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Random Variables and Probability Distribution

This document discusses random variables and probability distributions. It begins by defining random variables and differentiating between discrete and continuous variables. It then discusses probability distributions for discrete random variables, including their properties and how to construct and interpret them. The document also covers how to calculate and interpret the mean and variance of discrete random variables, and provides examples of problems involving finding the mean and variance of probability distributions. It includes activities and exercises for participants to practice these concepts.

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John Kenneth H. Legaspi
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277 views

Random Variables and Probability Distribution

This document discusses random variables and probability distributions. It begins by defining random variables and differentiating between discrete and continuous variables. It then discusses probability distributions for discrete random variables, including their properties and how to construct and interpret them. The document also covers how to calculate and interpret the mean and variance of discrete random variables, and provides examples of problems involving finding the mean and variance of probability distributions. It includes activities and exercises for participants to practice these concepts.

Uploaded by

John Kenneth H. Legaspi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STATISTICS and

PROBABILITY

Random Variables and


Probability Distribution
Session Objectives :
1. illustrate random variables and find its possible
values
2. differentiate discrete and continuous variables
3. illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete
random variable and its properties
4. compute probabilities corresponding to a given
random variable
5. construct the probability mass function of a
discrete random variable and its corresponding
histogram
Session Objectives :
6. illustrate, calculate and interpret the mean
of a discrete random variable
7. solve problems involving mean of
probability distributions
8. illustrate, calculate and interpret the
variance of discrete random variable
9. solve problems involving variance of
probability distributions
Activity: “Ilista Mo, Titingnan Ko”
Directions: Participants will be divided into 5
groups. Each group will be given sheet of
papers and markers. Questions will be flashed
on the screen and participants will write their
answers on the piece of paper and will be
shown to the whole class in a period of time.
Correct answer will be rewarded with 1 point.
The group with the most number of correct
answers will be declared winner.
Directions: List down the sample space for
the given experiment
1. Tossing a die
Answer: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
2. Tossing 2 coins
Answer: {HH, HT, TT, TH}
3. Tossing a coin and a die
Answer: {1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H,1T, 2T, 3T,
4T, 5T, 6T}
4. Tossing three coins
Answer:{HHH, HHT, HTH, THH, TTT, TTH,
THT, HTT}
5. Drawing a jack from standard deck of cards
Answer:{J of heart, J of diamond, J of spade, J
of club}
6. Tossing a pair of dice
Answer:{(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (1,5), (1,6),…,
(6,6)} – 36 outcomes
7. Drawing a card from standard deck of cards
Answer:{}
8. Spinning a wheel
Answer:{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

9. Choosing a vowel from the alphabet


Answer:{a, e, i, o, u}
10. Getting a sum of 7 when a pair of dice is
tossed
Answer:{(1,6), (6,1), (2,5), (5,2), (3,4), (4,3)}
Random Variables
Random Variable

Discrete Continuous

Mean Variance

Standard
Deviation
A random variable is a variable whose
possible values are determined by chance. A
random variable is typically represented by
an uppercase letter, usually X, while its
corresponding lowercase letter, x, is used to
represent one of its values.
Example: A coin is tossed thrice. Let the
variable X represent the number of heads
that results from this experiment.
Number of Heads (X)

0
The value of the variable X can be 0, 1, 2, or 3. Then in this example, X is
a random variable.
A discrete random variable can only take a
finite (countable) number of distinct values.
Distinct values mean values that are exact and
can be represented by nonnegative whole
numbers.
A continuous random variable can assume an
infinite number of values in an interval between
two specific values. This means they can
assume values that can be represented not
only by nonnegative whole numbers but also by
fractions and decimals. These values are often
results of measurement.
Determine if the random variable X or Y is
discrete or continuous:
1. X = number of points scored in the last
season by a randomly selected
basketball player in the PBA Discrete

2. Y = the heights of a randomly selected


student inside the library in cm Continuous
3. X = number of birds in a nest Discrete
4. Y = the hourly temperature last Continuous
Sunday
Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variable
A listing of all possible values of a
discrete random variable along with their
corresponding probabilities is called a
discrete probability distribution (probability
mass function). The discrete probability
distribution can be presented in tabular,
graphical, or formula form.
Properties of Discrete Probability
Distribution
•  
Example 1: Determine whether each of the
following is a discrete probability distribution:
a. x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.10 0.20 0.25 0.40 0.05

Yes. The probability of each value of a discrete


random variable is between 0 and 1 and the sum
of all probabilities is 1.
b. x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.05 0.25 0.33 0.25 0.08

No. Although the probability of each value is


between 0 and 1, the sum of their probabilities is
not equal to 1.
•  
x 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.21 29c 0.29 0.21
Example 3: Suppose three coins are tossed.
Let X be the number of tails that occur. Find the
probability of each of the values of the random
variable X.
SS = {TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT, HTH, THH,
HHH}
P(0) = 1/8, P(1) = 3/8, P(2) = 3/8, P(3) = 1/8
The probability distribution or the probability
mass function of discrete variable X
x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
Example 4: The spinner below is divided into
12 sections. Let X be the score where the
arrow will stop (numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
a. Find the probability that the arrow will
stop at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
b. Construct the discrete probability
distribution of the random variable X and
its corresponding histogram.
a. P(1) = 1/12
P(2) = 2/12 = 1/6
P(3) = 3/12 = ¼
P(4) = 2/12 = 1/6
P(5) = 4/12 = 1/3
b. The discrete probability distribution is:
x 1 2 3 4 5

P(x) 1/12 1/6 1/4 1/6 1/3


Histogram:
P(x)

5/12

4/12

3/12

2/12

1/12
x
1 2 3 4 5 6
Exercises
Refer to the worksheets and answer
Exercises A - E.
Mean and Variance of a Discrete
Random Variable
The mean of a discrete random variable X is
also called the expected value of X. It is the
weighted average of all the values that the
random variable X would assume in the long run.
The discrete random variable X assumes values
or outcomes in every trial of an experiment with
their corresponding probabilities. The expected
value of x is the average of the outcomes that is
likely to be obtained if the trials are repeated
over and over again.
•  
Example 1: A researcher surveyed the
households in a small town. The random
variable X represents the number of college
graduates in the households. The probability
distribution of X is shown below:
X 0 1 2
P(x) 0.25 0.50 0.25

Find the mean or expected value of X.


Solution:
x P(x) x • P(x)
0 0.25 0
1 0.50 0.50
2 0.25 0.50

The expected value is 1. So the average


number of college graduates in the
household of the small town is 1.
Example 2: 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. What is the
average number of items that a customer will buy?
Solution:
x P(x) x • P(x)
1 3/10 3/10
2 1/10 2/10
3 1/10 3/10
4 2/10 8/10
5 3/10 15/10

The mean is 3.1. This implies that the average


number of items that the customer will buy is 3.1.
The variance and standard
deviation describe the amount of
spread, dispersion, or variability
of the items in a distribution
 
 
•  
•  

x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1
•  
x P(x) x•P(x)

0 0.1 0 0-2.1 = -2.1 4.41 0.441


1 0.2 0.2 1-2.1 = -1.1 1.21 0.242
2 0.3 0.6 2-2.1 = -0.1 0.01 0.003
3 0.3 0.9 3-2.1 = 0.9 0.81 0.243
4 0.1 0.4 4-2.1 = 1.9 3.61 0.361
•  
•  
x P(x) x•P(x)
0 0.1 0 0 0
1 0.2 0.2 1 0.2
2 0.3 0.6 4 1.2
3 0.3 0.9 9 2.7
4 0.1 0.4 16 1.6
Exercises
Refer to the worksheets and answer
exercises F - G.
Problems Involving Mean and Variance of
Probability Distribution

Example 1: The officers of SJA Class 71


decided to conduct a lottery for the benefit of
the less privileged students of their alma
mater. Two hundred tickets will be sold. One
ticket will win P5,000 price and the other
tickets will win nothing. If you buy one ticket,
what will be your expected gain?
•  

x P(x) x•P(x)
0 0.995 0
5,000 0,005 25
•  

x P(x) x•P(x)
-30 0.5 -15 450
50 0.5 25 1250
Exercises
Refer to the worksheets and answer the
questions.
Closure
Lunch Break

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