Mean and

Variance of
Discrete Random
Variable
OBJECTIVES
 Illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete random
variable;
 Calculate the mean and the variance of a discrete random
variable;
 Interpret the mean and the variance of a
discrete random variable; and
 Solve problems involving mean and variance of
probability distributions.
 What I Know
1. It is the central or average of its corresponding probability mass function.
A . mean C . standard deviation
B . variance D . probability
2. Determine the Mean or Expected Value of random variable below.
Tile Number of times picked
1 2
15
2 4
15
3 8
15
4 1
15
A. 2.53 C . 2.55
B. 2.54 D . 2.56
3. What is the mean outcome if a pair of die is rolled once?
A. 1.5 C . 3.5
B. 2.5 D . 4.5

4. Find the mean of the probability distribution involving the random

variable X that gives the number of heads that appear after tossing four
coins once.
A. 4 C. 2
B. 3 D. 1
5. The probabilities that a printer produces 0,1,2, and 3 misprints are
42%, 28%, 18%, and 1 2 % respectively. What is the mean value of the
random variable?
A. 1 C. 3
B. 2 D. 4
6. The random variable X, representing the number of nuts in a chocolate
bar has the following probability distribution. What is the mean?

A. 1.5 C. 1.7
B . 1.3 D . 1.9

7. These are two values that describe how scattered or spread out the
scores are from the mean value of the random variable.
A . variance and standard deviation
B . mean and probability distribution
C . probability and statistics
D . mean and variance
For n u m b e rs 8 a n d 9 .
Complete the table below using mean (µ) = 5. Write the answer in your answer sheets.
Probability Distribution Table of Random Variable
10. Compute for the variance and standard deviation of the Probability
Distribution table of the R a n d o m Variable X .
A. Variance = 5; Standard Deviation = 2.24
B. Variance = 4; Standard Deviation = 3.24
C. Variance = 3; Standard Deviation = 4.24
D. Variance = 2; Standard Deviation = 5.24

X 2 4 6 8
P(x) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
(x-µ) ? ? ? ?
(x-µ)2 ? ? ? ?
 M e a n of the Discrete
Random Variable

Covid-19 is continuously spreading around the world, that is

why reports regarding average infected people per country is being
updated every day. For this kind of report, experts used Statistics and
Probability to show reliable analysis in their data. In this lesson, you
will learn how to compute the average or mean of a discrete
probability distribution as well as the variance and standard deviation
of a discrete random variable.
 What’s In
A. Given the values of the variables X and Y, evaluate the following
summations.
X 1 = 5, Y 1 = 3 X 3 = 3, Y 3 = 1
X 2 = 4, Y 2 = 2 X 4 = 2, Y 4 = 0
(1) ∑ (3) ∑( + ) (5) ∑ 4
(2) ∑ (4) ∑

B. Construct a probability distribution of W representing the square of the

number when a die is rolled once. Copy the table in your answer sheet then
write your answer.

W
P(w)
 What’s N e w
Consider the outcomes of a coin tossed as a random event. The
1 1
probability of getting tail is or 50%, and the probability of getting head is
2 2
or 50% also, but it is hard to predict the outcome that will occur. In this
lesson, you will learn how to determine the likeliness of the happening of
an event.
Mean of a Discrete Random Variable
The Mean µ of a discrete random variable is the central value or
average of its corresponding probability mass function. It is also called
as the Expected Value. It is computed using the formula:

µ=∑ ( )

Where x is the outcome and p(x) is the probability of the outcome.

 W h a t is It
Examples:
1. Determine the mean or Expected Value of random variable below.

Therefore, m e a n is 2 for the above random variable.

2. Find the mean of the random variable Y representing the number of red color
chocolates per 160-gram pack of colored chocolate packages that has the
following probability distribution.
Y 4 5 6 7
P(y) 0.10 0.37 0.33 0.20

Solution
µ = ∑ ⟮ ( )⟯
= ∑ ⟮4(0.10) + 5(0.37) + 6(0.33) + 7(0.20)⟯
= ∑ ⟮0.40 + 1.85 + 1.98 + 1.40⟯
= 5.63
So, the mean of the probability distribution is 5.63. This implies that
the average number of red chocolates per 160-gram is 5.63.
3. T h e probabilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 items in a grocery
3 1 1 2 3
store are 1 1 1 10, and 10, respectively. W h a t is the average number of items
0 , will
that a customer 0, 0,buy?

To solve the above problem, we will follow 3 steps below.

STEPS IN FINDING THE MEAN

Step 1: Construct the probability distribution for the ra ndom variable X representing the
n u m b er of items that the customer will buy.

Step 2: Multiply the value of the random variable X by the corresponding probability.

Step 3: A d d the results obtained in Step 2. Results obtained is the m e a n of the

probability distribution.
Solution:
Solution Continuation

So, the m e a n of the probability distribution is 3.1. This implies that the
average n u m b e r of items that the customer will b u y is 3.1.
 Variance a n d Standard
D e v i a t i o n o f t h e D i s c re t e
Random Variable
The variance and standard deviation describe the amount of spread,
dispersion, or variability o f the items in a distribution. H o w can
we describe the spread or dispersion in a probability distribution? In
this lesson, you will learn how to compute the variance and standard
deviation of a discrete probability distribution.
Now, let us find out how can we find the variance and standard
deviation of a discrete probability distribution.
 What’s New

Variance a n d Standard Deviation of a R a n d o m Variable

T h e var i ance a n d s t andar d deviation ar e t w o val ues that describe
h o w scattered or s pr ead out the scores are f r o m the m e a n val ue o f the
r a n d o m variable. T h e variance, d e n o t e d a s σ 2 , is det er m i ned us i ng the
f or m ul a:
σ 2 = ∑( − µ) 2 p(x)

T h e s t andar d deviation σ is the s quar e r oot of the variance, thus,

σ = ඥ ∑ ( − µ)² ( )
σ 2 - variance σ – standard deviation
µ - mean p(x) – probability of the outco m e
 W h a t is It
Let’s try!

Let’s have examples:

1. The number of cars sold per day at a local car dealership, along with its
corresponding probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table. Compute the
variance and the standard deviation of the probability distribution by
following the given steps. Write your answer in your answer sheets.
Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(x)
0 10%
1 20%
2 30%
3 20%
4 20%
In solving the problem, let’s follow the steps below.

STEPS IN FINDING THE VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the result obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding
probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4. Results obtained is the
value of the variance of probability distribution.
Now let’s solve
the problem.
Continuation
To Solve for Standard Deviation:

Get the square root of the variance

σ 2 = ∑( − µ) 2p(x)
= 1.56

σ = √1.56

= 1.25
So, the variance of the number of cars sold per day is
1.56 and the standard deviation is 1.25.
2. W h e n th r e e c o i n s a r e to s s e d o n c e , th e probability distribution for th e r a n d o m
variable X representing the number of heads that occur is given below. Compute the
variance a n d standard deviation of the probability distribution.

Solution:
Follow the steps in finding variance and standard deviation of the
probability distribution.
To solve for Standard Deviation

σ 2 = ∑( − µ)2p(x)
= 0.74

σ = √0.74

= 0.86
The mean in tossing 3 coins with probability of Head
will show up is 0.86 and the variance is 0.74, then the
standard deviation is 0.86.
 What’s More
A. Determine the mean or expected value of each Random Variable. Write your
answer in your answer sheets.

1. s 3 4 12 20
P(s) 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.2

2. t 5 10 20
P(t) 50% 12% 38%

3. w 1/12 1/6 1/3 1/2

P(w) 1/2 1/10 1/5 1/5
4. Find the mean of the probability distribution of the random variable X,
which can take only the values 1, 2, and 3, given that P(1) =1033, P(2) = 13, and
P(3) = 1233.
5. The probabilities of a machine manufacturing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 defective
parts in one day are 0.75, 0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01, and 0.005 respectively.
Find the m e a n of the probability distribution.

B. Determine the Variance and Standard Deviation of each random

variable. Write your answer in your answer sheets.

1. x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 1 1 1 1 1
5 5 5 5 5
 2 z 2 4 6 8
. P(z) 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.1

m 1 3 5 7
3 P(m) 40% 25% 15% 20%
.
4. The random variable X, representing the number of nuts in a
chocolate bar has the following probability distribution. Compute
the variance and standard deviation.
5. The number of items sold per day in a sari-sari store, with its
corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table below. Find the
variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.

Number of Items Sold Probability

X P(x)
19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
. 23 0.10
 W h a t I H a v e Learned

Answer the following questions in your own understanding.

1. How to compute the mean of a discrete random variable?

State the 3 steps. Write your answer in your
answer sheets.

2. How to find the variance and standard deviation of a

discrete random variable? Write your
answer in your answer sheets.
 What I Can Do

M a k e a study about h o w m a n y sheets of paper you

consumed weekly in answering your Self Learning Modules.
Record the quantity (total number of sheets) per subject, then
construct a probability distribution. Compute the mean, variance,
and the standard deviation of the probability distribution you
made. Interpret the result, then find out how many weeks you will
consume 50 sheets of pad paper.
 Assessment
Find the mean, variance, and standard deviation of the following
probability distribution then interpret the computed values.

1. Variable z representing the number of male teachers per

z
Elementary school. 2 3 4 5 6
P(z) 40% 32% 11% 9% 8%

2. The number of mobile phones sold per day at a retail store

varies as shown in
the given
x probability30distribution
33 below. Find
38 the expected
40 number 50of mobile
phones P(x)
that will be 0.2
sold in one0.2
day. 0.35 0.23 0.02
3. Number of monthly absences of Juan Dela Cruz based on his previous
records of absences as presented in the probability distribution below.
Number of Absences (X) Percent P(x)
3 25%
4 30%
5 30%
6 15%

4. The number of computers sold per day at a local computer store, along
with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table below.
Number of Computer Sold X Probability P(x)
0 0.1
2 0.2
5 0.3
7 0.2
9 0.2
5. The number of inquiries received per day by the office of Admission
in SHS X last enrolment is shown below.

Number of Inquiries X Probability P(x)

22 0.08
25 0.19
26 0.36
28 0.25
29 0.07
30 0.05