Southern Maramag Colleges Module 2 STATISTICS AND PROBABILTY

P2 South Pob., Maramag, Buk. COMPUTING THE MEAN OF A DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
+63 953 255 9195 & COMPUTING THE VARIANCE OF A DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
Name: ________________________________________________ Grade 11 Submission Date: ______________

Learning Outcomes
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Illustrate and calculate the mean of a discrete random variable;
2. Interpret the mean of a discrete random variable;
3. Solve problems involving mean of probability distributions;
4. Illustrate and calculate the variance of a discrete random variable;
5. Interpret the variance of a discrete random variable; and
6. Solve problems involving variance of probability distribution.

LESSON 1 COMPUTING THE MEAN OF A DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

The mean tells us the average number of spots that would appear in a roll or die.
Formula for the Mean of the Probability Distribution
The mean of a random variable with a discrete probability distribution is:
μ = X1 · P(X1) + X2 · P(X2) + X3 · P(X3) + …, Xn · P(Xn) or μ =∑ X · P(X)
where:
X1, X2, X3 ….,Xn are the values of the random variable X; and
P(X1), P(X2), P(X3)…, P(Xn) are the corresponding probabilities
Example:
3 1 1 2 3
The probilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 items in a grocery store are , , , and respectively.
10 10 10 10 10
What is the average number of items that a customer will buy?
Solution:
Step 1. Construct the probability distribution for the random variable X representing the number of items that the
customer will buy.
Number of Items X Probability P(X)
1 3
10
2 1
10
3 1
10
4 2
10
5 3
10
Step 2. Multiply the value of the random variable X by the corresponding probability.
Number of Items X Probability P(X) X ·P(X)
1 3 3
10 10
2 1 2
10 10
3 1 3
10 10

1
 4 2 8
10 10
5 3 15
10 10
3. Add the results obtained in Step 2.
31
μ=∑ X · P(X) = = 3.1 So the mean of the probability distribution is 3.1. This implies that the average number of
10
items that the customer will buy is 3.1.

ACTIVITY 1
Direction: Complete the table below and find the mean of the following probability distribution.
1.
X P(X) X ·P(X)
1 1
7
6 1
7
11 3
7
16 1
7
21 1
7
2.
X P(X) X ·P(X)
1 3
10
2 1
10
3 2
10
4 2
10
5 2
10

3.
X P(X) X ·P(X)
3 0.15
6 0.35
8 0.40
10 0.10
4.
X P(X) X ·P(X)
1 4
9
3 2
9

2
 5 1
9
7 2
9
5. Find the mean of the probability distribution of the random variable X, which can take only the values 1, 2 and 3, given
10 1 12
that P(1) = , P(2) = , and P(3) = .
33 33 33
6. Find the mean of the probability distribution of the random variable X, which can take only the values 3, 5 and 7 given
7 1 13
that P(3) = , P(5) = and P(7) = .
30 30 30
LESSON 2 COMPUTING THE VARIANCE OF A DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

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.
Example:
The number of cars sold per day at a local car dealership, along with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in
the succeeding table. Compute the variance and the standard deviation of the probability distribution by following the
given steps.

Number of Items X Probability P(X)

0 1
10
1 2
10
2 3
10
3 2
10
4 2
10
Solution:
1. Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
22
μ=∑ X · P(X) = = 2.2
10
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
X P(X) X·P(X) X-μ
0 1 0 0 – 2.2 = - 2.2
10
1 2 2 1 – 2.2 = - 1.2
10 10
2 3 6 2 – 2.2 = - 0.2
10 10
3 2 6 3 – 2.2 = 0.8
10 10

3
 4 2 8 4 – 2.2 = 1.8
10 10
3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
X P(X) X·P(X) X- μ (X - μ)2
0 1 0 - 2.2 4.84
10
1 2 2 - 1.2 1.44
10 10
2 3 6 - 0.2 0.04
10 10
3 2 6 0.8 0.64
10 10
4 2 8 1.8 3.24
10 10

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

X P(X) X·P(X) X-μ (X - μ)2 (X - μ)2 · P(X)
0 1 0 - 2.2 4.84 0.484
10
1 2 2 - 1.2 1.44 0.288
10 10
2 3 6 - 0.2 0.04 0.012
10 10
3 2 6 0.8 0.64 0.128
10 10
4 2 8 1.8 3.24 0.648
10 10
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4. The result is the value of the variance. SO, the formula for the
variance is: σ 2= ∑ ¿¿ - μ)2 · P(X).
σ 2 = ∑ ¿¿ - μ)2 · P(X) = 1.56
6. 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 = √ 1.5 6 = 1.25.

Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:
σ 2= ∑ ¿¿ - 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 in the probability distribution

ACTIVITY 2
Direction: Answer the following questions. Write your answer in your notebook.
1. When three coins are tossed, the probability distribution for the random variable X representing the number of
heads occur is given below. Compute the variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.
Number of Heads X Probability P(X)
0 1
8
4
 1 3
8
2 6
8
3 3
8
2. The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table.
Find the variance and the 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

Alternative Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:
σ 2= ∑ X 2 · P(X) - μ2
The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula: σ = ∑ X 2 · P( X) - μ2
√
where: X= value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
μ = mean in the probability distribution
ACTIVITY 3
Direction: Complete the table below and find the variance and standard deviation of the following probability
distribution.
1.
X P(X) X · P(X) X2 · P(X)
1 1
7
6 1
7
11 1
7
16 1
7
21 1
7
2.
X P(X) X · P(X) X2 · P(X)
1 3
10
2 1
10
3 2
10

5
 4 2
10
5 2
10
3.
X P(X) X · P(X) X2 · P(X)
3 0.15
6 0.35
8 0.40
10 0.10
4.
X P(X) X · P(X) X2 · P(X)
1 4
9
3 2
9
5 1
9
7 2
9
Reference: Baccay, E et. Al (2016). Statistics and Probability. First Edition.Manila,Philippines: Rex Book Store. pp.21-45
Prepared by: Roselle S. Villaquer Contact details: 09107969153/[email protected]