Scribd
Upload
596 views30 pages

Random Variables and Probability Distributions

1) A random variable is a variable that can take on a set of possible values with probabilities assigned to each value. Random variables can be discrete or continuous. 2) Probability distributions assign probabilities to each possible value of a random variable. They must satisfy properties such as all probabilities being between 0 and 1 and the total probability summing to 1. 3) Key metrics of a probability distribution include the mean, variance and standard deviation, which can be computed using the probabilities and values.

Uploaded by

Joy Dizon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
596 views30 pages

Random Variables and Probability Distributions

1) A random variable is a variable that can take on a set of possible values with probabilities assigned to each value. Random variables can be discrete or continuous. 2) Probability distributions assign probabilities to each possible value of a random variable. They must satisfy properties such as all probabilities being between 0 and 1 and the total probability summing to 1. 3) Key metrics of a probability distribution include the mean, variance and standard deviation, which can be computed using the probabilities and values.

Uploaded by

Joy Dizon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 30

Random

Variables and
Probability
Distributions
Random Variable
• A random variable x takes on a defined set of
values with different probabilities.
• For example, if you roll a die, the outcome is random
(not fixed) and there are 6 possible outcomes, each of
which occur with probability one-sixth.

• Roughly, probability is how frequently we


expect different outcomes to occur if we
repeat the experiment over and over
(“frequentist” view)
Random variables can be
discrete or continuous
 Discrete random variables have a countable
number of outcomes
 Examples: Dead/alive, treatment, dice, counts, etc.
 Continuous random variables have an infinite
continuum of possible values.
 Examples: blood pressure, weight, the speed of a
car, the real numbers from 1 to 6.
Finding the value of a random
variable
Suppose three coins are tossed. Let
Y be the random variable
representing the number of tails
that occur. Find the values of the
random variable Y. Complete the
table below.
Sample space:
{TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT, HTH, THH, HHH}
Possible Value of the Random Variable Y
Outcomes (number of tails)
TTT 3
TTH 2
THT 2
HTT 2
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
HHH 0
Finding the value of a random
variable
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. Complete the table below.
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Z (number OF Heads
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Z (number OF Heads)

TTTT 0
TTTH 1
TTHT 1
TTHH 2
THTT 1
THTH 2
THHT 2
THHH 3
HTTT 1
HTTH 2
HTHT 2
HTHH 3
HHTT 2
HHTH 3
HHHT 3
HHHH 4
CONSTRUCTING
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
Find the probability of the following events.
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 children are boys if a

couple has three children


Find the probability of the following events.
5. Getting an odd number and a tail when
a die is rolled and a coin is tossed
simultaneously
6. getting a sum of 11 when two dice are
rolled
7. getting a black card and a 10 when a
card is drawn from a deck
Find the probability of the following events.
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
Constructing Probability Distributions

Exercises:
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.
Sample space:
{TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT, HTH, THH, HHH}
Possible Value of the Random Variable Y
Outcomes (number of tails)
TTT 3
TTH 2
THT 2
HTT 2
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
HHH 0
Number of Probability
Tails P(Y)
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8
Constructing Probability Distributions

Exercises:
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.
Sample space:
{RR, RB, BR, BB}
Possible Value of the Random Variable Z
Outcomes (number of blue balls)
RR 0
RB 1
BR 1
BB 2
Number of Probability
Blue Balls Z P(Z)
0 ¼
1 ½
2 1/4
TOTAL 1
Constructing Probability Distributions
Exercises:
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.
Sample space:
{TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT, HTH, THH, HHH}
Possible Value of the Random Variable Y
Outcomes (number of tails)
TTT 3
TTH 2
THT 2
HTT 2
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
HHH 0
Number of Probability
Tails P(Y)
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8
Properties of a Probability
Distribution
1. The probability of each value of the
random variable must be between
or equal to 0 and 1. in symbols, we
write it as 0< P(x) < 1.
2. The sum of the probabilities of all
values of the random variable must
be equal to 1. in symbol, we write it
as P(X) = 1.
Computing the Mean of a
Discrete Probability Distribution
 The probabilities that the number
of tails that occur in tossing three
coins are 1/8, 3/8, 3/8, and 1/8
respectively. What is the average
that a tail will occur?
Number Probabili
of Tails ty Y  P(Y)
Y P(Y)
0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
3 1/8 3/8
YP(Y)= 12/8=1.5
Computing the Mean of a
Discrete Probability Distribution
 The probabilities that a costumer
will buy 1, 2 , 3, 4, or 5 items in a
grocery store are 3/10, 1/10, 1/10,
2/10, and 3/10, respectively. What
is the average number of items
that a costumer will buy?
Number of Probabilit
Items y X  P(X)
X P(X)
1 3/10
2 1/10
3 1/10
4 2/10
5 3/10
XP(X)=
Computing the Variance of a
Discrete Probability Distribution
 When three coins are tossed, the
probability distribution for the
random variable Y representing the
number of tails that occur is given
below. Compute the variance and
standard deviation of the
probability distribution.
Number Probabili
of Tails ty Y  P(Y)
Y P(Y)
0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
3 1/8 3/8
YP(Y)= 12/8=1.5
Numb Proba
Y2 
er of bility Y
Y2 P(Y)
Tails P(Y) P(Y)
Y

0 1/8 0 02 =0 0
1 3/8 3/8 1 = 1 3/8
2

2 3/8 6/8 22 = 4 12/8

3 1/8 3/8 32 = 9 9/8


The variance is
2 = Y2  P(Y) - 2
= 3 – (1.5)2
= 0.75

The standard deviation is


 0.75 = 0.87

You might also like