Senior High School

Department of Education
National Capital Region
S CH OO LS D IV IS ION O FFI CE
MAR IK I NA C ITY

STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

Quarter 3: Module 2
Mean and Variance of a Discrete
Random Variable

Writer: CLAUDIA S. AYROSO(KNHS)

Cover Illustrator: Joel J. Estudillo(SNNHS)

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE 1

 What I Need to Know
Hello Grade 11 learners! In this module, you will learn how to:

Compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable M11/12SP-llla-4,

Illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable M11/12SP-lllb-1 and
Calculate the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable M11/12SP-lllb-2.

You can say that you have understood the lesson in this module if you can
already:
1. Compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable,
2. Can Illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable and
3. Calculate the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable.

LESSON 1: PROBABILITY OF A RANDOM VARIABLE

What I Know

Read each item carefully and encircle the letter that corresponds to the correct
answer.

1. The process that generate a sets of data.

A. Statistical Data C. Statistical Probability
B. Statistical Experiment D. Statistical Probability Distribution
2. The possible outcomes of an experiment is called
A. Sample C. Space
B. Sample Space D. Statistics
3. A figure that uses branches to determine all the outcome in of an experiment.
A. Experiment C. Tree Diagram
B. Listing D. Trial Diagram
4. The measure of how likely a particular event will occur.
A. Distribution C. Sample
B. Probability D. Statistics
5. Determine the number of possible outcomes in tossing 2 dies.
A. 20 B. 25 C. 36 D. 45

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6. A table, a formula or a graph showing the possible values of the random
variable together with their corresponding probabilities.
A. Probability Mass Data C. Probability Mass Function
B. Probability Mass Distribution D. Probability Mass Sample

7. Determine the number of possible outcomes in tossing 3 coins.

A. 8 B. 10 C. 12 D. 15

8. Determine the number of possible outcomes in tossing 2 coins and a die.

A. 25 B. 30 C. 32 D. 39

9. The number of possible outcomes in tossing 1 coin.

A. Invalid B. Determined C. Undetermined D. Valid

10. The probability mass function of COVID - 19 patient in one area in Kalumpang,
Marikina.
X 1 2 3 4
P(X=x) 2/10 1/10 3/10 5/10
A. Invalid B. Determined C. Undetermined D. Valid

What’s In

A random sample of 50 grade 11 students were evaluated for their absences.

The data showed that in a certain 1-week period, 20 of them had no absences,18
had 1 absent, 6 had 2 absences, 4 had 3 absences and 2 had 4 absences. Let X be
the number of absences.

a. What are the possible values of X?

b. What is the probability that a randomly chosen student had more than 1
absences?
c. What is the probability that a randomly chosen student had at most 2
absences?
d. What is the probability that a randomly chosen student that had at least 2
absences?

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 What’s New
A probability distribution is an assignment of probabilities to the values of
the random variable; it is a function that describes the possible outcomes that a
random variable can attain. The abbreviation pdf is used for a probability
distribution function.

For instance, a hospital researcher is interested in the number of times the

average COVID - 19 patient call the nurse during a 12 hour shift. For a random
sample of 50 patients, the following information was obtained:

Number of times the Number of patients

patients called the nurse who called the
during the 12 hr. shift. nurse
0 4
1 8
2 16
3 14
4 6
5 2

Let X be the number of times a patient call the nurse during a 12-hour shift.
For this case, the possible values of the random variable X are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Let P(x) the probability that X takes on value.

X P(X) There were 50 patients observed.

0 4/50 • 4 out of 0 patients did not ring the bell. So, the P(X)
1 8/50 value for 0 will be 4/50. Thus, P(0) = 4/50.
2 16/50 • 8 out of 50 patients rung the bell only once. The P(X)
3 14/50 value for 1 is 8/50, then P(1) = 8/50.
4 6/50
What will be the respective value of P(2)? P(3)?; P(4); and
5 2/50 P(5)?

What is It
The probability distribution of a random variable distinguish probabilities of all
the possible values of random variables. For a discrete random variable, the
probability distribution is defined by a probability mass function which is denoted by
P(X=x).

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 The probability mass function is a table, a formula, or a graph showing the
possible values of the random variable together with the corresponding probabilities.
The possible values of the random variables are called mass points.
Consider the following experiments of tossing a die. Let the random variable
X be defined as the number of dots shown on the upturned face of the die. Recall
that the possible values of X are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Note that all of the probability of
obtaining 1 is 1/6 and this probability is the same for all other possible values of X.
The probability mass function of X if written using a formula is:

1/6 where, the values of X are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

P(X) =
0 otherwise
Note that the probability mass function may also be presented in tabular form.
The first row of the table presents the possible values of x, while the second row
shows the corresponding probability of each value. The tabular representation of
P(X) in the previous example is given below.

Table 1: Probability Mass Function of X, where X is the number of dots on the

upturned face of die
X 1 2 3 4 5 6
P(X) 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6
Another way of showing the probability mass function is by using a probability
histogram, which is a figure or diagram that contains rectangles entered at each
mass point. The height or length of the rectangle corresponds to the probability of
that particular mass point. The x – axis represents the possible values of X, while
the y-axis represent the probabilities which is the same idea presented in the tabular
representations.

Refer to the figure below.

FIGURE 1
0.18
0.16
0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16
0.14
0.12
0.10
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6

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***Graphical representation of a probability mass function of X, where X represents
the number of showing on the upturned face of a die.

In general the properties of a probability mass function are as follows.

1) 0< P(X) < 1

2) ∑ 𝑘𝑖=1 𝑃(𝑋𝑖) = 1

Let us have some examples on how to compute the probability mass function.
Consider the two properties discuss above. Don’t forget to validate the given
examples below. Let’s start now…

1. Two coins are tossed. Let X be the number of heads. Obtain the probability
mass function of X.
SOLUTION: Recall that the sample space S for the experiment.
Possible X
Outcomes (no. of heads)
HH 2
TT 0
HT 1
TH 1

➢ Probability of getting no heads or (TT): P (0) = 1/4

(On 4 possible outcomes presented on the table, there is only one possible
outcome that may produce no head, that is why P(0) = ¼)

➢ Probability of getting 1 head or (HT, TH): P (1) = 2/4 or 1/2

(There are 2 possible outcomes that may produce 1 head, HT and TH. Adding
their respective P(X), ¼ + ¼ is equal to 2/4 or ½. Making, P(1) = ½.)

➢ Probability of getting 2 heads or (HH): P (2) = 1/4

Why do you think P(2) is equal to ¼?

In tabular form, the probability mass function of X is shown below.

Table 1: Probability Mass Function for the Number of Heads in Tossing Two
Coins

X 0 1 2
P(X) 1/4 1/2 1/4

Note that the two properties of a probability mass function are satisfied. All the
probability values are non-negative, and between o and 1; and the probabilities sum
up to 1.

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Figure 1: Graphical representation of the probability mass function for the
number of heads in tossing two coins.

Graphical representation of the probability mass function for the

number of heads in tossing two coins.
0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 1 2

2. Suppose that the probability mass function is defined by the following formula.
X/10, x = 1,2,3,4
P (X = x) =
0, otherwise

Make a tabular representation of the probability mass function. Then verify that the
properties of a probability mass function are satisfied.

SOLUTION: Substitute each given value of x to the formula to get the corresponding
probability.

x 1 2 3 4
P ( X = x) 1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10
Note that P (X=x) ≥ 0 for all values of x. Also
∑𝒌𝒊=𝟏 𝑷(𝑿 = 𝒙𝒊) = 𝟏

1/10 + 2/10 + 3/10 + 4/10 = 10/10 or 1

What’s More

Solve the problem.

The daily demand for copies of a movie magazine at a variety store has the probability
distribution as follows.

Number of Copies (X) Probability P(X)

0 0.06
1 0.14
2 0.16
3 0.14

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 4 0.12
5 0.10
6 0.08
7 0.07
8 0.06
9 0.04
10 0.03

A. What is the probability that three or more copies will be demanded in a

particular day?
B. What is the probability that the demand will be at least two but not more than
six?

What I Have Learned

Fill in the blank with the right word/s.

1. The probability of getting 2 head in tossing two coins is .
2. The of a random variable distinguishes probabilities to
the possible values of random variables. For a discrete random variable, the
probability distribution is defined by a probability mass function denoted by
P(X=x).
3. The is a table, a formula, or a graph showing the
possible values of the random variable together with the corresponding
probabilities.
4. The possible values of the random variable are called .
5. What are the general properties of a probability mass function?

What I Can Do

Find the Probability Mass Function of the given data below in three different ways:
Definition, Graph and Formula.

When X = 0 is an active case, 1 is recovered, 2 is death

a. Kalumpang
b. Sta. Elena

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RUBRICS

Assessment
Carefully read each item and choose the letter that corresponds to the correct
answer.
1. The possible outcomes of an experiment is called?
A. Sample B. Sample Space C. Space D. Variable
2. Determine the number of possible outcomes in tossing 2 dies.
A. 20 B. 25 C. 36 D. 45
3. A figure that uses branches to determine all the outcome of an experiment?
A. Experiment C. Tree Diagram
B. Listing D. Probability Distribution
4. The measure of how likely a particular event will occur is called .
A. Distribution B. Probability C. Sample D. Variable

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5. It is the process that generate sets of data?
A. Statistical Data C. Statistical Probability
B. Statistical Experiment D. Statistics Variability
6. A table, a formula or a graph showing the possible values of the random variable
together with their corresponding probabilities.
A. Probability Mass Data C. Probability Mass Function
B. Probability Mass Distribution D. Variable Mass Function
7. Determine the number of possible outcomes in tossing 2 dies.
A. 12 B. 20 C. 36 D. 71
8. Determine the number of possible outcomes in tossing 5 coins and a die.
A. 125 B. 192 C. 320 D. 450
9. How many are the sample space of tossing two coins?
A. 1 B. 4 C. 8 D. 12
10. What are the possible values of tossing two coins?
A. H,T B. H,H,T,T C. HH, HT, TH, TT D. T,H

Additional Activities

The following data shows the probabilities for the number of cars sold in a given day
at a car dealer store.
Number of car/s (X) Probability P(X)
0 0.100
1 0.150
2 0.250
3 0.140
4 0.090
5 0.080
6 0.060
7 0.050
8 0.040
9 0.025
10 0.015

a. Find P(X ≤ 2)

b. Find P(X ≥ 7)

c. Find P(1 ≤ X ≤ 5)

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 LESSON 2: FINDING THE MEAN AND VARIANCE OF A DISCRETE
RANDOM VARIABLE

What’s In
In this time of uncertainty where it is difficult to trust anyone, your family is
your grip. Your parents are always there to give you a safe environment, provide
food, clothes and good education. Do you have siblings? Your siblings are also there
for you to provide guidance and assistance regardless of the situation you are facing.
Parents and siblings are very important part of your lives.

Have you ever wondered about the average size of a Filipino Family based in
the Philippine Statistics Authority? In 2016 the average size of a Philippine
household is 5.
It is so great to know some fact regarding average, especially of those variables
that greatly affects our lives. The mean or average and the variance of a random
variable will be the focus of this module.
Try this!

1. Find the average allowance of 5 students from Kalumpang National High

School.
Ana 30, Joseph 50, Lito 50, Ryan 100 and Jessica 80
2. Find the average height of 10 Grade 11 students.
Cris 5.3 Rose 4.9
Ariel 4.11 Jen 5.3
Tommy 5.4 Ayen 4.11
Jim 6.0 Bianca 5.0
Francis 5.8 Tam 5.0

What’s New
Let us familiarize ourselves with the term Mean and Variance of a Discrete
Random Variable. Let say the Grade 11 students were asked to estimate the length
(in inches) of a table, the error in the estimated values were recorded and tabulated
as follows:

Error (X) 2 3 4 5 6
P(X) 0.25 0.1 0.3 0.15 0.20

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Task:
1. Get the product of Error(x) and P(x) for each column.

2. Add all the product.

What is It
Definition of Terms:
❖ A measure of variability or the spread of the values for a random variable
X is the variance. The variance measures the degree of spread of the different
values of the random variable about its expected value or mean.
❖ Discrete are random variables obtained by counting.
❖ Event is the subset of a sample space (S).
❖ Mass points are the possible values of the random variable.
❖ Null Set or Empty Set is only possible to have an event that contains no
sample point.
❖ Probability Histogram is a figure or diagram that contains rectangles
centered at each mass point.
❖ Probability is the measure of how likely a particular event will occur.
❖ Sample Point is the element of a sample space.
❖ Sample space is the set of all possible outcomes of an experiment.
❖ Statistical Experiment is the processes that generate a set of data.
❖ The mean of a random variable X is not prediction of the values of X but
only an expectation.
❖ Tree diagram is a figure that uses branches to determine all the outcomes
of an experiment.

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). To compute the mean of a discrete
random variable, the formula below is used.

E(X) = μx = Σ [xi * P(xi)]

where xi is the value of the random variable for outcome i, μ x is the mean of random
variable X, and P(xi) is the probability that the random variable will be outcome.

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Variance of a Discrete Random Variable

Most of the time, the values of the random variable are not constant. Thus,
it is important to say something about the variations in the distribution. A measure
of variability or the spread of the values for a random variable X is the variance.
The variance measures the degree of spread of the different values of the random
variable about its expected value or mean. The weighs used are the corresponding
probabilities given in the probability mass function.

Suppose the probability mass function of a random variable X is given in the

table below:

X x1 x2 x3 …. xn
P(X=x) P(x1) P(x2) P(x3) P(xn)

Then, the variance of the random variable is

Var(X) = x2 = ∑𝑘 [(𝑥𝑖 − µ)^2  𝑃(𝑥𝑖)]

𝑖=1

Example 1

In a recent little league softball game, each player went to bat 4 times. The number
of hits made by each player is described by the following probability distribution.

Probability,
Number of hits, x
P(x)
0 0.10
1 0.20
2 0.30
3 0.25
4 0.15

What is the mean and variance of the probability distribution?

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Solution

Solving for the mean of the probability distribution

E(X) = Σ [ xi * P(xi) ]
E(X) = { ( 0 * .10 )+( 1 * 0.20 )+ ( 2 * 0.30 ) + ( 3 * 0.25 ) + ( 4 * 0.15 ) } = 2.15

Solving for the variance of the probability distribution

Var(X) = x2 = ∑𝑘 [(𝑥𝑖 − µ)^2  𝑃(𝑥𝑖)]

𝑖=1

Var(X) = [(0 – 2.15)2 * .10] + [(1 – 2.15)2 * .20] + [(2 – 2.15)2 * .30] + [(3 – 2.15)2
* .25] + [(4 – 2.15)2 * .15]
= 1.4275
= 1.43

Note: The symbol “*” is denoted by multiplication.

What’s More

Calculate the mean and the variance for a random variable, X defined the number of
tails in four tosses of a coin. Make a table for probability distribution.

Remember: T represent a tail and H, a head. X denotes the number of tails

in four tosses of a coin. X takes the values: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.

What I Have Learned

The MEAN of the random variable is

The VARIANCE of the random variable is

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The formula used in finding the
Mean is

The formula used in finding the

Variance is
_ _

What I Can Do

The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding
probabilities is shown in the table. Find the mean and the variance of the probability
distribution.

Number of Items Sold (X) Probability P(X)

19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10

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 Assessment
Read each item carefully and encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. A figure or diagram that contains rectangles centered at each mass point.

A. Histogram B. Mass Distribution
C. Probability Histogram D. Tree Diagram
2. It is a figure that uses branches to determine all the outcomes of an
experiment.
A. Histogram C. Statistical Data
B. Tree diagram D. Venn Diagram
3. It is a possible to have an event that contains no sample point.
A. Mass Point C. Sample Point
B. Null Set D. Sets
4. The element of a sample space.
A. Experiment C. Sample Space
B. Sample Point C. Statistical Data
5. The measure of how likely a particular event will occur.
A. Experiment C. Sample Point
B. Probability D. Sample Space
6. The possible values of the random variable are called .
A. Event B. Mass Points
C. Mass Space D. Probability
7. The processes that generate a set of data.
A. Experiment C. Statistical data
B. Statistics D. Statistical Experiment
8. The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment.
A. Event B. Probability C. Sample space D. Variables
9. The subset of a sample space (S).
A. Event B. Sample C. Space D. Variable
10. These are random variables obtained by counting.
A. Continuous B. Discrete C. Ordinal D. Variable

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 Additional Activities

Additional Activity:

1. A life insurance policy gives a benefit of P2,000,000 for death caused by an

accident. P 1,000,000 for death due to other causes, P 500,000 for permanent
disability. In the event of death, a person who had already applied for
permanent disability benefits would no longer be entitled to the death benefit.
Based on the past experience of the insurance company, for a specific age
interval, the probability mass function for the amount of benefit A for the
events mentioned above is

a P 2,000,000 P 1,000,000 P 500,000 0

P(a) .0002 .0008 .001 .988

Find the expected amount of benefit A and the Variance.

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 References
Bluman, A.G. 2012. Elemetary Statistics: A Step by Step Approach, 8th Ed. New
York Mc Graw Hill.
Belecina, Bacay, & Mateo, Statistics and Probability. First Ed, Rex Book Store
➢ https://www.coconino.edu/resources/files/pdfs/academics/sabbatical-
reports/kate-kozak/chapter_5.pdf
➢ https://openstax.org/books/introductory-statistics/pages/4-1-probability-
distribution-function-pdf-for-a-discrete-random-variable

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 Development Team of the Module

Writer: Claudia S. Ayroso(KNHS)

Editors: Freddie V. Viernes (PSDS), Imelda B. Olvida(MHH-Principal IV), Claudia S.
Ayroso(KNHS), Joseph V. Crame (CIS), Marie Jeanne M. De Chavez (MHS)
Internal Reviewer: Dominador J. Villafria (Education Program Supervisor-
Mathematics)
Cover Illustrator & Layout Artist: Joel J. Estudillo (SNNHS)
Management Team:
Sheryll T. Gayola
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent
Elisa O. Cerveza
Chief, CID
OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Dominador J. Villafria
Education Program Supervisor-Mathematics
Ivy Coney A. Gamatero
Education Program Supervisor– LRMS

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Schools Division Office- Marikina City

Email Address: [email protected]

191 Shoe Ave., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, 1800, Philippines

Telefax: (02) 682-2472 / 682-3989

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE