Week 4 – Lesson 3

Variance of a
Discrete Random
Variable
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly calculate the variance of a discrete

random variable;

● correctly interpret the variance of a discrete

random variable; and

● accurately apply the concept of variance of a

discrete random variable in real-life situations.
 Learn about It!

1 Variance (𝝈𝟐 ) and Standard Deviation (𝝈) of a

Discrete Random Variable
describes the dispersion or the variability of the distribution

The variance can be computed using the formula

𝝈𝟐 = 𝚺 𝑿𝟐 ⋅ 𝑷 𝑿 − 𝝁𝟐
or
𝑽𝒂𝒓 𝑿 = 𝑬 𝑿𝟐 − 𝝁𝟐
The standard deviation is the square root of the variance.
Thus, its formula is expressed as 𝝈 = 𝚺 𝑿𝟐 ⋅ 𝑷 𝑿 − 𝝁𝟐 .
Learn about It!

Properties of the Variance

2 Let 𝑋 and 𝑌 be random variables, and let 𝑎 and 𝑏 be
constants. The following properties hold:

1. 𝑉𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏 = 𝑎2 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋)

2. 𝑉𝑎𝑟 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 𝑉𝑎𝑟 𝑋 + 𝑉𝑎𝑟 𝑌 = 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋 − 𝑌),

provided that 𝑋 and 𝑌 are independent of each other.
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the variance and the standard deviation of

the discrete random variable 𝑋 with the following probability
distribution.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
1 0.15
2 0.25
3 0.30
4 0.15
5 0.10
6 0.05
 Try It!

Solution:
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
1 0.15 0.15
2 0.25 0.50
3 0.30 0.90
4 0.15 0.60
5 0.10 0.50
6 0.05 0.30
𝜇 2.95
 Try It!

Solution:
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
1 0.15 0.15 1 0.15
2 0.25 0.50 4 1
3 0.30 0.90 9 2.7
4 0.15 0.60 16 2.4
5 0.10 0.50 25 2.5
6 0.05 0.30 36 1.8
𝜇 2.95 Total 10.55
 Try It!

Solution:
Solve for the variance: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
𝝈𝟐 = 𝚺 𝑿𝟐 ⋅ 𝑷 𝑿 − 𝝁𝟐 1 0.15 0.15 1 0.15
2 0.25 0.50 4 1
3 0.30 0.90 9 2.7
4 0.15 0.60 16 2.4
Solve for the SD: 5 0.10 0.50 25 2.5
𝝈 = 𝚺 𝑿𝟐 ⋅ 𝑷 𝑿 − 𝝁𝟐 6 0.05 0.30 36 1.8
𝜇 2.95 Total 10.55
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the variance and the standard deviation of

the discrete random variable 𝑋 with the following probability
distribution.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
3 1
8
2 3
8
1 3
8
0 1
8
 Try It!

Solution:
1. Compute for the mean 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
of the probability 3 1 3

distribution. 8
3
8
6
2
8 8
3 3
1
8 8
1
0 0
8
TOTAL 𝟏. 𝟓

Thus, the mean of the probability distribution is 𝝁 = 𝟏. 𝟓.

 Try It!

2. Construct the column for 𝑋 2 and 𝑋 2 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋).

Determine the values by squaring the value of the random

variable and multiplying it to its corresponding probability
value 𝑃(𝑋). 𝟐 𝟐
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
1 9
3 9
8 8
3 12
2 4
8 8
3 3
1 1
8 8
1
0 0 0
8
TOTAL 𝟐𝟒
=𝟑
𝟖
 Try It!

Solution:
3. Find the variance and the standard deviation using their
corresponding formula.
For the variance:

𝜎2 = 𝛴 𝑋2 ∙ 𝑃 𝑋 − 𝜇2
= 3 − 1.5 2
= 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓
 Try It!

Solution:
For the standard deviation:

𝜎 = 𝛴 𝑋2 ∙ 𝑃 𝑋 − 𝜇2
= 0.75
= 𝟎. 𝟖𝟕

Thus, the variance of the discrete random variable 𝑋 is

𝝈𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 while its standard deviation is 𝝈 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟕.
 Try It!

Example 3: Find the variance and standard deviation of the

probability distribution shown below.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
0 0.09
1 0.19
2 0.37
3 0.23
4 0.12
 Try It!

Solution:
1. Compute for the mean of 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
the probability distribution. 0 0.09 0
1 0.19 0.19
Thus, the mean of the
probability distribution is 2 0.37 0.74
𝝁 = 𝟐. 𝟏. 3 0.23 0.69
4 0.12 0.48
TOTAL 𝟐. 𝟏
 Try It!

2. Construct the column for 𝑋 2 and 𝑋 2 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋).

Determine the values by squaring the value of the random
variable and multiplying it to its corresponding probability
value.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
0 0.09 0 0
1 0.19 1 0.19
2 0.37 4 1.48
3 0.23 9 2.07
4 0.12 16 1.92
TOTAL 𝟓. 𝟔𝟔
 Try It!

Solution:
3. Find the variance and the standard deviation using their
corresponding formula.

For the variance:

𝜎 2 = Σ 𝑋 2 ⋅ 𝑃 𝑋 − 𝜇2
= 5.66 − 2.1 2
= 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓
 Try It!

For the standard deviation:

𝜎= Σ 𝑋2 ⋅ 𝑃 𝑋 − 𝜇2
= 1.25
= 𝟏. 𝟏𝟐

Thus, the variance of the discrete random variable 𝑋 is

𝝈𝟐 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓, and its standard deviation is 𝝈 = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟐.
 Let’s Practice!

Example 4: Given the probability distribution of a random

variable 𝑋 below, compute for the variance and standard
deviation.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)

1 1
5
1
2
10
2
3
5
3
4
10
 Let’s Practice!

SOLUTION: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

1 1 1
5 5
1 1
2
10 5
2 6
3
5 5
3 6
4
10 5
14
𝜇
5
 Let’s Practice!

SOLUTION: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

1 1 1 1
1
5 5 5
1 1 2
2 4
10 5 15
2 6 18
3 9
5 5 5
3 6 24
4 16
10 5 5
14 45
𝜇 Total or 9
5 5
 Let’s Practice!

SOLUTION: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

Solve for the variance:

𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 1 1 1 1
𝝈 =𝚺 𝑿 ⋅𝑷 𝑿 −𝝁 5 5
1
5
1 1 2
2 4
10 5 15
2 6 18
3 9
5 5 5
Solve for the SD: 3 6 24
4 16
𝝈 = 𝚺 𝑿𝟐 ⋅ 𝑷 𝑿 − 𝝁𝟐 10 5 5
14 45
𝜇 Total or 9
5 5