Lesson Two CONSTRUCTING PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
 Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its properties;
 Compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable; and
 Construct the probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its corresponding histogram.

Starting Point
ENTRY CARD
A. Find the probability of the following events.
Event (E) Probability P(E)
1. Getting an even number in a single roll of a die
2. Getting a sum of 6 when two dice are rolled
3. Getting an ace when a card is drawn from a deck
4. The probability that all 3 land on heads when 3 coins are
tossed at the same time
5. Getting a sum of 18 when 3 dice are rolled
6. Getting a sum of 11 when two dice are rolled
7. Getting a black card when a card is drawn from a deck
8. Getting a red queen when a card is drawn from a deck
9. Getting doubles when two dice are rolled
10. Getting a red ball from a box containing 3 red and 6 black
balls
B. For the given values of x, evaluate P(x).
x 4x 2 x−3
P( x )= x+5 P( x )= x+5
0
1
3
5
6
Solutions here….

Getting Ready
Why is decision-making an important aspect in real-life situations? ___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________.

In-class Activity 1 Number of Tails

Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number of tails that occur. Find
the probability of each of the values of the random variable Y.
Solution:
Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample space. Let H represent head The sample space for this experiment is:
and T represent tail.
S= {____, _____, _____, _____, ______, _____, _____,
_____}
2. Count the number of tails in each outcome in the Possible Outcomes Value of the Random
sample space and assign this number to this Variable Y
 outcome. (number of tails)

3. There are four possible values of the random Number of Tails Y Probability P(Y)
variable Y representing the number of tails. These
are __, __, __, and __. Assign probability values
P(Y) to each value of the random variable.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and no tail
occurs once, so the probability that we
shall assign to the random variable 0 is
____.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and 1 tail
occurs three times, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 1 is
____.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and 2 tails
occur three times, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 2 is
____.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and 3 tails
occurs once, so the probability that we
shall assign to the random variable 3 is
____.

Table 1.1. The Probability Distribution or the Probability Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable Y
Number of Tails Y 0 1 2 3
Probability P(Y)

A discrete probability distribution or a probability mass function consists of the values a random variable can
assume and the corresponding probabilities of the values.

In-class Activity 2 Number of Blue Balls

Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an urn containing 5 red balls and 6 blue balls. Let Z
be the random variable representing the number of blue balls. Construct the probability distribution of the random
variable Z.
Solution:

Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample space. Let B represents the The sample space for this experiment is:
blue ball and R represents the red ball.
S= {____, _____, _____, _____}
2. Count the number of blue balls in each outcome in Possible Outcomes Value of the Random
the sample space and assign this number to this Variable Z
outcome. (number of blue balls)

3. There are three possible values of the random Number of Blue Balls Z Probability P(Z)
variable Z representing the number of blue balls.
 These are __, __, and__. Assign probability values
P(Z) to each value of the random variable.
 There are 4 possible outcomes and no blue
ball occurs once, so the probability that we
shall assign to the random variable 0 is
____.
 There are 4 possible outcomes and 1 blue
ball occurs two times, so the probability
that we shall assign to the random variable
1 is ____.
 There are 4 possible outcomes and 2 blue
balls occur once, so the probability that we
shall assign to the random variable 2 is
____.

Table 1.2. The Probability Distribution or the Probability Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable Z
Number of Blue Balls (Z) 0 1 2 3
Probability P(Z)

Can you make a histogram for this probability distribution? Remember that a histogram is a bar graph. To construct a
histogram for a probability distribution, follow these steps.
 Plot the values of the random variable along the horizontal axis.
 Plot the probabilities along the vertical axis.

In-class Activity 3 Number of Defective Cell Phones

Suppose three cell phones are tested at random. Let D represent the defective cell phone and let N represent
the non-defective cell phone. If we let X be the random variable for the number of defective cell phones, construct the
probability distribution of the random variable X.
Solution:
Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample space. Let D represent the The sample space for this experiment is:
defective cell phone and N represent the non-
S= {____, _____, _____, _____, ______, _____, _____,
defective cell phone.
_____}
2. Count the number of defective cell phones in each Possible Outcomes Value of the Random
outcome in the sample space and assign this Variable Y
number to this outcome. (number of tails)

3. There are four possible values of the random Number of Defective Cell Probability P(X)
variable X representing the number of defective Phones X
cell phones. These are __, __, __, and __. Assign
probability values P(X) to each value of the
random variable.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and no
defective cell phone occurs once, so the
 probability that we shall assign to the
random variable 0 is ____.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and 1
defective cell phone occurs three times, so
the probability that we shall assign to the
random variable 1 is ____.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and 2
defective cell phones occur three times, so
the probability that we shall assign to the
random variable 2 is ____.
 There are 8 possible outcomes and 3
defective cell phones occur once, so the
probability that we shall assign to the
random variable 3 is ____.

Table 1.3. The Probability Distribution or the Probability Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable X
Number of Defective 0 1 2 3
Cell phones X

Probability P(X)
Make a Histogram for the Probability Distribution of the Discrete Random Variable X.

Mathematical Journal

 In the preceding probability distributions, what do you notice about the probability of each value of the
random variable? Write your conclusion regarding this matter. _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

 In each of the preceding probability distributions, get the sum of the probabilities of all values of the
random variable. What sum did you get? Write your conclusion regarding this matter. ____________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

 How do you make the histogram for a probability distribution? Give the steps in constructing the
histogram for a probability distribution.
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Worksheet # 2
A. Determine whether the distribution represents a probability distribution. Explain your answer.
1. X 1 5 8 7 9
P(X) 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3
 2. X 0 2 4 6 8
P(X) 1/6 1/6 1/3 1/6 1/6

3. X 1 2 3 5
P(X) 1/4 1/8 1/4 1/8

4. X 4 8 12 15 17
P(X) 1/5 1/8 1/8 1/5 1/8

5. X 1 3 5 7
P(X) 0.35 0.25 0.22 0.12

B. Construct the probability distribution for the random variables described in each of the following situations.
Draw the corresponding histogram for each probability distribution.
1. Four coins are tossed. Let Z be the random variable representing the number of heads that occur. Find the
values of the random variable Z.

Possible Outcomes
Value of the Random
Variable Z

The Probability Distribution of Discrete Random Variable Z Histogram:

Number of Heads Z
Probability P(Z)

2. A shipment of five computers contains two that are slightly defective. If a retailer receives three of these
computers at random, list the elements of the sample space S using the letters D and N for defective and non-
defective computer, respectively. To each sample point assign a value x of the random variable X representing
the number of computers purchased by the retailer which are slightly defective.

Possible Outcomes
Value of the Random
Variable X

The Probability Distribution of Discrete Random Variable X Histogram:

Number of Defective
Computers X
Probability P(X)

C. Determine whether the given values can serve as the values of a probability distribution of the random variable
X that can take on only the values 1, 2, and 3. Explain your answer.
1. P(1) = 0.08, P(2) = 0.12, P(3) = 1.03
10 1 12
2. P(1) = 33 , P(2) = 3 , P(3) = 33
3. P(1) = 0.42, P(2)= 0.31, P(3)= 0.37
9 4 1
4. P(1) =14 , P(2) = 14 , P(3) = 14
5. P(1) =0, P(2)= 0.71, P(3) = 0.39
D. Determine whether the given values can serve as the values of a probability distribution of the random variable
X that can take on only the values 1, 2, 3, and 4. Explain your answer.
1 10 5 5
1. P(1) =19 , P(2) =19 , P(3) =19 , P(4) = 19
2. P(1) =0.25, P(2)= 0.75, P(3)=0.25, P(4)= -0.25
3. P(1) =0.15, P(2)= 0.27, P(3)=0.29, P(4)= 0.29
4. P(1) =0, P(2)= 0.45, P(3)=0.25, P(4)= 0.35
1 3 3 1
5. P(1) = 8 , P(2) = 8 , P(3) = 8 , P(4) = 8
E. For each of the following, determine whether it can serve as the probability distribution of a random variable X.
explain your answer.
1
1. P(X) = 8 for x = 1, 2, 3, …, 8
1
2. P(X) = 6 for x = 1, 2, 3, …, 9
3+ x
3. P(X) = 3−x for x = 1, 2, 3, 4
12
4. P(X) = 25 x for x = 1, 2, 3, 4
x−2
5. P(X) = 5 for x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
F. Construct a probability distribution for the data and draw a histogram of the distribution.
1. The probabilities that a surgeon operates on 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 patients in any one day are 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.20, and
0.20, respectively.
2. The probabilities that a customer buys 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 items in a convenience store are 0.32, 0.12, 0.23, 0.18, and
0.15, respectively.
3. The probabilities that a student will borrow 1, 2, 3, or 4 books are 0.45, 0.30, 0.15, and 0.10, respectively.
4. The probabilities that a bias die will fall as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 are ½, 1/6, 1/12, 1/12, 1/12, and 1/12, respectively.
5. The probabilities that a depositor will invest ₱100,000, ₱250,000, or ₱180,000 are ¼, ¼, and ¼, respectively.