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37 - Ex 8C Discrete Random Variables

The document discusses discrete random variables and their probability distributions. It provides examples of discrete random variables and their distributions, as well as the key concepts of probability mass functions and cumulative distribution functions. Formulas for expected value and variance of uniform discrete random variables are given. Several practice problems are worked through.

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Ralph Rezin Moore
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42 views

37 - Ex 8C Discrete Random Variables

The document discusses discrete random variables and their probability distributions. It provides examples of discrete random variables and their distributions, as well as the key concepts of probability mass functions and cumulative distribution functions. Formulas for expected value and variance of uniform discrete random variables are given. Several practice problems are worked through.

Uploaded by

Ralph Rezin Moore
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Learning

Objective

I will be able to use discrete random variables.

Success
Criteria
At the end of the lesson sequence, I will be able to:
3.3.1 develop the concepts of a discrete random variable and its associated probability function, and
their use in modelling data
3.3.2 use relative frequencies obtained from data to obtain point estimates of probabilities associated
with a discrete random variable
3.3.3 identify uniform discrete random variables and use them to model random phenomena with
equally likely outcomes
3.3.4 examine simple examples of non-uniform discrete random variables
Vocabular
y Discrete Random Variable
- One that can only take countable number of values.
- discrete meaning that each value is separate and distinct
Example:
Given 3 balls are drawn from a jar containing 4 white and 6 black balls with replacement.
Let X be the number of white balls in the sample.
X can take on the values: 0, 1, 2, 3
X is considered a discrete RV
Continuous Random Variable
One that can take any value in an interval of a real number line (e.g. height, weight, time)
Guided
Practice
Suppose that a fair coin is flipped three times. If X is the discrete random variable “number of
heads obtained” complete the following table and hence determine:
a) P(X 1)
b) P(X 2)

X 0 1 2 3
P(X = x) 0.125 0.375 0.375 0.125

All outcomes (either heads or tails) are equally likely – so there is a half chance for each event.
(TTT – 0 heads, HHH – 3 heads)

(HTT, THT, TTH – 1 head, HHT, THH, HTH – 2 heads)


Key Features and
Terminology
X 0 1 2 3
P(X = x) 0.125 0.375 0.375 0.125

The table above is called the probability distribution of the random variable X.
One of the key features of a PDF is that the sum of its probabilities must equal to 1.

The probability distribution table could be converted into a cumulative probability table. The
table below shows this, and is called the cumulative distribution of the random variable X.

Notice that we are summing the probabilities from the PDF as we progress through each
value in the CDF, such that the total sum at the end should be 1.

X 0 1 2 3
P(X ≤ x) 1
0.125 0.5 0.875
Guided
Practice
Consider the table shown below,
a) Does this meet the conditions to be a discrete probability distribution? Justify your answer.
b) Use the table to find

X 0 1 2 3
P(X = x) 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.4

a) Yes, each P(x) is between 0 and 1 and the sum of probabilities add up to 1

b)
Guided
Practice
The random variable X represents the number of chocolate chips in a certain brand of biscuits and is known to
have the following probability distribution.
Determine
X 2 3 4 5 6 7
P(X = x) 0.01 0.25 0.4 0.3 0.02 0.02

a)
¿ 0 .4 +0.3 +0.02+0.02=0.74
b)

0 .74 0.74 74
¿ = ¿
1− 𝑃 ( 𝑋 =2) 1− 0.01 99
c)

𝑃 ( 𝑋 =3 ) + 𝑃 ( 𝑋 =4 ) 0.25+ 0.4 65
¿ = ¿
1− 𝑃 ( 𝑋 =2) 1− 0.01 99
Guided
Practice
The probability function for a discrete random variable X is given by:

Complete the following probability distribution for X, giving the probabilities as numbers (i.e. k
should be
X
evaluated). 1 2 3 4 5
P(X = x)

Determine
a) P(X = even)
b) P(X > 3)
c) P(X = 4|X > 3)
Guided
Practice
The probability function for a discrete random variable X is given by:

Complete the following probability distribution for X, giving the probabilities as numbers (i.e. k
should be
X
evaluated). 1 2 3 4 5
P(X = x) 1/3 4/15 1/5 2/15 1/15

To complete the distribution, note that the sum of the probabilities must be 1
Guided
Practice
The probability function for a discrete random variable X is given by:

Complete the following probability distribution for X, giving the probabilities as numbers (i.e. k
should be
X
evaluated). 1 2 3 4 5
P(X = x) 1/3 4/15 1/5 2/15 1/15

Determine a)
a) P(X = Even) b)
b) P(X > 3)
c)
c) P(X = 4|X > 3)
Guided
Practice
A spinner shows the numbers 1, 2, 3
For each spin of this spinner, the probability associated with each outcome, 1, 2, or 3, is as
show in the table
X 1 2 3
P(X = x) 0.5 0.3 k

Determine
a) The value of k 0.5 +0.3+ 𝑘=1 ⇒𝑘=0.2
The Spinner is spun twice, Determine the probability of getting:
b) a 2 and then a 3
c) a 2 and a 3 in any order
d) The same number twice
e) A total of 3 when the 2 numbers obtained are added together
f) A 2 on the second spin given that the 2 spins give a total of 4
Guided
Practice
A spinner shows the numbers 1, 2, 3
For each spin of this spinner, the probability associated with each outcome, 1, 2, or 3, is as
show in the table
X 1 2 3
P(X = x) 0.5 0.3 0.2

The Spinner is spun twice, Determine the probability of getting:


a) a 2 and then a 3 𝑃 ( 2 𝑡h𝑒𝑛 3 )=𝑃 ( 2 ) × 𝑃 ( 3 )=0.2× 0.3=0.06
b) a 2 and a 3 in any order 𝑃 ( 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3 𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 )= 𝑃 ( 2 ) × 𝑃 ( 3 ) +𝑃 ( 3 ) × 𝑃 ( 2 ) =2 ( 0.06 ) =0.12
c) The same number twice
𝑃 (𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑐𝑒)=𝑃 (1)× 𝑃 (1)+𝑃 (2) × 𝑃 (2)+𝑃 (3)× 𝑃 ( 3)=0.25+0.09+0.04=0.38
d) A total of 3 when the 2 numbers obtained are added together
e) A 2 on the second spin given that the 2 spins give a total of 4
Guided
Practice
A spinner shows the numbers 1, 2, 3
For each spin of this spinner, the probability associated with each outcome, 1, 2, or 3, is as
show in the table
X 1 2 3
P(X = x) 0.5 0.3 0.2

The Spinner is spun twice, Determine the probability of getting:


d) A total of 3 when the 2 numbers obtained are added together
e) A 2 on the second spin given that the 2 spins give a total of 4

𝑃 ( 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 3 ) = 𝑃 ( 1 𝑡h𝑒𝑛 2 ) + 𝑃 (2 𝑡h𝑒𝑛 1)


¿ 0.5 × 0.3 + 0.3 × 0.5 =0.3
𝑃 ( 2 𝑡h𝑒𝑛 2 )
𝑃 ( 2𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑛∨ 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 4 )=
𝑃 ( 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 4 )
0.3 × 0.3 9
¿ =
( 0.3 × 0.3 ) +2 ( 0.2 × 0.5 ) 29
Guided
Practice
A batch of 100 components include 5 that are faulty. Four components are randomly selected from the
batch without replacement. If X is the number of faulty components in the selection determine the
probability distribution for X.
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X = x) 0.811875 0.176495 0.011387 0.000242 0.000001

If 4 components are randomly chosen, and X is the number of faulty components then if:

P(X = 0) NO FAULTY COMPONENTS

P(X = 1) ONE FAULTY (Either 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th)

P(X = 2) TWO FAULTY (FFXX, FXFX, XXFF,…)


Discrete Uniform
Distribution
Any discrete variable with equally likely outcomes may be classed as a discrete uniform variable.
It follows a discrete uniform distribution function which has the form

Expected value (also known as the mean of the D.U.D):


Variance:
See the example across for P(x) =
Guided
Practice
A discrete random variable X, where . Has a uniform distribution. It is known that E(X)=11. Determine
a) The probability distribution function for X
b) The variance for X
𝑛+1
𝐸 ( 𝑋 )=
2
𝑛+1
11=
2
22 =𝑛 +1

𝑛=21 2
𝑛 −1
𝑉𝑎𝑟 ( 𝑥 ) =
12
2
(21) −1 110
𝑉𝑎𝑟 ( 𝑥 )= =
12 3
Independent
Practice
Complete Cambridge Ex 8C

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