11 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

STATISTICS
and PROBABILITY
Quarter 3 - Module 2
Probabilities, Mean
and Variance of Discrete Variable

NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
Statistics and Probability – Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 3 – Module 2: Probabilities, Mean and Variance of a Discrete Variable
Second Edition, 2021

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NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our
dear learners, can continue your studies and learn while at
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Thank you.

i
NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 I

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time.
You will be enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while
being an active learner.
The module is intended for you to compute probabilities corresponding
to a given random variable, illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete
random variable.
After going through this module, you are expected to calculate the mean
and the variance of a discrete random variable.

Task 1. PRE-ASSESSMENT
Answer the following in your activity sheets/activity notebook.
1. A discrete random variable 𝑋 has the following probability distribution:

𝑥 77 78 79 80 81
𝑃(𝑥) 0.15 0.15 0.20 0.40 0.10

Compute each of the following quantities:

a) 𝑃(𝑋 = 80)
b) 𝑃(𝑋 > 80)
c) 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 80)
d) The mean 𝜇 of 𝑋.
e) The variance 𝜎 2 of 𝑋.
f) The standard deviation 𝜎 of 𝑋.

1 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 Computation on Probabilities Corresponding to
Lesson 1 a Given Random Variable, Illustration and
Calculation for the Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Variable

’s In

In the previous module, you learned that a discrete random variable has a countable
number of possible values. The probability of each value of a discrete random variable is
between 0 and 1, and the sum of all the probabilities is equal to 1 and a continuous random
variable takes on all the values in some interval of numbers.

’s New

In this module, you will be learning on how to solve probabilities on a given discrete
random variables and be able to solve the mean and variance on it.

The idea of a random variable builds on the fundamental ideas of probability. You
need to understand that random variables are conceptually different from the mathematical
variables that you have met before. A random variable is linked to observations in the real
world, where uncertainty is involved. An informal — but important — understanding of a
random variable is that it is a variable whose numerical value is determined by the outcome
of a random procedure.

In this module, you will also see the more formal understanding, which is that a
random variable is a function from the event space of a random procedure to the set of real
numbers. Random variables are central to the use of probability in practice. They are used to
model random phenomena, which means that they are relevant to a wide range of human
activity. In particular, they are used extensively in many branches of research, including
agriculture, biology, ecology, economics, medicine, meteorology, physics, psychology and
others. They provide a structure for making inferences about the world when it is impossible
to measure things comprehensively. They are used to model outcomes of processes that

2 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
cannot be predicted in advance. Random variables have distributions. (Michael Evans, Peter
Brown, Sue Finch, et al n.d.)

Furthermore, we describe the essential properties of distributions of discrete random

variables. Distributions can have many forms, but there are some special types of
distributions that arise in many different practical uses.

This module covers the mean of a discrete random variable, which is a measure of
central location, and the variance and standard deviation, which are measures of spread.
(Mayang n.d.)
Task 2.
Experiment: Tossing two coins.
Random variable 𝑋 = number of heads

a) List all possible sample space.

b) Find the random variable values.
c) Find the probabilities for the random variable values.

What is It

Probability Distribution of a Discrete Random Variable

The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is a list of each possible

value of X together with the probability that X takes that value in one trial of the
experiment. The probabilities in the probability distribution of a random variable X must
satisfy the following two conditions: Each probability 𝑃(𝑥) must be between 0 and 1 and
the sum of all the probabilities is 1. (Probability Distributions for Discrete Random
Variables 2021)

Definition: Probability Distribution

The probability distribution of a discrete random variable 𝑋 is a list of each possible

value of 𝑋 together with the probability that 𝑋 takes that value in one trial of the
experiment.

3 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 The probabilities in the probability distribution of a random variable 𝑋 must satisfy
the following two conditions:

 Each probability 𝑃(𝑥)𝑃(𝑥) must be between 0 and 1:

0 ≤ 𝑃(𝑥) ≤ 1
 The sum of all the possible probabilities is 1:
∑𝑃(𝑥) = 1

Example:
A fair coin is tossed twice. Let 𝑋 be the number of heads that are observed.
a. Construct the probability distribution of 𝑋.
b. Find the probability that at least one head is observed.

Solution:

a. The possible values that 𝑋 can take are 0, 1, and 2. Each of these numbers
corresponds to an event in the sample space 𝑆 = {ℎℎ, ℎ𝑡, 𝑡ℎ, 𝑡𝑡} 𝑜𝑟 𝑆 =
{ℎℎ, ℎ𝑡, 𝑡ℎ, 𝑡𝑡} of equally likely outcomes for this experiment:
𝑋 = 0 𝑡𝑜 {𝑡𝑡} – no heads (1 possible outcome)
𝑋 = 1 𝑡𝑜{ℎ𝑡, 𝑡ℎ} – at least 1 head (two possible outcomes that has at least 1 head)
𝑋 = 2 𝑡𝑜 ℎℎ - two heads (1 possible outcome)
The probability of each of these events, hence of the corresponding value of 𝑋, can be
found simply by counting, to give

𝑋 0 1 2
Frequency (𝑓) 1 2 1
1 2 1
𝑃(𝑋) 0r 0.25 or 0.50 or 0.25
4 4 4
Table 1.0 Probability Distribution of Random Variable X.
You can have a table this way.

Random Frequency
variable (𝑓) Probability
𝑋 of X or
𝑃(𝑋)
0 1 1
0r 0.25
4

1 2 2
or 0.50
4

2 1 1
or 0.25
4

Table 1.0 Probability Distribution of Random Variable 𝑋.

b. “At least one head” is the event 𝑋 ≥ 1, which is the union of the mutually exclusive

4 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 events 𝑋 = 1 and 𝑋 = 2. Thus
𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 1) = 𝑃(1) + 𝑃(2)
= 0.50 + 0.25
= 0.75
A histogram that graphically illustrates the probability distribution is given in Figure
1.0

Random Variable X
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2

Random Variable X

Figure 1.0 Probability Distribution for tossing a fair coin twice.

Example.

Give the probability distribution on the random variable X defined as the number of
good cellphones drawn from 5 cellphones of which 3 are good ones and 2 are defectives
when 3 cellphones are drawn at random.

Random variable 𝑋- number of good cellphones

𝑋= number of good Frequency 𝑓 Probability of

cellphones 𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝑃(𝑥)
1 3 3
10
2 6 6
10
3 1 1
10
total 10 1

Let us now find the probability corresponding to a given random variable.

1. What is the probability of getting exactly 2 good cellphones?

2. What is the probability of getting at most 2 good cellphones?

5 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 3. What is the probability of getting at least 2 good cellphones

Solution:
1. 𝑃(𝑥 = 2) = 𝑃(2)
6
= 10
2. 𝑃(𝑥 ≤ 2) = 𝑃(2) + 𝑃(1)
6 3
= + 10
10
9
= 10
3. 𝑃(𝑥 ≥ 2) = 𝑃(2) + 𝑃(3)
6 1
= + 10
10
7
= 10

Mean of a discrete random variable

The mean of the discrete random variable 𝑋 is also called the expected value of 𝑋.
The expected value of 𝑋 is denoted by 𝐸(𝑋) or 𝜇𝑥 . Given a random variable 𝑋 and its
corresponding probability distribution, the expected value (𝐸𝑉) of 𝑋 is the sum of the
product of all the possible values of 𝑋 and their relative frequencies. Use the formula to
compute the mean of a discrete random variable.

𝜇𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑉 = ∑[𝑥 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)]

Example:

1. Find the mean in Figure 1.0 Probability Distribution for tossing a fair coin twice.

𝜇𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑉 = ∑[𝑥 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)]

= 0(0.25) + 1(0.5) + 2(0.25)

= 0 + 0.5 + 0.5

=1

2. Find the mean of the discrete random variable 𝑋 whose probability distribution is as
follow:

Suppose we toss a coin three times.

Random variable 𝑋- the number of heads.

𝑥 3 2 1 0

6 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 𝑃(𝑥) 1 3 3 1
8 8 8 8

𝜇𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑉 = ∑[𝑥 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)]

1 3 3 1
= 3 (8) + 2 (8) + 1 (8) + 0(8)

3 6 3
=8+8+8+0

12 3
= or 2 or 1.5
8

The mean can be regarded as a measure of `central location' of a random variable. It

is the weighted average of the values that 𝑋 can take, with weights provided by the
probability distribution. (saylordotorg.github.io 2012)

Variance and Standard Deviation of a discrete random variable

The variance and standard deviation of a discrete random variable 𝑋 may be interpreted as
measures of variability of the values assumed by the random variable in repeated trials of
the experiment. The units on the standard deviation match those of 𝑋.
The equation for computing the variance of a discrete random variable is shown below.

𝜎 2 = ∑(𝑥 − 𝜇)2 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)

Example:

3. Find the variance in Figure 1.0 Probability Distribution for tossing a fair coin twice.
𝜎 2 = ∑(𝑥 − 𝜇)2 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)
= (0 − 1)2 ∙ 0.25 + (1 − 1)2 ∙ 0.5 + (2 − 1)2 ∙ 0.25
= 0.25 + 0 + 0.25
1
= 0.5 or 2

The standard deviation 𝜎 of a discrete random variable 𝑋 is the square root of its variance,
hence the formula is:
𝜎 = √𝜎 2

Example:

4. Find the standard deviation in Figure 1.0 Probability Distribution for tossing a fair coin
twice.

𝜎 = √𝜎 2
𝜎 = √0.5 𝑜𝑟 0.7071
7 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
  a small standard deviation (or variance) means that the distribution of the random
variable is narrowly concentrated around the mean
 a large standard deviation (or variance) means that the distribution is spread out,
with some chance of observing values at some distance from the mean.

Note: The mean of a discrete random variable is a measure of central location, and the
variance and standard deviation are measures of spread of the variable.

’s More

Task 3
A discrete random variable 𝑋 has the following probability distribution:

𝑥 -1 0 1 4
𝑃(𝑥) 0.2 0.5 𝑎 0.1

Compute each of the following quantities.

a. 𝑎
b. 𝑃(0)
c. 𝑃(𝑋 > 0)
d. 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 0)
e. 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ −2)
f. The mean 𝜇 of 𝑋
g. The variance 𝜎 2 of 𝑋
h. The standard deviation 𝜎 of 𝑋

Solution:

a. Since all probabilities must add up to 1,

𝑎 = 1 − (0.2 + 0.5 + 0.1)
= 1 − 0.8
= 0.2

𝑥 -1 0 1 4
𝑃(𝑥) 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.1

8 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
b. Directly from the table, 𝑃(0) = 0.5
c. From Table
(𝑋 > 0) = 𝑃(1) + 𝑃(4)
= 0.2 + 0.1
= 0.3
d. From Table
𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 0) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃(1) + 𝑃(4)
= 0.5 + 0.2 + 0.1
= 0.8
e. Since none of the numbers listed as possible values for 𝑋 is less than or equal
to −2, the event 𝑋 ≤ −2 is impossible, so
𝑃(𝑋 ≤ −2) = 0

f. Using the formula in the definition of 𝜇

𝜇𝑥 = ∑[𝑥 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)]
= (−1) ⋅ (0.2) + (0) ⋅ (0.5) + (1) ⋅ (0.2) + (4) ⋅ (0.1)
= 0.4

g. Using the formula in the definition of 𝜎 2 and the value of 𝜇 that was just computed,
𝜎 2 = ∑(𝑥 − 𝜇)2 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)
= (−1 − 0.4)2 ⋅ (0.2) + (0 − 0.4)2 ⋅ (0.5) + (1 − 0.4)2 ⋅ (0.2)
+ (4 − 0.4)2 ⋅ (0.1)
= 0.392 + 0.08 + 0.072 + 1.296
= 1.84

h. Using the result of part (g),

𝜎 = √𝜎 2
𝜎 = √1.84
= 1.356

9 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 I Have Learned

 The probability distribution of a discrete random variable 𝑋 is a listing of each

possible value 𝑥 taken by 𝑋 along with the probability 𝑃(𝑥) that 𝑋 takes that value
in one trial of the experiment.
 The mean 𝜇 of a discrete random variable 𝑋 is a number that indicates the average
value of 𝑋 over numerous trials of the experiment. It is computed using the
formula 𝜇 = ∑𝑥𝑃 ∙ (𝑥).
 The variance 𝜎 2 and standard deviation 𝜎 of a discrete random variable 𝑋 are
numbers that indicate the variability of 𝑋 over numerous trials of the experiment.
They may be computed using the formula
𝜎 2 = ∑(𝑥 − 𝜇)2 ∙ 𝑃(𝑥)
𝜎 = √𝜎 2
Task 4
Make your own experiment and trial. Choose your own random variable X and
compute for its mean, variance and standard deviation.

CRITERIA
OUTSTANDING (20 pts) – demonstrate/show superior knowledge of basic mathematical
concepts and operations on Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard
Deviation of Random Variable.

EFFECTIVE (17 pts) – demonstrate/show appropriate use of basic mathematical concepts

and operations on Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard
Deviation of Random Variable.

ADEQUATE (13 pts) – understands the basic mathematical concepts and operations on
Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation of Random
Variable.

INEFFECTIVE (8 pts) – cannot demonstrate/show knowledge of mathematical concepts

and operation on Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation
of Random Variable.

http://www.csu.edu/CTRE/pdf/rubricexamples-all.pdf

10 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
 I Can Do

Task 5
Try answering the following:

Sales versus Profit The monthly sales, X, of a company have a mean of ₱25,000 and a
standard deviation of ₱4,000. Profits, Y, are calculated by multiplying sales by 0.3 and
subtracting fixed costs of ₱6,000. What are the mean profit and the standard deviation of
profit?

CRITERIA
OUTSTANDING (20 pts) – demonstrate/show superior knowledge of basic mathematical
concepts and operations on Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard
Deviation of Random Variable.

EFFECTIVE (17 pts) – demonstrate/show appropriate use of basic mathematical concepts

and operations on Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard
Deviation of Random Variable.

ADEQUATE (13 pts) – understands the basic mathematical concepts and operations on
Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation of Random
Variable.

INEFFECTIVE (8 pts) – cannot demonstrate/show knowledge of mathematical concepts

and operation on Probability of Random Variable, Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation
of Random Variable.

11 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
Task 5
1. Julia and Tony play the hand game rock-paper-scissors. Assume that, at each play, they
1
make their choices with equal probability (3) for each of the three moves, independently of
any previous play.

a) On any single play, what is the chance of a tie?

b) What is the chance that Julia wins at the first play?

Let Random variable 𝑋 – rock

The probability distribution is shown below
𝑋 0 1 2
𝑓requency f 4 4 1
𝑃(𝑋) 4 4 1
9 9 9

c) Find 𝑃(𝑋 = 1)
d) Find 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 1)

2. Consider again the example of the number of languages spoken by Filipino school
children. Define 𝑋 to be the number of languages in which a randomly chosen Filipino
child attending school can hold an everyday conversation. Assume that the probability
function of 𝑋, 𝑃(𝑥), is as shown in the following table.
𝑥 1 2 3 4 5 6
𝑃(𝑥) 0.663 0.226 0.066 0.022 0.019 0.004

a. What is the mean of 𝑋?

b. Find the variance of 𝑋
c. Find the standard deviation of 𝑋.

12 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2 13
What I know Task 1
a) 0.40 c) 0.90 e) 𝜎 2 = 1.5275
b) 0.10 d) 𝜇𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑉 = 79.15 f) 𝜎 = 1.2359
What’s New task 2
a) (Head, Head), (Head, Tail), (Tail, Head), (Tail, Tail)
b) Random Variable value of 𝑋: { 0, 1, 2}
c)
𝑋 0 1 2
𝑃(𝑋) 1 1 1
𝑜𝑟 0.25 𝑜𝑟 0.25 𝑜𝑟 0.25
4 4 4
What I Have Learned? Task 4
Answer may vary.
What I can Do Task 5
We know that: 𝐸(𝑋) = 25000
𝑉 (𝑋) = 4000 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 16000000
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑌 = 0.3𝑋 − 6000
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒,
𝐸(𝑌 ) = 0.3𝐸(𝑋) − 6000
= 0.3 · 25000 − 6000
= 1500
Assessment Task 6
1.
1 4
a) c)
3 9
1 5
b) d)
2 9
2.
a) 𝜇𝑥 = 1.52
b) 𝜇2 = 0.8216
c) 𝜎 = 0.9064
 References
Books
Malate, S. 2017. Statistics and Probability for Senior High School. Manila: Vicarish
Publicationsand Trading, Inc.
Millard Mamhot, Alice A. Mamhot. 2016. Statistics and Probability. Intramuros Manila:
Unlimited Books Library Services & Prublishing Inc. .
Websites
Mayang, Manilyn Mugatar. n.d. Discrete & Continuous Random Variables 12SPIII - A1.
Accessed December 14, 2021.
https://www.scribd.com/document/415341293/Chapter-2-01-Discrete-continuous-
random-variables-12SPIII-a1-docx.
Michael Evans, Peter Brown, Sue Finch, et al. n.d. amsi.org.au. Accessed December 14,
2021. https://amsi.org.au/ESA_Senior_Years/SeniorTopic4/4c/4c_1intro.html.
2021. Probability Distributions for Discrete Random Variables. Accessed December 14,
2021. https://stats.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Statistics
2012. saylordotorg.github.io. Accessed December 14, 2021.
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_introductory-statistics/s08-02-probability-
distributions-for-.html.

14 NegOr_Q3_Stat_and_Prob11_Module2_v2
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