RANDOM VARIABLES

AND PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
MARIA ELENA E. SUTERIO
 LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
◦ 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.
 You have learned in your previous lessons in
mathematics that an experiment is any activity which
can be done repeatedly under similar conditions.
In your previous study of mathematics, you have
learned how to find the probability of an event. In
this lesson, you will learn how to construct a
probability distribution of a discrete random variable.
Your knowledge of getting the probability of an event
is very important in understanding the present
lesson.
To find out if you are ready to learn this new
lesson, do following activities.
 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 of cards.
4. The probability that all children are boys
if a couple has three children.
 Event (E) Probability P(E)
5. Getting an odd number and 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 of cards.
8. Getting a red queen when a card is drawn
from a deck of cards.
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 P(x) = P(x) =
0
1
3
5
6
 Decision making is an important aspect in
business, education, insurance, and other real-life
situations. Many decisions are made by assigning
probabilities to all possible outcomes pertaining to
the situation and then evaluating the results.
For instance, an insurance company might be
able to assign probabilities to the number of
vehicles a family owns. This information will help
the company in making decisions regarding future
financial situations. This situation requires the use
of random variables and probability distribution.
 DEFECTIVE CELLPHONES
Suppose three cellphones are tested at
random. Let D represent the defective
cellphone and N represent the non-defective
cellphone. If we let X be the random variable
representing the number of defective
cellphones. Show the values of the random
variable X. Complete the table below to show
the values of the random variable.
 SOLUTION:
Step 1: Determine the sample space.
Let D represent defective cellphone
and N represent non-defective
cellphone.
The sample space for this experiment is
S = {NNN, NND, NDN, DNN, NDD,
DND, DDN, DDD}
Step 2. Count the number
DEFECTIVE CELLPHONES
in each outcome in the
sample space and assign
this number to the outcome.
 Value of the Random Variable X
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Defective Cellphones)
 Value of the Random Variable X
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Defective Cellphones)

NNN 0
NND 1
NDN 1
DNN 1
NDD 2
DND 2
DDN 2
DDD 3
There are four possible values of
the random variable X representing
the number of defective cellphones.
These are 0, 1, 2, and 3.
Step 3: Assign probability values
P(X) to each value of the random
variable.
 Number of Defective
Probability P(X)
Cellphones X

1
2
3

◦ There are 8 possible outcomes, and no defective

cellphone occurs once, so the probability that we
shall assign to the random variable 0 is
 Number of Defective
Probability P(X)
Cellphones X
0

1
2
3

◦ There are 8 possible outcomes, and 1 defective

cellphone occurs three times, so the probability
that we shall assign to the random variable 1 is
 Number of Defective
Probability P(X)
Cellphones X

3
◦ There are 8 possible outcomes, and 2 defective
cellphone occurs three times, so the probability
that we shall assign to the random variable 2 is
 Number of Defective
Probability P(X)
Cellphones X
0

1
2
3

◦ There are 8 possible outcomes, and 3 defective

cellphone occurs once, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 3 is
 Table 1.1 Probability Distribution or
Probability Mass Function of Discrete
Random Variable X
Number of Defective
Cellphones X
0 1 2 3

Probability P(X)
A discrete probability
distribution or a probability
mass function consist of the
values of the random variable
can assume and the
corresponding probabilities of
the values.
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:
Step 1. Plot the values of the
random variable along the horizontal
axis.
Step 2. Plot the probabilities along
the vertical axis.
 Figure 1.1 Histogram for the Probability Distribution of the
Discrete Random Variable X
0.4

0.35

0.3
Probability P(X)

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 1 2 3

Number of Defective Cellphones (X)

 TOSSING THREE COINS
Suppose three coins are tossed.
Let Y be the random variable
representing the number of tails
that turn up. Find the probability
of each values of the random
variable Y.
 SOLUTION:
Step 1: Determine the sample space.
Let H represent head and T
represent tail.
The sample space for this experiment
is
S = {TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT,
HTH, THH, HHH}
Step 2. Count the number
TAILS in each outcome in
the sample space and
assign this number to the
outcome.
 Value of the Random Variable Y
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Tails)
 Value of the Random Variable Y
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Tails)

TTT
TTH
THT
HTT
HHT
HTH
THH
HHH
 Value of the Random Variable Y
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Tails)

TTT 3
TTH 2
THT 2
HTT 2
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
HHH 0
So, the possible values of the
random variable Y are 0, 1, 2,
and 3.
There are four possible values of
the random variable Y
representing the number of tails.
These are 0, 1, 2, and 3.
Step 3: Assign probability values
P(Y) to each value of the random
variable.
 Number of Tails Y Probability P(Y)
0
1
2
3
◦ There are 8 possible outcomes, and no tails
occurs once, so the probability that we shall
assign to the random variable 0 is
 Number of Tails Y Probability P(Y)
0
1
2
3

◦ There are 8 possible outcomes, and 1 tail

occurs three times, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 1 is
 Number of Tails Y Probability P(Y)
0

1
2
3

◦ There are 8 possible outcomes and 2 tail

occurs three times, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 2 is
 Number of Tails Y Probability P(Y)
0

1
2
3

◦ There are 8 possible outcomes and 3 tail

occurs once, so the probability that we shall
assign to the random variable 3 is
 Table 1.1 Probability Distribution or
Probability Mass Function of Discrete
Random Variable Y
Number of Tails Y 0 1 2 3

Probability P(Y)
Make a histogram for
this probability
distribution
 Figure 1.1 Histogram for the Probability Distribution of the
Discrete Random Variable Y
0.4

0.35

0.3
Probability P(Y)

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 1 2 3

Number of Tails (Y)

 Guide Questions
◦In the preceding probability distribution,
what do you notice about the probability of
each value of the random variable? State
your conclusion.
◦In each of the preceding probability
distribution, get the sum of the probabilities
of all values of the random variables. What
sum did you get? State your conclusion.
 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 symbol, 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.
 Exercises:
Determine whether the distribution
represents a probability distribution. Explain
your answer.
1.
X 1 5 8 7 9
P(X)

NOT PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

2. X 0 2 4 6 8
P(X)

PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
X 1 2 3 5
3.
P(X)

NOT PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

 X 4 8 12 15 17
4. P(X)

NOT PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

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

NOT PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

 Quiz
A.Construct the probability
distribution for the random
variables described in each of the
following situations and draw the
corresponding histogram of the
probability distribution.
1. Two balls are drawn in succession
without replacement from an urn
containing 5 red balls and 6 blue balls.
Let Z be a random variable representing
the number of blue balls.
2. Four coins are tossed. Let Z be the
random variable representing the
number of heads that turn up. Find the
values of the random variable Z.
B. Determine whether the given values can
serve as the value of a probability distribution
of a 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
2. P(1) = , P(2) = , P(3) =
3. P(1) = 0.42, P(2) = 0.31, P(3) = 0.37
4. P(1) = , P(2) = , P(3) =
5. P(1) = 0, P(2) = 0.71, P(3) = 0.39
C. Determine whether the given values can
serve as the value of a probability distribution
of a random variable X that can take on only
the values 1, 2, 3 and 4. Explain your answer.
1. P(1) = 0.25, P(2) = 0.75, P(3) = 0.25, P(4)= -
0.25
2. P(1) = 0, P(2) = 0.45, P(3) = 0.25, P(4) = 0.35
3. P(X) = for x = 1, 2, 3, 4
4. P(X) = for x = 1, 2, 3, 4
5. P(X) = for x = 1, 2, 3, 4
 HOPE YOU
LEARN
SOMETHING! 
See you on next meeting!