Discrete Probability Distributions

part -1

Sk. Shalauddin Kabir

Lecturer
Department of Computer Science and
Engineering,
Jashore University of Science and Technology
Probability Distributions
 Random Variables
A random variable x represents a numerical value associated with each outcome
of a probability distribution.

A random variable is discrete if it has a finite or countable number of possible

outcomes that can be listed.

0 2 4 6 8 10

A random variable is continuous if it has an uncountable number or possible

outcomes, represented by the intervals on a number line.

0 2 4 6 8 10
 Random Variables
Example:
Decide if the random variable x is discrete or continuous.

a.) The distance your car travels on a tank of gas

The distance your car travels is a continuous random variable because
it is a measurement that cannot be counted. (All measurements are
continuous random variables.)

b.) The number of students in a statistics class

The number of students is a discrete random variable because it
can be counted.
 Discrete Probability Distributions
A discrete probability distribution lists each possible value the random variable
can assume, together with its probability. A probability distribution must satisfy
the following conditions.

In Words In Symbols

1. The probability of each value of the discrete 0  P (x)  1

random variable is between 0 and 1,
inclusive.

2. The sum of all the probabilities is 1. ΣP (x) = 1

 Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Guidelines
Let x be a discrete random variable with possible outcomes x1, x2,
… , xn .
1. Make a frequency distribution for the possible outcomes.
2. Find the sum of the frequencies.
3. Find the probability of each possible outcome by dividing its
frequency by the sum of the frequencies.
4. Check that each probability is between 0 and 1 and that the
sum is 1.
 Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example:
The spinner below is divided into two sections. The probability of landing on the
1 is 0.25. The probability of landing on the 2 is 0.75. Let x be the number the
spinner lands on. Construct a probability distribution for the random variable x.

1 x P (x)
1 0.25 Each probability is
2
2 0.75 between 0 and 1.

The sum of the probabilities is 1.

 Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example:
The spinner below is spun two times. The probability of landing on the 1 is 0.25.
The probability of landing on the 2 is 0.75. Let x be the sum of the two spins.
Construct a probability distribution for the random variable x.

The possible sums are 2, 3, and 4.

P (sum of 2) = 0.25  0.25 = 0.0625

1

Spin a 1 on the first “and” Spin a 1 on the second

2 spin. spin.

Continued.
 Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example continued:
P (sum of 3) = 0.25  0.75 = 0.1875
1
Spin a 1 on the first “and” Spin a 2 on the second
spin. spin.
2

“or”
P (sum of 3) = 0.75  0.25 = 0.1875
Sum of
spins, P (x)
Spin a 2 on the first “and” Spin a 1 on the second
x spin. spin.
2 0.062
0.375
5 0.1875 + 0.1875 Continued.
3
4
 Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example continued:

1
P (sum of 4) = 0.75  0.75 = 0.5625

2
Spin a 2 on the first “and” Spin a 2 on the second
spin. spin.

Sum of
spins, P (x)
x Each probability is between 0 and 1, and
the sum of the probabilities is 1.
2 0.0625
3 0.5625
0.375
4
 Graphing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example:
Graph the following probability distribution using a histogram.

Sum of P(x)
Sum of Two Spins
spins, P (x) 0.6
x
0.5
2 0.0625
3 0.375 0.4
Probability

4 0.5625 0.3

0.2

0.1
0 x
2 3 4
Sum
 Mean
The mean of a discrete random variable is given by
μ = ΣxP(x).
Each value of x is multiplied by its corresponding probability and the
products are added.

Example:
Find the mean of the probability distribution for the sum of the two spins.

x P (x) xP (x)
2 0.062 2(0.0625) = ΣxP(x) = 3.5
5 0.125
The mean for the two spins
3 0.375 3(0.375) = is 3.5.
4 0.562 1.125
5 4(0.5625) = 2.25
 Variance
The variance of a discrete random variable is given by
2 = Σ(x – μ)2P (x).
Example:
Find the variance of the probability distribution for the sum of the two spins. The
mean is 3.5.

ΣP(x)(x – 2)2
x P (x) x–μ (x – P (x)(x –
2 0.062 – μ)2 μ)2  0.376
5 1.5 2.25  0.141
3 0.375 – 0.25  0.094 The variance for the
0.5 two spins is
4 0.562 0.25  0.141
approximately 0.376
5 0.5
 Standard Deviation
The standard deviation of a discrete random variable is given by

σ = σ 2.
Example:
Find the standard deviation of the probability distribution for the sum of the two
spins. The variance is 0.376.

σ  σ2
x P (x) x–μ (x – P (x)(x –
μ)2 μ)2  0.376 0.613
2 0.062 –
5 1.5 2.25 0.141 Most of the sums
differ from the mean
3 0.375 – 0.25 0.094
0.5 by no more than 0.6
4 0.562 0.25 0.141 points.
5 0.5
 Expected Value
The expected value of a discrete random variable is equal to the
mean of the random variable.
Expected Value = E(x) = μ = ΣxP(x).

Example:
At a raffle, 500 tickets are sold for $1 each for two prizes of $100 and $50. What
is the expected value of your gain?

Your gain for the $100 prize is $100 – $1 = $99.

Your gain for the $50 prize is $50 – $1 = $49.
Write a probability distribution for the possible gains (or
outcomes).
Continued.
 Expected Value
Example continued:
At a raffle, 500 tickets are sold for $1 each for two prizes of $100
and $50. What is the expected value of your gain?

Gain, E(x) = ΣxP(x).

P (x)
x 1
$99 500 1 1 498
$99   $49   ( $1) 
1 500 500 500
$49
500
 $0.70
–$1 498
500
Because the expected value is
Winning no negative, you can expect to lose
prize
$0.70 for each ticket you buy.
Thank you All