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Discrete Random Variables and Probability Distributions

This document discusses discrete and continuous random variables and probability distributions. It defines discrete and continuous random variables and provides examples of each. It then discusses the probability distribution of a discrete random variable, including its key characteristics. Several examples are provided to illustrate calculating probabilities from probability distributions and determining if a given table represents a valid probability distribution. Finally, the document introduces the binomial probability distribution and the conditions that define a binomial experiment.

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107 views31 pages

Discrete Random Variables and Probability Distributions

This document discusses discrete and continuous random variables and probability distributions. It defines discrete and continuous random variables and provides examples of each. It then discusses the probability distribution of a discrete random variable, including its key characteristics. Several examples are provided to illustrate calculating probabilities from probability distributions and determining if a given table represents a valid probability distribution. Finally, the document introduces the binomial probability distribution and the conditions that define a binomial experiment.

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DISCRETE RANDOM

VARIABLES AND
PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTIONS
5.1 Random Variables

• Discrete Random Variable


• Continuous Random Variable
Table 5.1 Frequency and Relative Frequency
Distributions of the Number of Vehicles Owned by
Families
Random Variables

Definition
A random variable is a variable
whose value is determined by the
outcome of a random experiment.
Discrete Random Variable

Definition
A random variable that assumes
countable values is called a
discrete random variable.
Examples of Discrete Random Variables

1. The number of cars sold at a dealership during


a given month
2. The number of houses in a certain block
3. The number of fish caught on a fishing trip
4. The number of complaints received at the office
of an airline on a given day
5. The number of customers who visit a bank
during any given hour
6. The number of heads obtained in three tosses
of a coin
Continuous Random Variable

Definition
A random variable that can
assume any value contained in one
or more intervals is called a
continuous random variable.
Continuous Random Variable
Examples of Continuous Random Variables

1. The length of a room


2. The time taken to commute from home to work
3. The amount of milk in a gallon (note that we do not expect “a
gallon” to contain exactly one gallon of milk but either slightly
more or slightly less than one gallon)
4. The weight of a letter
5. The price of a house

Note that money is often treated as a continuous random


variable, specifically when there are a large number of unique
values.
5.2 Probability Distribution of a Discrete Random
Variable

Definition
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable lists all
the possible values that the random variable can assume and their
corresponding probabilities.
Example 5-1

The frequency and relative frequency


distributions of the number of vehicles owned
by families given in Table 5.1. Let x be the
number of vehicles owned by a randomly
selected family.
Write the probability distribution of x and make
a histogram for this probability distribution.
Table 5.2 Frequency and Relative Frequency Distributions of
the Number of Vehicles Owned by Families
Example 5-1: Solution
Table 5.3 Probability Distribution of the Number of Vehicles
Owned by Families
Example 5-1: Solution
Figure 5.1 Histogram for the Probability Distribution of Table
5.3
Two Characteristics of a Probability Distribution

The probability distribution of a discrete random variable possesses


the following two characteristics.

1. 0 ≤ P(x) ≤ 1 for each value of x


2. Σ P(x) = 1
Example 5-2

Using the probability distribution listed in Table 5.3 of Example 5–1, find the
following probabilities:
(a) The probability that a randomly selected family owns two vehicles
(b) The probability that a randomly selected family owns at least two vehicles
(c) The probability that a randomly selected family owns at most one vehicle
(d) The probability that a randomly selected family owns three or more vehicles
Example 5-2: Solution

Using the probabilities listed in Table 5.3,


(a) P(selected family owns two vehicles) = P(2) = .455

(b) P(selected family owns at least two vehicles)


= P(2 or 3 or 4) = P(2) + P(3) + P(4) = .455 + .290 + .080
= .825

(c) P(selected family owns at most one vehicle)


= P(0 or 1) = P(0) + P(1) = .015 + .160 = .175

(d) P(selected family owns three or more vehicles)


= P(3 or 4) = P(3) + P(4) = .290 + .080 = .370
Example 5-3

Each of the following tables lists certain values of x and their


probabilities. Determine whether or not each table represents a valid
probability distribution.
Example 5-3: Solution

(a) No, since the sum of all probabilities is not equal to 1.0.
(b) Yes.
(c) No, since one of the probabilities is negative.
Example 5-4

The following table lists the probability distribution of the number of


breakdowns per week for a machine based on past data.
Example 5-4

Find the probability that the number of breakdowns for this machine
during a given week is
(a) exactly 2
(b) 0 to 2
(c) more than 1
(d) at most 1
Example 5-4: Solution
Table 5.4 Probability Distribution of the Number of
Breakdowns

Let x denote the number of breakdowns for this machine during a given
week. Table 5.4 lists the probability distribution of x.
Example 5-4: Solution

Using Table 5.4,


(a) P(exactly 2 breakdowns) = P(2) = .35
(b) P(0 to 2 breakdowns) = P(0 ≤ x ≤ 2) = P(0 or 1 or 2)
= P(0) + P(1) + P(2)
= .15 + .20 + .35 = .70
(c) P(more than 1 breakdown) = P(x > 1) = P(2 or 3)
= P(2) + P(3)
= .35 +.30 = .65
(d) P(at most 1 breakdown) = P(x ≤ 1) = P(0 or 1)
= P(0) + P(1)
= .15 + .20 = .35
5.4 The Binomial Probability Distribution

• The Binomial Experiment


• The Binomial Probability Distribution and Binomial Formula
• Using the Table of Binomial Probabilities
• Probability of Success and the Shape of the Binomial Distribution
• Mean and Standard Deviation of the Binomial Distribution
The Binomial Experiment

Conditions of a Binomial Experiment

A binomial experiment must satisfy the following four


conditions.
1. There are n identical trials.
2. Each trail has only two possible outcomes (or events).
3. The probabilities of the two outcomes (or events)
remain constant for each trial.
4. The trials are independent.
Example 5-9

Consider the experiment consisting of 10 tosses of a coin. Determine


whether or not it is a binomial experiment.
Example 5-9: Solution

1. There are a total of 10 trials (tosses), and they are all identical.
Here, n=10.
2. Each trial (toss) has only two possible outcomes: a head and a tail.
3. The probability of obtaining a head (a success) is ½ and that of a
tail (a failure) is ½ for any toss. That is,
p = P(H) = ½ and q = P(T) = ½
4. The trials (tosses) are independent.

Consequently, the experiment consisting of 10 tosses is a binomial


experiment.
Example 5-10

(a) Seventy five percent of students at a college with a large student


population use Insta- gram. A sample of five students from this college
is selected, and these students are asked whether or not they use
Instagram. Is this experiment a binomial experiment?
(b) In a group of 12 students at a college, 9 use Instagram. Five
students are selected from this group of 12 and are asked whether or
not they use Instagram. Is this experiment a binomial experiment?
Example 5-10: Solution

(a) We check whether all four conditions of the binomial probability


distribution are satisfied.
1. This example consists of five identical trials.
2. Each trial has two outcomes: a student uses Instagram or a student
does not use Instagram.
3. The probability p that a student uses Instagram is .75. The probability
q that a student does not use Instagram is .25.
4. Each trial (student) is independent.

Because all four conditions of a binomial experiment are satisfied, this is


an example of a binomial experiment.
Example 5-10: Solution

(b)
1. This example consists of five identical trials.
2. Each trial has two outcomes: a student uses Instagram or a student
does not use Instagram.
3. The probability p is that a student uses Instagram. The probability q
is that a student does not use Instagram. They do not remain constant
for each selection. The probability of each outcome changes with each
selection depending on what happened in the previous selections.
Example 5-10: Solution

(b)
4. Because p and q do not remain constant for each selection, the trials
are not independent.

Given that the third and fourth conditions of a binomial experiment are
not satisfied, this is not an example of a binomial experiment.

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