Scribd
Upload
228 views5 pages

Answers To Student's Questions On Frequency Distribution

The document contains a student's questions about key concepts in statistics: 1) The formula for finding the mean of a frequency distribution 2) The properties of expectation for discrete and continuous random variables 3) The formula for finding the variance of discrete random variables 4) The properties of variance for discrete random variables The response provides detailed explanations and examples for each question in 3 or more sentences.

Uploaded by

Antoinette Stewart-Aché
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
228 views5 pages

Answers To Student's Questions On Frequency Distribution

The document contains a student's questions about key concepts in statistics: 1) The formula for finding the mean of a frequency distribution 2) The properties of expectation for discrete and continuous random variables 3) The formula for finding the variance of discrete random variables 4) The properties of variance for discrete random variables The response provides detailed explanations and examples for each question in 3 or more sentences.

Uploaded by

Antoinette Stewart-Aché
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Student’s Questions on Unit 6:

Can you please explain the following?


1. The formula for finding the mean of a frequency distribution
2. The properties of expectation for both discrete and continuous random variables.
3. The formula for finding the variance for discrete random variables.
4. The properties of variance for discrete random variables.
Thanks in advance.

My Answers to Questions Posed:


Question 1:
The formula for finding the mean of a frequency distribution is:
When data is given in the form of a frequency distribution table we do not know the
values of individual observations. In such cases we cannot obtain the sum of individual
values. In the case of grouped data we will instead find an approximation for the sum of
the individual values using the formula below:

Mean for Grouped Population Data:   


mf
N

Mean for Grouped Sample Data: x   mf


n
Where ‘m’ is the midpoint and ‘f’ is the frequency of a class.

Steps to follow to find the Mean of Grouped Data:


1. Find the midpoint of each class
2. Multiply each class midpoint by its corresponmding class frequency
3. Sum all the products to get  mf
4. Divide the sum of the products (i.e.  mf )by the total number of
observations ‘n’
The Mean of a Probability Distribution for a Discrete Random can be found by
using the following formula:
E ( X )   xi P( xi )

Where Pi represents the probability associated with each of the discrete


random variables
xi represents the discrete random variable

So to find the mean of the probability distribution of a discrete random variable one
must first know the probabilities associated with each random variable in the distribution.
Then one must multiply each of the random variables by its respective probabilities.
After doing this one should add up all the products of the probabilities and random
variables. See example below for a demonstration on how to calculate the mean of a
discrete random variable

Example: Let X be the random variable representing the number of errors per page of a
book

Probability Distribution Table for the R.V. X


X P(X)
0 144/300 = 0.48
1 72/300 = 0.24
2 63/300 = 0.21
3 15/300 = 0.05
4 6/300 = 0.02
Total 1
E(X) = (0  0.48)  (1 0.24)  (2  0.21)  (3  0.05)  (4  0.02)  0.89

Question 2:
The properties of expectation for both discrete and continuous random variables
are:
i. If a is a constant then E(a) = a
ii. If a is a constant then E(aX) = a E(X)
iii. If b is a constant then E(X + b) = E(X) + b
iv. If a & b are constants then E(aX + b) = a E(X) + b
v. If X and Y are two distinct random variables then E( X + Y) = E(X)
+ E(Y)
vi. If g(X) and h(X) are two distinct functions defined on X then
E[g(X) + h(X)] = E[g(X)] + E[ h(X)]

Question 3:
Formula for finding the variance of a discrete random variable is:
Variance   Pi ( xi   ) 2
Where Pi represents the probability associated with each of the discrete
random variables
xi represents the discrete random variable
μ represents the expected value or mean of the probability

distribution of the discrete random variable


OR
Variance  E ( X 2 )  [ E ( X )] 2

To find the variance one can use either one of the formulae listed above. However I
prefer the second formula. Both formulae require that you calculate the mean of the
probability distribution first. After calculating the mean of the probability distribution,
the first formula stipulates that you must find the difference between the mean and the
random variable for each random variable (i.e. you need to find (xi -  ). After finding
the difference between the mean and the value of each random variable you need to
square each of the differences. Next you need to multiply each of the squared
differences by the respective probabilities associated to each random variable. Finally
you need to add up all the products and this will give you the variance.

After calculating the mean of the probability distribution of the discrete random variable,
the second formula requires you to find E(X2). This is the expectation or mean of the
random variable X2. Therefore you need to do the following to find E(X2).

First you need to calculate X2 which means you need to square the value of each of the
random variables. Then you must multiply each of the squared values of the random
variables by its respective probabilities (i.e. you need to find x2P(X=x)). After doing this
one should add up all the products of the probabilities and random variables. See
example below for a demonstration on how to calculate the mean of a discrete random
variable he second formula

Example:
Using the probability distribution that was used in the example shown in question 1.

First formula for find the variance:


Var(X) =  Pi ( xi   )2 =
{0.48(0  0.89) }  {0.24(1  0.89) }  {0.21(2  0.89) }  {0.05(3  0.89) }  {0.02(4  0.89) 
2 2 2 2 2

Second formula for finding the variance:


Var(X) = E ( X 2 )  [ E ( X )]2
 
E(X2) = (0 2  0.48)  (12  0.24 )  (2 2  0.21)  (3 2  0.05)  (4 2  0.02 )
= (0  0.48)  (1  0.24)  (4  0.21)  (9  0.05)  (16  0.02) = 1.85

Recall from the example used in question 1 explanation the mean (i.e. E(X) = 0.89).
Therefore, E(X2) – [(EX)]2 = 1.85 – 0.89 = 0.96

Question 4:
The properties of variance for both discrete and continuous random variables are:
i. If a is a constant then Var(a) = 0.
ii. If a is a constant then Var(aX) = a2 Var(X).
iii. If b is a constant then Var(X + b) = Var(X).
iv. If a and b are constants, Var(aX + b) = a2 Var(X)
v. If X and Y are two independent random variables then Var( X + Y)
= Var(X) + Var(Y).

You might also like