STATISTICS AND

PROBABILITY
Second Semester Midterm/3rd Quarter
Mean, Variance, and Standard Deviation of a
Discrete Random Variable
At the end of the lesson, students are able to:
 Illustrates the mean and variance of a discrete random variable
(M11/12SP-IIIb-1), and;
 Calculates the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable.
(M11/12SP-IIIb-2)
Review
Answer the following questions:
1. What are the properties must be meet of a discrete random variable
to consider as it’s probability mass function?
2. What is the expected value of a discrete random variable?
Mean
The mean of a discrete random variable X is also called the expected
value of X. The mean or expected value of a discrete random variable
X is computed using the following formula:

where:
X – discrete random variable
x – outcome or value of the random variable
P(x) – probability of the outcome x
Mean
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 0.5 0.25

Find the mean or expected value of X.
Mean
Example 1:
x P(x)

0 0.25 0
1 0.5 0.5
2 0.25 0.5

1.00
Mean
Example 2:
A random variable X has this probability distribution:
x 1 2 3 4

P(x) 0.10 0.20 0.45 0.25

Calculate the expected value.

Mean
Example 2:
x P(x)
1 0.10 0.10
2 0.20 0.40
3 0.45 1.35
4 0.25 1.00

2.85
Mean
Example 3:
A security guard recorded the number of people entering the bank
every hour during one working day. The random variable X represents
the number of people who entered the bank. The probability
distribution of X is shown below.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5

P(x) 0 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1

What is the expected number of people who enters the bank every
hour?
Mean
Example 3:
x P(x)
0 0 0.0
1 0.1 0.1
2 0.2 0.4
1.2
3 0.4
0.8
4 0.2
0.5
5 0.1
1.0 3.0
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
The variance of a random variable X is denoted by . It can likewise be
written as Var(X). The variance of a random variable is the expected
value of the square of the difference between the assumed value of
random variable and the mean. The variance of X is:

or

where: x – outcome
– population mean
P(x) – probability of the outcome
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
The larger the value of the variance, the farther the values of X from
the mean. The variance is tricky to interpret since it uses the square of
the unit of measure of X. So, it is easier to interpret the value of the
standard deviation because it uses the same unit of measure of X.
The standard deviation of a discrete random variable X is written as . It
is the square root of the variance. The standard deviation is computed
as:
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 4:
Determine the variance and the standard deviation of the following
mass probability mass function.
x P(x)
1 0.15
2 0.25
3 0.30
4 0.15
5 0.10
6 0.05
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 4:

Steps:
1. Find the expected value.

2. Subtract the expected value from each outcome, square each

difference.

3. Multiply each squared difference by the corresponding probability.

4. Sum up all the figures obtained in Step 3.

 Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 4:
x P(x)
1 0.15 0.15 1 −2.95=−1.95 3.8025 0.570375
2 0.25 0.50 2 −2.95=− 0.95 0.9025 0.225625
3 0.30 0.90 3 − 2.95=0.05 0.0025 0.000750
4 0.15 0.60 4 −2.95=1.05 1.1025 0.165375
5 0.10 0.50 5 −2.95=2.05 4.2025 0.420250
6 0.05 0.30 6 − 2.95=3.05 9.3025 0.465125
1.8475 or
2.95
 Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 4:
x P(x)
1.8475 or
2.95
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 5:
Determine the variance and the standard deviation of the following
mass probability mass function.

x 0 1 2 3 4

P(x) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1

 Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 5:
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

2.1 1.29
 Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 5:
x P(x)

2.1 1.29
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Alternative Method

The variance of a discrete random variable can also determine by

subtracting the square of its mean from the summation of the products
of the squares of the outcomes and their corresponding probabilities.

Hence, the following formula:

Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Using Example 5:

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
2.1
5.7
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Using Example 5:
x P(x)
2.1
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 6:
A discrete variable X has this probability distribution.

x 0 1 2 3 4

P(x) 0.12 0.25 0.18 0.35 0.10

Find the variance and the standard deviation of X.

 Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 6:
x P(x)
0 0.12 0 0 − 2.06=−2.06 4.2436 0.509232
1 0.25 0.25 1 −2.06=−1.06 1.1236 0.280900
2 0.18 0.36 2 −2.06=− 0.06 0.0036 0.000648
3 0.35 1.05 3 − 2.06=0.94 0.8836 0.309260
4 0.10 0.40 4 −2.06=1.94 3.7636 0.376360

2.06 1.4764
 Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 6:
x P(x)

2.06 1.4764
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 6: (Alternative Method)

x P(x)
0 0.12 0 0 0
1 0.25 0.25 1 0.25
2 0.18 0.36 4 0.72
3 0.35 1.05 9 3.15
4 0.10 0.40 16 1.60
2.06
5.72
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Example 6: (Alternative Method)
x P(x)
2.06
Let’s Try!

Board Work

Find the Variance and Standard Deviation of the following probability

distribution using the standard and alternative method.

x 0 1 2 3 4

P(x) 0.09 0.19 0.39 0.22 0.11

 Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete
Random Variable
Board Work (Standard Method)
x P(x)
0 0.09 0 -2.07 4.2849 0.385641
1 0.19 0.19 -1.07 1.1449 0.217531
2 0.39 0.78 -0.07 0.0049 0.001911
3 0.22 0.66 0.93 0.8649 0.190278
4 0.11 0.44 1.93 3.7249 0.409739
2.07 1.2051
 Let’s Try!
Board Work (Standard Method)
x P(x)

2.07 1.2051
Let’s Try!
Board Work (Alternative Method)

x P(x)
0 0.09 0 0 0
1 0.19 0.19 1 0.19
2 0.39 0.78 4 1.59
3 0.22 0.66 9 1.98
4 0.11 0.44 16 1.76
2.07
Recap Time!

Why we need to know the Variance and Standard Deviation of a

probability mass function of a discrete random variable?
 Mini Quiz

Board Work

Complete the table and find the variance and standard deviation of the
probability distribution.
x P(x)
0 0.20 0 -1.48 (5) 0.438080
1 0.30 (1) -0.48 (6) (7)
2 0.32 0.64 (3) 0.2704 (8)
3 0.18 0.54 (4) 2.3104 0.415872

(2) (9) 𝜎 =(𝟏𝟎)

 Assignment #3

Complete the following tables below and find of each variance and
standard deviation of probability distribution.

Table 1:
x P(x)
0 0.10
1 0.45
2 0.25
3 0.20
Assignment #3

Complete the following tables below and find of each variance and
standard deviation of probability distribution.
x P(x)
Table 2: 0 0.10
1 0.41
2 0.19
3 0.15
4 0.10
5 0.05