KIDAPAWAN CITY DIVISION

KIDAPAWAN CITY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

SIMPLIFIED SELF-LEARNING MODULE IN STATISTICS & PROBABILITY

Random Variables & Probability Distribution
Quarter 3 Module 1

Name: ___________________________________________ Grade and Section: __________________

School: __________________________________________ LRN: _____________________________
Subject Teacher: __________________________________

I. OBJECTIVES
1. Illustrate a random variable (discrete and continuous). M11/12SP-IIIa-1
2. Distinguish between a discrete and a continuous random variable. M11/12SP-IIIa-2
3. Find possible values of a random variable. M11/12SP-IIIa-3
4. Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its properties. M11/12SP-IIIa-4
5. Construct the probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its corresponding histogram.
M11/12SP-IIIa-5
6. Compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable. M11/12SP-IIIa-6

II. SUBJECT MATTER/ TOPIC AND CURRICULUM GUIDE

a. Content Standard: Random Variables and Probability Distribution
b. Performance Standard: Understanding of key concepts of random variables and probability distributions.
c. References: Curriculum Guide, Statistics & Probability Q3 M1 by ADM, DepEd

III. PROCEDURE
The Concept of Random Variable

How to determine/ distinguish a random variable? A discrete random variable? A continuous

random variable? A random variable is a variable whose possible values are determined by chance. A
discrete random variable can only take a finite (countable) number of distinct values. A continuous random
variable can assume an infinite number of values in an interval between two specific values.
A random variable is a variable whose value is unknown or a function that assigns values to each
of an experiment's outcomes. Random variables are often designated by capital letters and can be classified
as discrete, which are variables that have specific values, or continuous, which are variables that can have
any values within a continuous range.

Discrete Random Variable VS Continuous Random Variable

Discrete Random Variable Continuous Random Variable

Its values are obtained through counting. Its values are obtained through measurement.
Examples: Examples:
Number of tiles needed to cover a floor. Growth of tomato seedlings per week.
Number of honor students in a class. Time needed to finish the exam.
The sample space is finite (can be counted) There are infinite elements in the sample space
because each sample has a space between them. wherein each sample are so closely packed.

Activity 1. Determine whether the random variable X or Y is discrete or continuous.

1. X = number of points scored in the last season of selected basketball player in UAAP.
2. Y = the height of a randomly selected SHS students in centimeter.
3. X = the weights in kg of randomly selected dancers.
4. X = number of Filipinos tested positive in omicron variant of COVID-19.
5. Y = number of students randomly selected to be interviewed by a researcher.
6. X = sum of burgers sold per day.
7. X = total area of a rice field.

A random variable may also be used to quantify unquantifiable processes. For example, in the
random variable Y = sex of college student applicants.

Possible outcomes: male or female

Characteristic: categorical (non-numeric)

It would be very difficult to perform mathematical operations on such kinds of data so we have to find
a way to convert these data into numbers. We could assign the value 0 for male and 1 for female. The values
“0 and 1” are just models/examples. You may use other values like 10, 500, and even 2,020. Still, the values
0 and 1 are most commonly used in statistics
SSLM Writers:
Lavin S. Blanco, Jennylee V. Pun-an, Jeasza May Claire J. Porras, Morena C. Ortega,
Nixon B. Barrete, Nicanor D. Butal, Edmund H. Hernandez, Kristine B. Enghog
General Mathematics
Grade-11
Page 1 of 5
 Probability Distribution of Discrete Random Variable

The purpose of using random variable is so that we could measure observations and process
data to make a conclusion about the population. Below are some random variables with their
corresponding possible values.
Random Variable Description Set of Possible Values
X Marital status of teachers single, married, widow, …
Y Number of dots after rolling a die 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Z Household pet being raised dog, cat, rabbit, snake, …

As a statistician, you must be able to identify the set of possible values of your random variable
even before conducting your survey.

Example 1. A coin is tossed twice. Let the variable X represents the number of heads that result from this
experiment.

1st toss 2nd toss Possible Outcome Number of Heads (X)

H HH 2
H
T HT 1
H TH 1
T
T TT 0

Therefore, the value of the variable X can be 0, 1, or 2.

The discrete probability distribution of the random variable X is shown below:

X 0 1 2
P(X) 1/4 1/2 1/4
P(x) corresponding to the value of random variable (x) represents the probability.

Probability Histogram of a discrete random Variable X

0.75
A histogram is like a bar
0.5 graph but has no spaces in
between the bars. The
P(x)

heights of the bars

0.25 represent the probabilities
of the value of the random
variables.
0
0 1 2
X
The heights of the connected bars represent the probability of the value of random variable X.

Properties of Probability Distribution

a. The probability of each value of a discrete random variable is between 0 and 1 inclusive.
0 ≤ P(x) ≤ 1
b. The sum of all the probabilities is 1.
∑P(x) = 1

Example 2.
Is the given table below considered a discrete probability distribution? Illustrate.
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.05 0.32 0.2 0.35 0.05
Solution:
(a) Note that the probability of each value of discrete random variable is between 0 and 1.
That is, 0 ≤ P(x) ≤ 1.
(b) The sum of all probabilities is not equal to 1. That is,
∑P(x) = P(0) + P(1) + P(2) + P(3) + P(4)
= 0.05 + 0.32 + 0.2 + 0.35 + 0.05
= 0.97
Since the 2nd property was not established, the table above is not considered a dpd (discrete
probability distribution).
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Example 3.
Suppose three cell phones are tested at random. Let D represent the defective cell phones and let N
represent non-defective cell phones. Let X be the random variable for the number of defective cell phones.

1. List all possible outcomes.

2. Find the possible values of random variable X (number of defective cell phones).
3. Construct a probability distribution table and histogram for the random variable X.
Solution:
1.
Possible outcome Value of Random Variable (X)
DDD 3
DDN 2
DND 2
DNN 1
NDD 2
NDN 1
NND 1
NNN 0
Sample space = {DDD, DDN, DND, DNN, NDD, NDN, NND, NNN}

2. Possible value of random variable X = 0, 1, 2, 3

3. The probability Distribution of the Random Variable X representing the Number of Defective Cell
Phones
X (Number of defective cell phones) 0 1 2 3
P(X) probability 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
Note: There are 8 possible outcomes and only 1 of them had no defect at all. So, the probability is 1/8. Similarly,
for 1 defective cell phone, there are 3 possible outcomes out of 8. Thus, the probability of having 1
defective cellphone is 3/8.

The Probability Histogram of the Random Variable X

Remember This!
The sum of all probabilities in a
2/8 discrete probability distribution
should always be equal to 1, no
more no less. Otherwise, the
distribution becomes invalid or
incorrect!

X
Activity 2.
Suppose that four coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number of heads that
occur. (a) List all the possible outcomes. (b) find the possible value of the random variable Y. (c) Construct a
discrete probability distribution.

Activity 3. Answer the following:

A. Find the unknown by applying the properties of a discrete random variable.

1. A random variable X has the following probability distribution. Find x3.

X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.06 0.23 x3 0.35 0.05

B. 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. What is the probability that
1 0.14 three or more copies will be
2 0.16 demanded in a particular
day?
3 0.14 2. What is the probability that
4 0.12 the demand will be at least
5 0.10 two but not more than six?
6 0.08 3. Find P(X > 7)
7 0.07 4. Find P( X ≤ 4)
8 0.06
9 0.04
10 0.03
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IV. ASSESSMENT

Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

For items 1 – 5, write C if the given random variable is continuous and write D if it is a discrete random variable.

_____ 1. Number of deaths due to AIDS.

_____ 2. Distance between two lovers.

_____ 3. Length of a cellphone charger.

_____ 4. Count of words encoded per minute.

_____ 5. Temperature needed to melt a metal.

_____ 6. If two dice are rolled, which of the following is not a possible outcome of the random variable X: sum of the
dots facing up?
A. 2 B. 5 C. 10 D. 13

_____ 7. If two dice are rolled, how many possible outcomes there will be in an experiment?
A. 6 B. 12 C. 36 D. 64

_____ 8. What is the probability of getting a heart in a standard deck of playing cards?
A. 1/13 B. ¼ C. 13/ 60 D. ½

_____ 9. Find the correct value of x to make the table a valid discrete probability distribution.
X 2 3 4 7 8
P(X) 0.11 0.15 0.35 x 0.24
A. 0.15 B. 0.17 C. 0.24 D. 0.35

_____ 10. If four coins are tossed, how many possible outcomes there will be?
A. 8 B. 12 C. 16 D. 36

_____ 11. In item #10, what is the probability of getting 4 Heads?

A. 1/16 B. 1/12 C. 1/8 D. ¼

_____ 12. In item #10, what is the probability of getting 3 Heads?

A. 1/8 B. ¼ C. 3/16 D. 3/8

For items 13 – 15, refer to the given probability distribution table below on the number of televisions per household in
Kidapawan City.
Television (X) 0 1 2 3 4 or more
Probability P(X) 0.1 0.27 0.35 0.23 0.05

_____ 13. What is the probability that a household has 1 television?

A. 0.1 B. 0.23 C. 0.27 D. 0.35

_____ 14. What is the probability that a household has less than 2 televisions?
A. 0.35 B. 0.37 C. 0.62 D. 0.72

_____ 15. What is the probability that a household has at least 3 televisions?
A. 0.23 B. 0.28 C. 0.63 D. 0.95

V. ENRICHMENT

A. Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number of tails that occur.
List the possible outcomes; determine the sample space and possible values of random variable Y. Complete
the table below.
1. Complete the table
Possible Outcomes Value of the random variable Y (number of tails)

2. Write the sample space:

3. Determine the possible values of random variable Y:
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B. The spinner below is divided into eight sections. Let X be the score where the arrow will stop (numbered as
1, 2, 3, 4, in the drawing below).

1 2
1 4

4 4

2 3

1. Find the probability that the arrow will stop at 1, 2, 3, and 4.

2. Construct the discrete probability distribution table of the random variable X.
3. Is the distribution a discrete probability distribution? Why? Why not?
4. Construct a probability histogram of the random variable X.

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