“ Take risks.

If you win you

will be happy. If you lose
you will be wise.”
Learning Targets
At the end of the discussion, you will be able to:
• distinguish a discrete random variable from
continuous random variable.
• find the possible values of a random variable.
• illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete
random variable and its properties.
• construct a probability mass function and its
corresponding histogram.
• compute probabilities to a given random variable.
 RANDOM
PHENOMENON
Picking a Student
at Random
 Clicking a
Facebook Profile at
Random
Texting Someone
at Random
 STATISTICAL EXPERIMENT
❑ refers to a process that generates outcomes or
observations, typically with uncertainty involved.

RANDOM EXPERIMENT
❑ an experiment whose outcomes cannot be
predicted.
Examples:
Tossing a coin
Rolling a die
Drawing a card from a standard deck of cards
Picking a ball from a box of 20 balls
What is a RANDOM VARIABLE?
Random
- occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern
- something unpredictable or unidentified

Variable
- is a symbol (A, B, x, y, etc.) that can take on any of
a specified set of values.
What is a RANDOM VARIABLE?
A random variable (also called stochastic variable) is a
rule that assigns a numerical value or characteristic to an
outcome of an experiment.

We use CAPITAL LETTERS to

represent a random variable.
 Lesson Map
Random
Variable

Discrete Continuous
Random Random
Variable Variable

Mean, Variance, Standard

Discrete Probability
Deviation, and Its
Distribution
Applications
 TWO TYPES OF
RANDOM VARIABLES
Discrete Random Variable
It is a random variable that can take only countable or
finite number of values. It can be obtained through the
process of counting.

Continuous Random Variable

It is a random variable that can assume an infinite
number of values in an interval between two specific
values. The values are often the results of measurement.
Examples:
1. The Statistics and Probability test scores of a randomly selected student
2. The weight of the student before and during the pandemic
Discrete or Continuous?
3. The number of times 5 will appear when a die is rolled thrice
4. Getting a card greater than 9 from a standard deck of cards
5. The time needed to finish a test
6. The height of the study table
7. The number of voters favoring a candidate
8. The number of COVID-19 cases per city/municipality per month
9. The number of defective gadgets produced by a manufacturer
10. The average amount of electricity consumed per household per month
Range Space vs. Sample Space

A range space is the

set of all possible
values in a random
A sample space is
variable.
the set of all possible
outcomes in an
experiment.
Coin-Toss Experiment!
Bring out any coin for the coin-toss
experiment or use the virtual coin toss
site: https://flipsimu.com/.

Toss the coin three (3) times and

record the result.

Write H for head and T for tail.

One strategy that is useful in identifying the
possible outcomes in an experiment is by
drawing a tree diagram.

A tree diagram is a visual tool that makes

use of branching connecting lines to
represent a certain relationship between
the events.
 Coin-Toss Experiment!
Using the preceding example, determine the possible outcomes when
the coin is tossed three (3) times where H is for head and T is for tail.
First Toss Second Toss Third Toss

H Outcomes Number of Tails (T)

H HHH 0
T HHT 1
H
H 1
HTH
T
T HTT 2
H THH 1
H THT 2
T T
TTH 2
H
T TTT 3
T
SAMPLE SPACE: S = {HHH, HHT, HTH, THH, TTH, THT, HTT, TTT} RANGE SPACE: T = {0, 1, 2, 3}
Example 2:
A pair of dice is thrown, and the random
variable Y is defined such that Y gives the
sum of the two numbers that appear.
Determine the following:

A. range space
B. Y(3,2)
C. Y(4,6)
D. Y(1,3)
Example 2:
+ 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
6 7 8 9 10 11 12

A. Range Space =
B. Y(3,2) =
C. Y(4,6) =
D. Y(1,3) =
Example 3:
Determine the sample space of tossing a coin and a die.
Coin Die Sample Point
1 H1
2 H2
3 H3
H 4 H4
5 H5
H6
6
1 T1
2 T2
3 T3
T 4 T4
5 T5
6 T6

S = {H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6}
Example 4:
Determine the sample space of an ordinary deck of playing cards.

S=
EVENT
→ is the collection of one or more outcomes considered as
a group.
→ is a subset of the sample space S.

Examples:
Getting a head when a coin is tossed
Getting an even number when a die is rolled
Getting a heart face card in a standard deck of cards
Getting a white ball from a box of 20 balls
PROBABILITY
It is the measure of certainty or uncertainty that an event will
happen. If E is an event, then the probability that E will happen
is denoted by P(E). If E is sure to happen, then P(E) = 1; however,
if E is impossible to happen, P(E) = 0. Thus, the probability of an
event could only be from 0 to 1.

Probability is how likely something is to happen. One might also

hear it called chance. Probability can be expressed as fractions,
decimals, or percentages, or on a probability scale.
Discrete Probability Distribution
Discrete Probability Distribution
o also known as probability mass
function

o a table that gives a list of probability

values along with their associated
value in the range of a discrete random
variable.
Probability Histogram
Just like any other statistical distribution, a
probability mass function may be graphed using a
histogram in which the:

o horizontal axis represents the values of the

random variable X

o vertical axis gives the corresponding

probabilities, P(X).
Using Example 1 (When a coin is tossed three times)
Let Y be the random variable representing the number of tails that occur.
Construct the Probability Mass Function and Histogram.

Outcome
Number of
Y
(number of tails) 0 1 2 3
tails (Y)
𝟏 𝟑 𝟑 𝟏
HHH 0 P(Y)
𝟖 𝟖 𝟖 𝟖
HHT 1
HTH 1 P(Y)
THH 1 What can you observe?
0.5
HTT 2
THT 2 0.4

TTH 2
0.3
TTT 3
0.2

0.1

0 Y
0 1 2 3
 Using Example 2 (When pair of dice is thrown,
such that Y gives the sum of the two numbers that appear.)
Construct the Probability Mass Function and Histogram.
EXAMPLE 2:
A pair of dice is thrown, and the random variable Y is defined such
that Y gives the sum of the two numbers that appear.
Construct the Discrete Probability Distribution for the given random
variable.

Y
(sum of two 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
numbers)
𝟏 𝟐 𝟑 𝟒 𝟓 𝟔 𝟓 𝟒 𝟑 𝟐 𝟏
P(Z)
𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟑𝟔
0.03 0.06 0.08 0.11 0.14 0.17 0.14 0.11 0.08 0.06 0.03

𝟑𝟔
Sum = =1
𝟑𝟔
Using Example 2 (When pair of dice is thrown,
such that Y gives the sum of the two numbers that appear.)
P(Z)

Z
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Using Example 3
Matt owns an electronics kiosk in Jepo Mall. While doing inventory,
he decided to see just how many cellphone units his business is moving.
The number of mobile phones sold per day at his kiosk varies as shown
in the given probability distribution below. Find the possible values of the
given random variable X.

X 1 2 3 4 5
P(X) 0.2 0.1 n 0.4 0.2

a. Find the value of n.

b. Construct the histogram.
c. Find the probability that he will sell at most 3 mobile phones.
d. Find the probability that he will sell at least 2 mobile phones.
ACTIVITY
Activity Title:
From Digits to Density: Unraveling Random Variables
through Discrete, Continuous, PMFs, and Histograms

Learning Targets:
• to distinguish a discrete from continuous random variable.
• to find the possible values of a random variable.
• to illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random
variable and its properties.
• to construct a probability mass function and its corresponding
histogram.
• to compute probabilities to a given random variable.
Reference:
Ocampo, S. & Tresvalles, R. (2017). Probability, Statistics, and
Applications: Abiva Publishing House, Inc. page 20 Letter C nos. 1 - 3
Answer the following in your activity sheet:
Page 20 Letter C

1. Identify whether the given random variable is discrete or continuous. (5 points)

a. Number of clients of an insurance agent per month
b. Waiting time in an automated teller machine (ATM)
c. Weight of a newborn baby
d. Number of students from among 200 nursing students who will join a medical
mission
e. Number of correct answers in a 20-item multiple-choice quiz

2. Consider a couple planning to have three children. (12 points)

a. Use a tree diagram to list all the possible outcomes of the genders of the three
children. (2 pts.)
b. Let X be the number of boys. Determine the possible values of X. (2 pts.)
c. Find the probability mass function of X in tabular form. (2 pts.)
d. Find the probability that there will be no girls. (3 pts.)
e. Find the probability that there will be at least 1 boy. (3 pts.)
Answer the following in your activity sheet:
Page 20 Letter C

3. A random sample of 50 grade 11 students is evaluated for their absences. The

recorded data showed that in a certain 1-week period, 20 had no absences, 18 had 1
absence, 6 had 2 absences, 4 had 3 absences, and 2 had 4 absences. (13 points)
a. Let X be the number of absences. What are the possible values of X? (2 pts.)
b. Construct a probability mass function for X. (2 pts.)
c. Find the probability that a randomly chosen student had more than 1 absence.
(3 pts.)
d. Find the probability that a randomly chosen student had at most 2 absences.
(3 pts.)
e. Find the probability that a randomly student had at least 2 absences. (3 pts.)
Thank you for listening!
Laus Deo Semper! ☺