It? Probability Distribution 5
What’s More 6
What I Have Learned 7
What I Can Do 7
Assessment 8
Lesson 2. Mean of Probability Distribution
What I Need to Know 9
What’s In 9
What’s New Activity 1. Number of Spots 10
What’s New Activity 2. Surgery Patients 11
What Is It? 13
What’s More 13
What I Have Learned 14
What I Can Do 14
Additional Activity 14
Lesson 3. Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution
What I Need to Know 15
What’s In 15
What’s New Activity 1. Number of Nuts 16
What’s New Activity 2. Number of Items Sold 18
What Is It? Steps and Formula for Variance and Standard Deviation of
Discrete Probability Distribution 19
What’s More 20
What I Have Learned 21
What I Can Do 21
Additional Activity 21
Post Assessment 22
Answer Key 24
References 32
Module Writers’ Profile 33
MODULE OVERVIEW

Hello learners! I hope you are doing great today. This module will help you in
understanding and learning further about random variable and probability distribution. You
have already encountered some basic concepts about these in your JHS. This time you will
start learning about inferential statistics. These are some of the basic concepts needed in the
statistical analysis of quantitative research. Understanding these concepts will help you later
in manipulating and analyzing categorical data. Random variables are used to represent data
not expressed in numbers. On the other hand, probability distribution is used to model the
behavior of many random variables.
This module is constructed following the Most Essential Learning Competencies given
by the Department of Education. Hence, the activities are focused on developing your 21st
Century Skills. It has three lessons:
Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution;
Lesson 2: Computing the Mean of a Discrete Probability Distribution; and
Lesson 3: Computing the Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Illustrate a random variable (discrete and continuous) (M11/12SP-IIIa-1);
2. Distinguish between a discrete and continuous random variable (M11/12SP-IIIa-2);
3. Find the possible values of a random variable (M11/12SP-IIIa-3);
4. Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its properties
(M11/12SP-IIIa-4);
5. Compute probability corresponding to a given random variable (M11/12SP-IIIa-6);
6. Illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-1);
7. Calculate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-2);
8. Interpret the mean and variance of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-3); and
9. Solve problems involving mean and variance of probability distribution (M11/12SP-
IIIb-4).

GENERAL INSTRUCTION
To achieve the objectives of this module, do the following:
✓ Read and follow instructions carefully;
✓ Take your time reading the lessons carefully;
✓ Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and exercises diligently; and
✓ Answer all the given test and exercises.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING ON THIS MODULE. USE A SEPARATE NOTEBOOK/
SHEET OF PAPER WHERE YOU CAN WRITE YOUR ANSWERS FOR THE ACTIVITIES
OF THIS MODULE.

The Authors

1
 Lesson Random Variables and Probability
1 Distribution
What I Need to Know

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

• Illustrate a random variable (discrete and continuous) (M11/12SP-IIIa-1);
• Distinguish between a discrete and a continuous random variable (M11/12SP-IIIa-2);
• Find the possible values of a random variable (M11/12SP-IIIa-3);
• Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its properties
(M11/12SP-IIIa-4);
• Compute the probabilities corresponding to a given random variable (M11/12SP-IIIa-
6);

What I Know
Directions: Read and analyze each item carefully. Perform as indicated.
A. Classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.
1. The number of voters favoring a candidate
2. The number of accidents per year at an intersection
3. The amount of paint utilized in a building project
4. The number of siblings in a family of a city
5. The amount of sugar in a cup of coffee
6. The average distance that a runner can reach in an hour
7. The time needed to finish the test
8. The number of baskets of apples harvested
9. The weight of student athletes
10. The length of fence around each housing unit
B. Suppose three cellular phones are tested at random. Let D represent the defective
cellular phone and N represent the non-defective phone. Let X be the random variable
representing the number of defective cellular phone. Complete the table given below.
Answer it by giving the possible outcomes of the three cellular phone and its
corresponding value of the random variable X or the number of defective cellular
phone.
Value of the Random Variable X
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Defective Cellular Phone)

2
 What’s In

Remember in your previous lesson in Mathematics that a set of all possible outcomes
in an experiment is called the sample space. For you to find out if you can still recall how to
list down the possible outcomes of a statistical experiment, do this activity.
List the sample space of the following experiments.
Experiment Sample Space
1. Rolling a die
2. Drawing a card from a deck of cards
3. Tossing two coins
4. Rolling a die and tossing a coin simultaneously

What’s New
Activity 1. Tossing Three Coins
Draw and complete the table shown below by writing the possible outcomes of tossing
three coins and the value of the random variable Y denoting the number of tail/s. You may
add more rows if needed.
Value of the Random Variable Y
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Tails)

Activity 2. Drawing Balls from an Urn

Draw and complete the table shown below by writing the possible outcomes of drawing
two balls in succession without replacement from an urn containing 5 red balls and 6 blue
balls and the value of the random variable Z denoting the number of blue balls. You may add
more rows if needed.
Value of the Random Variable Z
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Blue Balls)

Activity 3. Number of Heads

Using the correct answer in Activity 1, determine the probabilities of the values of the
random variable W denoting the number of heads.

3
 What Is It
Random Variables
A random variable is a function whose value is a real number determined by each
element in the sample space. Usually, capital letters in the English alphabet are used to
denote random variables. Random variables are used when the elements of the sample space
S are not expressed in numbers. This is used as a convenient way of expressing elements of
sample space in numbers. A random variable can take up any real number value.
A discrete random variable is a variable whose value is obtained by counting.
Examples: number of students present, number of red marbles in a jar
number of heads when tossing three coins, students’ grade level
A continuous random variable is a variable whose value is obtained by measuring.
Examples: height of students in class, weight of students in class
time it takes to get to school, distance traveled between classes
Example 1:

Suppose that the District Supervisor is selecting three Senior High School
students at random to be interviewed. Let M represent a male student and F
represent a female student. Let X be the random variable representing the
number of female students selected by the District Supervisor.

Solution:
Value of the Random Variable X
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Female Student Selected)
MMM 0
MMF 1
MFM 1
FMM 1
MFF 2
FMF 2
FFM 2
FFF 3
So, the possible values of the random variable X are 0, 1, 2, 3.

Example 2: Consider tossing a fair coin 3 times.

Let Y = the number of heads obtained
Find the values of the random variable Y.
Solution:
Possible outcomes
Y = 0: TTT
Y = 1: HTT THT TTH
Y = 2: HHT HTH THH
Y = 3: HHH
So, the possible values of the random variable Y are 0, 1, 2, 3.

4
Probability Distribution
Probability distribution is a function that consists of ordered pairs in which the first
element is the value of the random variable and the second element is the associated
probability. When the random variable is discrete, its corresponding probability distribution is
called discrete probability distribution. If the random variable is continuous, the probability
distribution is called continuous probability distribution.
Probability distribution can be written in tabular form or equation form.

Example 1:
Suppose the random variable X is the number of tails in tossing a fair coin twice. What
are the probabilities of the possible outcomes? What is the probability distribution of X? Sketch
the graph of the probability distribution.

Solution:
Possible outcomes: HH, HT, TH, TT
The possible values of X are 0,1, 2.
1
The probability of 𝑿 = 𝟎 is because there is only one possible outcome that will give 0 tail
4
out of the four possible outcomes.
2 1
The probability of 𝑿 = 𝟏 is 4 = 2 because two possible outcomes will give 1 tail out of the
four possible outcomes.
1
The probability of 𝑿 = 𝟐 is 4 because there is only one possible outcome that will give 2 tails
out of the four possible outcomes.
The probability distribution can be written in
A.
Tabular Form
X=No. of Tails 0 1 2
P(X=x) ¼ 1/2 ¼

B. Equation Form
1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 0, 2
( )
𝑃 𝑋=𝑥 ={ 4
1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 1
2
Example 2:

The data below shows the probabilities for the number of books sold in a given day at
a book store.

Number
of Books 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
X
0.18 0.15 0.25 0.15 0.08 0.08 0.06 0.05
P(X=x)

a) Find 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 4)
b) What is the probability that more than 5 books were sold?
c) Find 𝑃(0 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 3)
5
Solution:

a) Find 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 4)

𝑃 (𝑋 ≤ 4) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃 (1) + 𝑃(2) + 𝑃 (3) + 𝑃 (4)

= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟖 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖
= 𝟎. 𝟖𝟏

b) What is the probability that more than 5 books were sold?

𝑃 (𝑋 > 5) = 𝑃(6) + 𝑃 (7)

= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔+. 𝟎𝟓
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟏

c) Find 𝑃(0 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 3)

𝑃 (0 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 3) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃 (1) + 𝑃 (2) + 𝑃 (3)

= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟖+. 𝟎𝟏𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓
= 𝟎. 𝟕𝟑

What’s More
CONTINUOUS PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

The graph of a continuous probability distribution is a smooth curve. The probability of

the continuous random variable is within an interval say from [𝑎, 𝑏], where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are the
endpoints of the interval. The area of the shaded region below the curve, above the x-axis,
and between the lines erected from the two endpoints is the probability of the continuous
random variable contained in the interval [𝑎, 𝑏]. Probability tables are used to determine the
probabilities in an interval.

Properties of Probability Distributions

1. The value of the probability distribution must be numbers on the interval from 0 to 1
because these are probabilities.
2. The sum of all values of the probability distribution must be equal to 1 since random
variable has to take on one of its values.

Graph of a Discrete Probability Distribution

The graph of the discrete probability distribution is a set of disjoint points in the
Cartesian plane. A histogram is used to represent the enhanced graph of a discrete probability
distribution.

6
 In constructing a histogram, the values of the random variables are used as midpoints
of the x-axis while the height of the rectangle is the probability of the random variable in the
y-axis.

The graph of example 1 above is given below.

0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12
Probabilities

0.10

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.00
0 1 2 3 4
number of tail/s

What I Have Learned

Based on this lesson, answer the following questions.

1. Describe and provide 5 examples of discrete random variables.

2. Describe and provide 5 examples of continuous random variables.

What I Can Do

1. Using the sample in a family of four children, construct a probability distribution for
the random variable Z representing the number of boys. Draw the histogram of the
probability distribution.

2. Make a discrete probability distribution not given in this module. Define the
statistical experiment and the discrete random variable. Sketch the graph.

7
 Assessment

A. Classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.

1. The speed of the car
2. The number of voters favoring a candidate
3. The time needed to finish the test
4. The weight of newborns each year in a hospital
5. The amount of sugar in a cup of coffee
6. The number of deaths per year attributed to lung cancer
7. The average amount of electricity consumed per household per month
8. The number of patient arrivals per hour at a medical clinic
9. The number of dropouts in a school district for 10 years
10. The number of female athletes
B.
Draw and complete the table shown below by writing the possible outcomes of tossing
four fair coins and the value of the random variable A denoting the number of head/s.
You may add more rows if needed.

Value of the Random Variable A

Possible Outcomes
(Number of Heads)

C. Construct the probability distribution for the random variables described in each of the
following situations.
1. Two dice are tossed. Let X be the random variable representing the sum of two
dice. Give all possible outcomes and find the values of the random variable X.

2. Four coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number of
heads. Give all possible outcomes and find the values of the random variable Y.

D. Solve the following problems.

1. The following data show the probabilities for the number of cars sold in a given day
at a car dealer store.
Number
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
of Cars X
0.10 0.15 0.25 0.15 0.08 0.08 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.02
P(X=x)

d) Find 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 2)
e) Find 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 7)
f) Find 𝑃(1 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 5)

8
 2. The daily demand for copies of a movie magazine at a variety store has the
probability distribution as follows.
Number of
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Copies X
𝑷(𝑿 = 𝒙) 0.06 0.14 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.04 0.03

a) What is the probability that 3 or more copies will be demanded on a particular day?
b) What is the probability that the demand will be at least 2 but not more than 6?
c) Draw the histogram of the probability distribution.

9
 Lesson Mean of a Discrete Probability
2 Distribution
What I Need to Know
You have learned from Junior High School how to find the mean and variance
of ungrouped and grouped data. You’ve also learned that mean is called the average or the
central value of a discrete set of numbers (Underhill, L.G.; Bradfield D., 1998).

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to do the following:

• illustrate and calculate the mean of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-1);
• calculate the mean of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-2);
• interpret the mean of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-3); and
• solve problems involving mean of probability distribution (M11/12SP-IIIb-4).

What’s In
To find out if you’re ready to learn this new lesson, do the following activity. Write
your answers on your answer sheet.

A. Given the values of the variables X and Y, evaluate the following summations.
𝑋1 = 4 𝑋2 = 2 𝑋3 = 5 𝑋4 = 1
𝑌1 = 2 𝑌2 = 1 𝑌3 = 0 𝑌4 = 2
1. ∑ 𝑋
a. 15 b. 12 c. 9 d. 10
2. ∑ 𝑌
a. 1 b. 4 c. 5 d. 8
3. ∑ 𝑋𝑌
a. 12 b. 15 c. 18 d. 20
4. ∑(𝑋 + 𝑌)
a. 13 b. 17 c. 20 d. 32
5. ∑ 4𝑋𝑌
a. 30 b. 38 c. 40 d. 48

B. The following are the scores of 40 students in a test. Compute the mean score. Show
your solution. Write your answer in your answer sheet.
Score Number of Students
42 8
50 12
53 9
38 7
46 4
10
 What’s New
Activity 1. Number of Spots
Consider rolling a die. What is the average number of spots that would appear? The
steps below will help you answer this question.

Step 1. Construct the probability distribution for the random variable X representing
the number of spots that would appear.
Solution:
Number of Spots Probability P(X)
1
1
6
1
2
6
1
3
6
1
4
6
1
5
6
1
6
6
Step 2. Multiply the value of the random variable X by the corresponding probability.
Solution:

Number of Spots Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

1 1
1
6 6
1 2
2
6 6
1 3
3
6 6
1 4
4
6 6
1 5
5
6 6
1 6
6
6 6

11
Step 3. Add the results obtained in Step 2.
Solution:
Probability
Number of Spots 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
P(X)
1 1
1
6 6

1 2
2 6
6
1 3
3
6 6
1 4
4
6 6
1 5
5
6 6
1 6
6
6 6
21
∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋 ) = = 𝟑. 𝟓 ≈ 𝟒
6

Activity 2. Surgery Patients

The probabilities that a surgeon operates on 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 patients in any day are 0.15,
0.10. 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 respectively. Find the average number of patients that a surgeon
operates in a day.
Solution:
Step 1. Construct the probability distribution for the random variable X representing the
number of patients that a surgeon operates in a day.
Solution:
Number of Patients Probability
X P(X)
3 0.15
4 0.10
5 0.20
6 0.25
7 0.30

12
Step 2. Multiply the value of the random variable X by its corresponding probability.
Solution:
Number of Patients Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)
3 0.15 0.45
4 0.10 0.40
5 0.20 1.00
6 0.25 1.50
7 0.30 0.45

Step 3. Add the results obtained in Step 2.

Solution:
Number of Patients Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)
3 0.15 0.45
4 0.10 0.40
5 0.20 1.00
6 0.25 1.50
7 0.30 2.10

∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋) = 𝟓. 𝟒𝟓 ≈ 𝟓

What Is It
The value we obtained in Step 3 of examples 1 and 2 is called the mean of the
random variable X or the mean of the probability distribution of X. What does this mean?
The mean tells us that when you roll a die, the average number of spots that will appear is 4
and the average number of patients that a surgeon will operate in a day is 5. We can’t see
any 3.5 in a die and a 5.45 patient. Since the number of dots and the number of patients can
only be expressed in whole numbers. Hence, we approximately round off the mean to the
nearest whole number.

Formula for the Mean of the Probability Distribution

The mean of the discrete probability distribution of X is

𝜇 = 𝑋1 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋1 ) + 𝑋2 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋2 ) + 𝑋3 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋3 ) + ⋯ + 𝑋𝑛 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋𝑛 )
𝝁 = ∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
where:
𝑋1 , 𝑋2 , 𝑋3 … 𝑋What’s
𝑛 More are values of random variable X; and
𝑃(𝑋1 ), 𝑃(𝑋2 ), 𝑃(𝑋3 ) … 𝑃 (𝑋𝑛 ) are the corresponding probability
Grocery Items

13
The probabilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 items in a grocery store are
3 1 1 2 3
, , , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 10 respectively. What is the average number of items that a customer will
10 10 10 10
buy?
Solution:
Number of Items Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)
3
1
10
1
2
10
1
3
10
2
4
10
3
5
10

∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = ___________

Conclusion: ______________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Answer the following questions. Write your answers in your answer sheet.

1. What is the mean of a discrete random variable?

2. What does the mean of a probability distribution tell us?
3. How do you interpret the mean of a probability distribution?

14
 What I Can Do

In a school canteen, the number of ballpens (X) sold every recess time varies from day
to day. Past records indicate that the probability distribution of X is as follows:
No. of Ballpens Probability
X P(X)
0 0.029
1 0.049
2 0.078
3 0.155
4 0.212
5 0.262
6 0.215
Questions:
1. What is the probability that exactly four ballpens are sold?
2. What is the probability that at least two ballpens are sold?
3. What is the probability that at least two but fewer than five ballpens are sold?
4. What is the mean of the probability distribution? Use the given formula and solve.
5.

Additional Activity

Think about the answers to the questions below. Discuss your ideas with other
students.

1. What are the steps in computing the mean of a probability distribution of a random
variable? How is it similar to the procedure in finding the mean of a frequency
distribution?
2. Compare the formulas for finding the mean of a frequency distribution and that of a
probability distribution.

15
 Lesson Variance of a Discrete Probability
3 Distribution
What I Need to Know

You have learned from Junior High School how to find the variance of ungrouped and
grouped data. You’ve also learned that variance and standard deviation describe the amount
of spread, dispersion or variability of the items in a distribution.

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to do the following:

• illustrate and calculate the variance of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-1);
• calculate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-2);
• interpret the variance of a discrete random variable (M11/12SP-IIIb-3); and
• solve problems involving variance of probability distribution (M11/12SP-IIIb-4).

What’s In

A. Compute the variance of this frequency distribution. Use the space below to show your
complete solution.
Score Number of Students
5 3
8 5
10 4
12 5
15 3

What’s New
Activity 1. Number of Nuts
The random variable X, representing the number of nuts in a chocolate bar has the
following probability distribution. Compute the variance.
X 1 2 3 4 5
1 3 3 2 1
P(X)
10 10 10 10 10

16
Solution:
Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution using the formula
𝜇 = ∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋).

Number of Nuts Probability

𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)
1 1
1
10 10
3 6
2
10 10
3 9
3
10 10
2 8
4
10 10
1 5
5
10 10
29
∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋 ) = = 𝟐. 𝟗
10

Step 2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.

Number of Nuts Probability

𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝝁
X P(X)

1 1⁄ 1⁄ −1.9
10 10

2 3⁄ 6⁄ −0.9
10 10

3 3⁄ 9⁄ 0.1
10 10

4 2⁄ 8⁄ 1.1
10 10

5 1⁄ 5⁄ 2.1
10 10
29
∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋 ) =
10
= 𝟐. 𝟗

17
Step 3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
Number of
Probability
Nuts 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝝁 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐
P(X)
X
1 1
1 −1.9 3.61
10 10
3 6
2 −0.9 0.81
10 10
3 9
3 0.1 0.01
10 10
2 8
4 1.1 1.21
10 10
1 5
5 2.1 4.41
10 10

29
∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋 ) =
10
= 𝟐. 𝟗

Step 4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.

Number
Probability
of Nuts 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝝁 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
P(X)
X
1 1
1 −1.9 3.61 0.361
10 10
3 6
2 −0.9 0.81 0.486
10 10
3 9
3 0.1 0.01 0.009
10 10
2 8
4 1.1 1.21 0.968
10 10
1 5
5 2.1 4.41 2.205
10 10

29
∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋 ) = 𝜎 2 = ∑(𝑋 − 𝜇)2 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋)
10
= 𝟐. 𝟗 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟐𝟗

Step 5. Get the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.
The variance of the probability distribution is 4.029.
The standard deviation is 𝜎 = √4.029 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟏.

18
Activity 2. Number of Items Sold
The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding probabilities,
is shown in the table. Find the variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.
Number of Items Sold
Probability P(X)
X
19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10
Solution:
Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution using the formula
𝜇 = ∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋).

Number of Items Sold

Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X
19 0.20 3.80
20 0.20 4.00
21 0.30 6.30
22 0.20 4.40
23 0.10 2.30

∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟖𝟎

Step 2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
Number of Items
Sold Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) (𝑿 − 𝝁)
X
19 0.20 3.80 −1.8
20 0.20 4.00 −0.8
21 0.30 6.30 0.2
22 0.20 4.40 1.2
23 0.10 2.30 2.2

∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
= 𝟐𝟎. 𝟖𝟎

19
Step 3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.

Number of
Items Sold Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) (𝑿 − 𝝁) (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐
X
19 0.20 3.80 −1.8 3.24
20 0.20 4.00 −0.8 0.64
21 0.30 6.30 0.2 0.04
22 0.20 4.40 1.2 1.44
23 0.10 2.30 2.2 4.84

∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
= 𝟐𝟎. 𝟖𝟎

Step 4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.

Number of
Items Sold Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) (𝑿 − 𝝁) (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
P(X)
X
19 0.20 3.80 −1.8 3.24 0.648
20 0.20 4.00 −0.8 0.64 0.128
21 0.30 6.30 0.2 0.04 0.012
22 0.20 4.40 1.2 1.44 0.288
23 0.10 2.30 2.2 4.84 0.484

∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟖𝟎 ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟔

Step 5. Get the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.
The variance of the probability distribution is 1.56.
The standard deviation is 𝜎 = √1.56 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓.

What Is It
Steps in Finding the Variance and Standard Deviation

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.

2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding
probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4.

20
 Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Probability Distribution

The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the

formula:
𝝈𝟐 = ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given

by the formula:
𝝈 = √∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

Where:
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
𝜇 = mean of the probability distribution

What’s More

The Number of Heads

When three coins are tossed, the probability distribution for the random variable X
representing the number of heads that occur is given below. Compute the variance and
standard deviation of the probability distribution.
Number of Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) (𝑿 − 𝝁) (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
Heads X P(X)
1
0
8
3
1
8
6
2
8
3
3
8
∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = __________
= _________

The variance of the probability distribution is _________________.

The standard deviation of the probability distribution is ____________.

21
 What I Have Learned

Answer the following questions. Write your answers in your answer sheets.

1. What is the variance and standard deviation of a discrete random variable?

2. What does the variance and standard deviation of a probability distribution tell us?
3. How do you interpret the variance and standard deviation of a probability distribution?

What I Can Do

The number of computers sold per day at a local computer store, along with its
corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table. Find the variance and standard deviation
of the distribution.
Number of
Probability
Computers 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) (𝑿 − 𝝁) (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
P(X)
Sold X

0 0.1

1 0.2

2 0.3

3 0.2

4 0.2

∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = __________
= _________

The variance of the probability distribution is _________________.

The standard deviation of the probability distribution is ____________.

Additional Activity

Using your Facebook account, conduct a survey on the number of sports-related

activities your friends are involved in. Construct a probability distribution and compute the
mean, variance and standard deviation.

22
 Post Assessment

Direction: Choose the letter that corresponds to the correct answer. Write your answers in
your answer sheets.

1. Which of the following is a discrete random variable?

a. The average amount of electricity consumed
b. The number of patients in a hospital
c. The amount of paint used in repainting a building
d. The average weight of female athletes
2. If two coins are tossed, which is not a possible value of the random variable for the number
of heads?
a. 0 b. 1 c. 2 d. 3
3. Which of the following statement is NOT TRUE?
a. The value of a random variable could be zero.
b. Random variables can only have one value.
c. The probability of the value of a random variable could be zero.
d. The sum of all the probabilities in a probability distribution is always equal to one.

For items 4-8, identify whether the given variable is discrete or continuous. Write D if
it is discrete and C if it is continuous.
4. The number of books in the library
5. The lifespan in hours of 15 flashlights
6. The number of tourists each day in a museum
7. The capacity of water dams in a region
8. The weight of Grade 1 pupils

For items 9-11, refer to the probability distribution below.

X 0 1 2 3
1 3 3 1
P(X)
8 8 8 8
_____ 9. What is the mean of the probability distribution?
a. 1.5 b. 1.2 c. 1.6 d. 1.8
_____ 10. What is the variance of the probability distribution?
a. 0.75 b. 1.00 c. 1.25 d. 0.50
_____ 11. What is the standard deviation of the probability distribution?
a. 1.00 b. 0.87 c. 1.12 d. 0.71
For items 12-14, refer to the probability distribution below.
X 0 2 4 6 8
1 1 1 1 1
P(X)
5 5 5 5 5
_____ 12. What is the mean of the probability distribution?
a. 1.5 b. 2.0 c. 3.5 d. 4.0
23
_____ 13. What is the variance of the probability distribution?
a. 4.15 b. 6.35 c. 8.00 d. 7.50
_____ 14. What is the standard deviation of the probability distribution?
a. 2.38 b. 2.83 c. 3.82 d. 3.28
_____ 15. The number of adults living in homes on a randomly selected city block
is described by the following probability distribution.
X 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.25 0.50 0.15 0.10
What is the standard deviation?
a. 0.50 b. 0.62 c. 0.79 d. 0.89

24
 Answer Key

Lesson 1
• What I Know
A.
1. Discrete
2. Discrete
3. Continuous
4. Discrete
5. Continuous
6. Continuous
7. Continuous
8. Discrete
9. Continuous
10. continuous
B.

Value of the Random Variable X

Possible Outcomes
(Number of Defective Cellular Phone)
DDD 3
DDN 2
DNN 1
DND 2
NND 1
NDD 2
NDN 1
NNN 0
What’s In

Experiment Sample Space

1. Rolling a die. S contains the outcome of the possible number of dots.
𝑆 = {1,2,3,4,5,6}
2. Drawing a spade S contains the outcome of the possible card drawn.
from a deck of 52 𝑆 = {4 𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠, 4 1′ 𝑠, 4 2′ 𝑠, 4 3′ 𝑠, 4 4′ 𝑠, 4 5′𝑠, 4 6′ 𝑠, 4 7′ 𝑠, 4 8′ 𝑠,
cards. 4 9′ 𝑠, 4 10′ 𝑠, 4 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑘 ′ 𝑠, 4 𝑄𝑢𝑒𝑒𝑛′ 𝑠, 4 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔′𝑠}

3. Tossing two coins. S contains the ordered pair of heads and tails which are the
possible outcomes in tossing two coins. Let H represent head and
T tail outcomes, respectively.
𝑆 = {𝐻𝐻, 𝐻𝑇, 𝑇𝐻, 𝑇𝑇}
4. Rolling a die and S contains the ordered pair of number from 1 to 6 for rolling a die
tossing a coin and heads and tails for tossing a coin which are the possible
simultaneously. outcomes of the experiment. Let H represent head and T tail
outcomes, respectively.
𝑆 = {(𝐻, 1), (𝐻, 2), (𝐻, 3), (𝐻, 4), (𝐻, 5), (𝐻, 6),
(𝑇, 1), (𝑇, 2), (𝑇, 3), (𝑇, 4), (𝑇, 5), (𝑇, 6)}

25
What’s New
Activity 1. Tossing Three Coins

Value of the Random Variable Y

Possible Outcomes
(Number of Tails)
HHH 0
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
THT 2
TTH 2
HTT 2
TTT 3
Activity 2. Drawing Balls from an Urn

Value of the Random Variable Z

Possible Outcomes
(Number of Blue Balls)
BB 2
BR 1
RB 1
RR 0
Activity 3. Number of Heads

W = 0,1,2,3
1 3 3 1
𝑃 (0) = 8, 𝑃(1) = 8, 𝑃 (2) = 8, 𝑃 (3) = 8

What I Have Learned

1. Answers may vary

2. Answers may vary

What I Can Do
1.
BBGG, BGGB, BBBG, BBGB, BBBB
Possible GBGG, GGGB,
GGGG GGBB, GBBG, BGBB, GBBB,
outcomes GGBG, BGGG
GBGB, BGBG
X=No. of 3 4
0 1 2
BOYS
P(X=x) 1/16 1/4 3/8 1/4 1/16
1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 0, 4
16
1
𝑃 (𝑋 = 𝑥 ) = , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 1, 3
4
3
{ 8, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 2

26
 Probability Distribution
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
Probabilities

0.10
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00
0 1 2 3 4
number of boy/s

2. answers may vary

Assessment
A.
1. continuous
2. discrete
3. continuous
4. continuous
5. continuous
6. discrete
7. continuous
8. discrete
9. discrete
10. discrete
B.
Value of the Random Variable A
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Heads)
1. HHHH 4
2. HTHH 3
3. HHHT 3
4. HHTH 3
5. THHH 3
6. TTHH 2
7. THHT 2
8. HHTT 2
9. HTTH 2
10. HTHT 2
11. THTH 2
12. TTTH 1
13. TTHT 1
14. THTT 1
15. HTTT 1
16. TTTT 0

27
 C.
1.
(1,4) (1,5), (1,6), (2,6), (3,6), (4,6), (5,6), (6,6)
(2,3), (2,4), (2,5), (3,5), (4,5), (5,5), (6,5)
(3,2), (3,3), (3,4), (4,4), (5,4), (6,4)
(1,3)
Possible (1,2), (4,1) (4,2), (4,3), (5,3), (6,3)
(1,1) , (2,2)
outcomes (2,1) (5,1) (5,2), (6,2)
, (3,1)
(6,1)

X=sum of 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2 3 4
two dice
P(X=x) 1/36 1/18 1/12 1/9 5/36 1/6 5/36 1/9 1/12 1/18 1/36
1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 2, 12
36
1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 3, 11
18
1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 4, 10
12
Or 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥 ) = 1
9
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 5, 9
5
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 6, 8
36
1
{ , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 7
6
2.

TTHH, THHT,
Possible TTTH, TTHT, HTHH, HHHT,
TTTT HHTT, HTTH, HHHH
outcomes THTT, HTTT HHTH , THHH ,
HTHT , THTH

X=number of 3 4
0 1 2
heads
P(X=x) 1/16 1/4 3/8 1/4 1/16
1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 0, 4
16
1
Or 𝑃 (𝑋 = 𝑥 ) = 4
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 1, 3
3
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 2
{ 8
D.
1.
Number
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
of Cars X
0.10 0.15 0.25 0.15 0.08 0.08 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.02
P(X=x)

a) Find 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 2)

𝑃 (𝑋 ≤ 2) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃 (1) + 𝑃(2)

= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓
= 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎
28
b) Find 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 7)
𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 7) = 𝑃 (7) + 𝑃(8) + 𝑃(9) + 𝑃 (10)
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟑

c) Find 𝑃(1 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 5)

𝑃(1 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 5) = 𝑃(1) + 𝑃 (2) + 𝑃(3) + 𝑃(4) + 𝑃(5)

= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖
= 𝟎. 𝟕𝟏

2.
Number of 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Copies X
𝑷(𝑿 = 𝒙) 0.06 0.14 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.04 0.03

a) 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 3) = 𝑃 (3) + 𝑃(4) + 𝑃(5) + 𝑃 (6) + 𝑃 (7) + 𝑃 (8) + 𝑃(9) + 𝑃(10)

= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟕 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑
= 𝟎. 𝟔𝟒
b) 𝑃(2 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 6) = 𝑃(2) + 𝑃 (3) + 𝑃(4) + 𝑃(5) + 𝑃(6)
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖
= 𝟎. 𝟔
c)
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
Probabilities

0.10
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
number of copies

29
LESSON 2
What’s In

A.
1. b 2. C 3. a 4. b 5. D

B.
Score Number of Students
42 8
50 12
53 9
38 7
46 4

(42𝑥8)+(50𝑥12)+(53𝑥9)+(38𝑥7)+(46𝑥4) 1863
Mean = = = 46.575 ≈ 47
40 40

What’s More
Grocery Items

Number of Items Probability

𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)
3 3
1
10 10
1 2
2
10 10
1 3
3
10 10
2 8
4
10 10
3 15
5
10 10

∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃 (𝑋) = 3.10 ≈ 3

Conclusion: The average number of items that a costumer will buy in the grocery store is 3.

What I Can Do
1. 𝑃(𝑋 = 4) = 0.212
2. 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2) = 0.078 + 0.155 + 0.212 + 0.262 + 0.215 = 0.922
3. 𝑃(2 ≤ 𝑋 < 5) = 0.078 + 0.155 + 0.212 = 0.445

30
 4.

No. of Ball pens Probability 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

X P(X)
0 0.029 0
1 0.049 0.049
2 0.078 0.156
3 0.155 0.465
4 0.212 0.848
5 0.262 1.31
6 0.215 1.29

∑ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 4.118 ≈ 4

The mean of the probability distribution of the number of ballpens sold every recess time is
4.
Additional Activity
1. Answers may vary
2. Answers may vary

LESSON 3
What’s In
A.
No. of Students
Score (X) (f)
f(X) ̅)
(𝒙 − 𝒙 ̅ )𝟐
(𝒙 − 𝒙 ̅ )𝟐
𝒇(𝒙 − 𝒙
5 3 15 −5 25 75
8 5 40 −2 4 20
10 4 40 0 0 0
12 5 60 2 4 20
15 3 45 5 25 75
𝝈𝟐 = 𝟏𝟗𝟎
𝑛 = 20 𝑥̅ = 10
𝝈 = √190 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟕𝟖

31
What’s More: The Number of Heads

Number of Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) (𝑿 − 𝝁) (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
Heads X P(X)
1
0 0 −3 9 1.125
8
3 3
1 −2 4 1.50
8 8
6 12
2 −1 1 0.75
8 8
3 9
3 0 0 0
8 8
∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
24 ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟕𝟓
= =𝟑
8

The variance of the probability distribution is 3.38.

The standard deviation of the probability distribution is 1.84.

What I Can Do

Number of
Computers Sold Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) (𝑿 − 𝝁) (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X

0 0.1 0 −2.2 4.84 0.484

1 0.2 0.2 −1.2 1.44 0.288

2 0.3 0.6 −0.2 0.04 0.012

3 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.64 0.128

4 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.24 0.648

∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟔
= 𝟐. 𝟐

The variance of the probability distribution is 1.56.

The standard deviation of the probability distribution is 1.25.

Post Assessment
1. B 9. A
2. D 10. A
3. B 11. B
4. D 12. D
5. C 13. C
6. D 14. B
7. C 15. D
8. C
32
References

Baguio, Carolina B. et. Al. Elementary Statistics. Department of Mathematics,

MSU-IIT, Iligan City, Philippines. Revised 2007.

Belecina, Rene R. et. al. Statistics and Probability. P. Florentino ST., Sta. Mesa
Heights, Quezon City: Rex Printing Company, Inc., 2016

33
 MODULE WRITERS’ PROFILE
Name: MONINA C. RAAGAS
Position: Teacher I
Educational Attainment:
MA units in Teaching Math; MA units in Educational Supervision &
Administration
BS in Elementary Education Major in Mathematics
Module Title: Module I - Random Variables and Probability Distribution
Division: Misamis Oriental
School: Opol National Secondary Technical School
District: Opol

Name: MARDY NELLE V. GALVE

Position: Teacher II
Educational Attainment:
Units in MS Teaching Mathematics
BS in Secondary Education Major in Mathematics
Module Title: Module I - Random Variables and Probability Distribution
Division: Misamis Oriental
School: Baliwagan Senior High School
District: Baliwagan

34
For inquires or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Division of Misamis Oriental

Office Address: Del Pilar corner Velez Street, Brgy. 29,
Cagayan de Oro City, 9000
Telephone Nos.: (088) 881-3094: Text: 0917-8992245
(Globe)
Email: [email protected]

35