Discrete random variables and ii) zero to two

probability distribution iii) more than one

iv) at most one
❖ Random variable is a variable whose value is Solution
determined by the outcome of a random experiment.
(i) P (exactly 2 breakdowns) = P (x = 2) = .35
❖ Discrete random variable A random variable (ii) P (0 to 2 breakdowns) = P (0 < x < 2)
that assumes countable values is called a discrete random
= P (x = 0) + P (x = 1) + P (x = 2) = 0.15
variable. + 0.20 +0.35 = .70
(iii) P (more than 1 breakdown) = P (x > 1)
Examples of discrete random variables are: = P (x = 2) + P (x = 3) = 0.35 + 0.30 = 0.65
1. The number of cars sold at a dealership during a (iv) P (at most 1 breakdown) = P (x < 1)
given month = P (x = 0) + P (x = 1) = 0.15 + 0.20 = 0.35
2. The number of people coming to a theater on a
certain day ❖ Mean of a discrete random variable
3. The number of shoe pairs a person owns The mean of a discrete random variable x is the value that
4. The number of complaints received at the office of an is expected to occur per repetition, on average, if an
airline on a given day experiment is repeated a large number of times. It is
5. The number of customers visiting a bank during any
denoted by µ and calculated as x̄ = ∑ x P(x), The
given hour
mean of a discrete random variable x is also called
6. The number of heads obtained in three tosses of a
coin expected value and denoted by E(x), E(x) = ∑x P(x).

❖ Continuous random variables A random EXAMPLE 2 In this table, x represents the number of
variable that can assume any value contained in one or breakdowns for a machine during a given week and P(x) is the
more intervals. probability of the corresponding value of x.
Because the number of values contained in any interval is x P (x)
infinite, the possible number of values that a continuous 0 .15
random variable can assume is also infinite. 1 .20
2 .35
Examples of continuous random variables: 3 .30
1. The height of a person
2. The time taken to complete an examination Find the mean no. of breakdowns per week for this machine.
3. The amount of milk in a gallon (note that we do not Solution
expect a gallon to contain exactly-one gallon of milk x P(x) x P(x)
but either slightly more or slightly less than a gallon)
4. The weight of a baby
0 .15 0 (0.15) = 0
5. The price of a house 1 .20 1 (0.20) = 0.20
2 .35 2 (0.35) = 0.70
❖ Probability distribution of a discrete random variable 3 .30 3 (0.30) = 0.90
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable Total ∑ x P(x) = 1.80
lists all the possible values that the random variable can The mean is x̄ = ∑ x P(x) = 1.80
assume and their corresponding probabilities.

• Two characteristics of its Probability distribution ❖ Standard deviation of a discrete random variable
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable The standard deviation of a discrete random variable
possesses the following two conditions: x measures the spread of its probability distribution
1. 0 < P(x) < 1 for each value of x and is computed as:
2. ∑P(x) = 1
𝑠 = √Σ 𝑋 2 𝑃(𝑥) − (𝑥̄)2
EXAMPLE 1 The following table lists the probability • A higher value for the standard deviation of a
distribution of the number of breakdowns per week for a discrete random variable indicates that x can assume
machine based on past data. values over a larger range about the mean.
Breakdowns per week 0 1 2 3 • Note that the variance S2 of a discrete random
Probability .15 .20 .35 .30 variable is obtained by squaring its standard
deviation.
Find the probability that the number of breakdowns for • As it is obtained by taking the positive square root,
this machine during a given week is its value is never negative.
i) exactly two
EXAMPLE 3 Electronics manufactures computer parts EXAMPLE 4 In response to the question "Where do you
that are supplied to many computer companies. Despite shop most often?" as part of a survey conducted by Self
the fact that two quality control inspectors at Electronics magazine, 20% of the respondents said at discount
check every part for defects before it is shipped to stores. Assume that this result is true for the population
another company, a few defective parts do pass through of all shoppers.
these inspections undetected. Let x denote the number of A random sample of six shoppers is selected answer the
defective computer parts in a shipment of 400. The following:
following table gives the probability distribution of x. (a) Find the probability that, exactly three persons in this
sample shop at discount stores most often.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5 (b) Find the probability that at most two persons in this sample
P (x) .02 .20 .30 .30 .10 .08 shop at discount stores most often.
Solution (c) Find the probability that at least three persons in this
sample shop at discount stores most often.
x P(x) X.P(X) X2 X2 P(X) (d) Find the probability that one to three persons in this sample
shop at discount stores most often.
0 .02 .00 0 .00
1 .20 .20 1 .20
Solution
2 .30 .60 4 1.20 n = 6, x = 3, p = P = .20
3 .30 .90 9 2.70
4 .10 .40 16 1.60 (a) P (x = 3) = (𝟔𝟑)(.2) 3 (.8) 3 = 0.0819
5 .08 .40 25 2.00
∑ X P(X) = 2.50 ∑ X2 P(X) = 7.70 (b) P (at most 2) = P (0 or 1 or 2) = (x ≤ 2) = P (x = 0) +
P (x = 1) + P (x = 2) = (60)(0.2)0(.8)6 + (61)(.2)1(.8) 5
𝑆 = √∑𝑥 2 𝑃(𝑥) − (𝑥̄ )2 = √7.70 − (2.50)2 = √1.45
+ (62)(.2)2(.8) 4 = .9011
= 1.20 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠
A given shipment of 400 computer parts is expected to (c) P (at least 3) = P (3 or 4 or 5 or 6) = P (x = 3) +
contain an average of 2.50 defective parts with a P (x = 4) + P (x = 5) +P (x = 6) = .0989
standard deviation of 1.20.
(d) P (1 to 3) = P (x = 1) + P (x = 2) + P (x = 3) = .3932
❖ Binomial probability distribution + .2458 + .0819 = .7209
The variable must be a discrete random variable and
each repetition of the experiment must result in one ❖ Mean and standard deviation of Binomial
of two possible outcomes. probability
x̄ = np .. s = √npq where: n = the total
• Conditions of binomial experiment
1. There are n identical trials. number of trials, p = the probability of success,
2. Each trial has only two possible outcomes. and q is the probability of failure.
3. The probabilities of the two outcomes
remain constant.
4. The trials are independent. EXAMPLE 5 In a Time/CNN poll conducted 58% of
adult Americans said that human cloning is morally
• Binomial formula wrong. Assume that this result holds true for the current
For a binomial experiment, the probability of population of adult Americans. A sample of 25 adult
exactly x successes in n trials is given by the Americans is selected. Let x denote the number of adults
binomial formula: in this sample who hold this view. Find the mean and
𝑛 standard deviation of the probability distribution of x.
𝑃(𝑥) = ( ) 𝑃 𝑥 𝑞𝑛−𝑥
𝑥 Solution
Where: n = total number of trials, p = probability of
success, q = 1 p = probability of failure, x = n = 25, p = .58, and q = .42
number of successes in n trials, and n – x = number
of failures in n trials. x = np = 25 (.58) = 14.50
s = √𝒏𝒑𝒒 = √(𝟐𝟓) (. 𝟓𝟖) (. 𝟒𝟐) = 2.47
❖ Poisson probability distribution
The Poisson probability distribution is applied to
experiments with random and independent
occurrences. Each breakdown is called an
occurrence in Poisson probability distribution
terminology.

• Conditions of Poisson probability distribution

1. x is a discrete random variable.
2. The occurrences are random.
3. The occurrences are independent

• Poisson formula
According to the Poisson probability
distribution, the probability of x occurrences in
𝜆𝑥 𝑒 −𝜆
an interval is P (x) = , Where 𝜆 is the
𝑥!
mean number of occurrences in that interval and
e is approximately 2.71828.

EXAMPLE 6 According to American Demographic, 18-

to 24-year-olds make an average of 6.9 visits per month
to shopping malls. Assuming that this mean holds true
for the current population of all persons aged 18 to 24
and that the conditions of the Poisson probability
distribution are satisfied, find the probability that a
randomly selected 18- to 24-year-old made exactly 5
visits during a month to shopping malls.
Solution
𝜆𝑥 𝑒 −𝜆 (6.9)5 𝑒 −6.9
P (x =5) = 𝑥!
= 5!
= 0.1314

• Remember: One important point to remember about

the Poisson probability distribution is that the
intervals for 𝜆 and x must be equal. If they are not,
the mean 𝜆 should be redefined to make them equal.

❖ Mean and Standard deviation of Poisson

probability Distribution
x̄ = λ , S2 = λ , s = √λ