Statistics and Probability

Quarter 3 – Module 1:
Random Variable and
Probability Distributions
Statistics and Probability
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 3 – Module 1: Random Variables and Probability Distributions
First Edition, 2020

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Statistics and Probability
Quarter 3 – Module 1:
Random Variables and
Probability Distributions
Introductory
Message For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Statistics and Probability Grade 11 Alternative Delivery Mode

(ADM) Module on Random Variables and Probabilility Distributions.

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators

from public institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping the
learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their
personal, social and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to
help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

Welcome to the Statistics and Probability Grade 11 Alternative Delivery Mode

(ADM) Module on Random Variables and Probability Distributions!
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competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in
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This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

iii
What I Need to This will give you an idea of the skills or
Know competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.
This part includes an activity that aims to
What I Know check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.
This is a brief drill or review to help you link
What’s In the current lesson with the previous one.
In this portion, the new lesson will be
What’s New introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.
This section provides a brief discussion of
What is It the lesson. This aims to help you discover
and understand new concepts and skills.
This comprises activities for independent
What’s More practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have This includes questions or blank

Learned sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.
This section provides an activity which will
What I Can Do help you transfer your new knowledge or
skill into real life situations or concerns.
This is a task which aims to evaluate your
Assessment level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.
In this portion, another activity will be given
Additional to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of
Activities the lesson learned. This also tends
retention of learned concepts.
This contains answers to all activities in the
module.
Answer Key

iv
At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in developing

this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

v
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
compute random variable and probability distribution.. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. This modules aims to
help you on how to be practical specifically in spending for your needs whether be
it in cash or in installment basis. It is important that you apply the skills you will
learn here in real life situations. Good luck!
This module is composed of two lessons namely:
Lesson 1 – Random Variables
Lesson 2 – Probability Distributions

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. illustrates a random variable (discrete and continuous);
2. distinguishes between a discrete and a continuous random variable;
3. finds the possible values of a random variable;
4. illustrates a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its
properties;
5. computes probabilities corresponding to a given random variable;
6. illustrates and calculates the mean and the variance of a discrete random
variable;
7. calculates and interprets the mean and variance of a discrete random
variable;
8. solves problems involving mean and variance of probability distributions.

What I Know

Let’s find out how far you might already know about this topic! Please take this
challenge! Have Fun!
Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.
 1. Which of the following is NOT classified as a discrete probability
distribution?
a. Normal Distribution c. Hypergeometric
b. Binomial Distribution Distribution
d. Poisson Distribution

2. Which of the following is NOT classified as continuous probability

distribution?
a. Uniform Distribution c. Exponential Distribution
b. Normal Distribution d. None of these

3. Which of the following experiment will result to a discrete random variable?

a. Satisfaction rating of c. Audit of tax return errors
public servants d. None of these
b. Duration

4. In rolling three dice, how many outcomes are possible?

a. 6 c. 120
b. 36 d. 150

5. In the experiment of tossing a fair coin 4 times, the probability distribution

of showing the number of tails in 4 tosses may be observed. What is the
probability of getting 3 tails?
a. 0.125 c. 0.375
b. 0.250 d. 0.350

6. Which of the following column items of a frequency distribution may be used

as the probability distribution?
a. Frequency Distribution
b. Frequency Cumulative Distribution
c. Relative Frequency Distribution
d. None of these

For nos. 7-9

The tourism department has been evaluating its new tagline promo to attract
tourists to visit the country. The following is the probability distribution of the
number of tourist arrival on a daily basis coming through the airport.

No. of
0 1 2 3 4 5
tourist(x)
Probabilty
0.04 0.10 0.2 0.36 0.18 0.12
p(x)
0

7. What is the expected number of tourist arrival on the average?

a. 2 c. 4
b. 3 d. 5

2
8. What is the variance in the number of tourist arrival?
a. 0.27 c. 1.27
b. 0.62 d. 1.62
9. What is the standard deviation in the number of tourist arrival?
a. 0.52 c. 1.27
b. 0.79 d. 1.54

10. Consider a dice with the property that probability of a face with n dots
showing up is proportional to n. The probability of face showing 4 dots is?
a. 1/7 c. 1/21
b. 5/42 d. 4/21

3
 Lesson
Random Variable
1
Random variables are very important in statistics and probability and a must have if

anyone is looking forward to understand probability distributions. Random Variables

many times confused with traditional variables. In this lesson we will see what is random

variables and learn how to find probabilities of specific numerical outcomes.

What’s In

Random variable is different from our traditional variable in terms of the value which it
takes. It’s a function which performs the mapping of the outcomes of a random process
to a numeric value. As it is subject to randomness, it takes different values.

There are several ways to measure the cost of making such payments or what they're
ultimately worth. Here's what you need to know about calculating the present
value or future value of an annuity.

Definition

A random variable is a variable whose values depend on the outcomes

of an experiment. It is a function that maps the outcome of an
experiment to real numbers. A random variable is usually denoted by
an uppercase letter of the alphabet and its possible values are denoted
with the corresponding lowercase letter. As an example, consider the
experiment of tossing three coins at the same time, and let X denote the
number of heads (H) that turn up. Then the possible values of x are
0,1,2, or 3. Each element in the table below lists all the values of the
random variable X for each possible point in the sample space:

Possible HHH HTH THH HHT HTT TTH THT TTT

Outcomes
Values of 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 0
x
 What’s New

Basketball is a very famous sport in the country nowadays. Professional

basketball teams scout players from the amateur basketball leagues on either
colleges/universities or local communities. Basketball players are being
accepted or draft pick based on their performance in the game, and other
relevant characteristics. If you are the manager of a basketball team, how would
you answer the following inquiries?

1. What information should be obtained to select the player your team needs?
2. How do you count or measure the information needed for decision making?

To begin with, let us consider the following:

An experiment of chance was conducted where the profiles of 7

professional basketball players during their amateur years are randomly
selected. The following is shown:

Table 2.1 Profile of professional basketball players during their amateur years

Elements Random Variables

Players Points No. of No. of Playing Field Height Weight

per rebounds assists time Goal(%) (in m) (in lbs)
game per game per per
game game
(in
mins)

A 5 2 4 4.65 85 1.83 165

B 10 3 4 5.9 80.5 1.88 175
C 18 5 6 6.7 75.7 1.96 195
D 22 7 8 8 68.4 2.06 210
E 20 4 10 7.5 50 1.93 205
F 11 3 15 6 45.3 1.83 160
G 4 2 18 5 38.9 1.80 158.2

Discrete Random Variables Continuous Random Variables

To answer the questions posted, we need to know certain basic concepts:
Element is the source of relevant information or data, i.e. an individual, entity,
population unit.

What is It
Variable is the characteristic or property of the element.
Random Variable is a variable being measured to produce numerical
observations associated with the random outcomes of a chance experiment.

Observations are numerical values associated with measuring the variable.

There are two types of random variables:

1. Discrete Random Variables are random variables where the observed
numerical values are produced by counting and assumes whole numbers only.

2. Continuous Random Variables are random variables where the observed

numerical values are results of measuring and may take on any numbers
contained within any numerical intervals.

In table 2.1, “Players” is considered an element, while “Points per game”,

“Number of rebounds per game”, etc. are the random variables. Of these, the
first three are discrete random variables, while the last four are the continuous
random variables.

The variable “Points per game” is considered a discrete random variable

since the observation is any whole number from 4 to 22. Since playing time per
game is measured in minutes, the observation took on any value from 4.65
minutes to 8 minutes: this is a continuous random variable.

Let us consider another example. In each of the experiments to be performed

determine the possible observations that can be made, and classify the variable
according to type.

Experiment Element Random Variable (x)

Rolling two dice Two dice colored red Sum of numbers from
and blue the two dice
Free falling objects Objects with different Acceleration
weights (meters/second^2 )

In rolling a die, there are six possible observations corresponding to

numbers 1 to 6. Since the random variable is the sum of numbers in the two
dice, the possible observations would be the combined number in the two dice
such as 1 and 1, 1 and 2, or 6 and 6. Therefore, it should be any whole
number from 2 to 12, written mathematically as 2 ≤ x ≤ 12. The variable is
then considered discrete.
For free falling objects, acceleration which is the distance travelled by the
object over the square of time expressed in second, may be any value greater
than or equal to 0, written mathematically as x ≥ 0 and thus, is considered
continuous.
Another example of discrete random variable:
A coin is tossed three times. Let X be the number of heads that we throw.

x 0 1 2 3
P(x)=x 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8

The variable “number of heads” is a discrete random variable since it can take a
countable number of values.
While the following quantities would typically be modeled with continuous
random variables. They are measurement of time, distance, and other phenomena that
can, at least in theory, be determined to an arbitrary high degree of accuracy.
1. the height or weight of a randomly chosen individual from a population.
2. the duration of a lecture.
3. the volume of fuel consumed by a bus on its route.
4. the total distance driven by a taxicab in a day.

What’s More
Give an example of a discrete and a continuous variable that would be
an interest to the following:

Discrete Continuous

1. Biologist __________________ ___________________

1. Accountant __________________ ___________________

3. Economist __________________ ___________________

4. Engineer __________________ ___________________

5. Chef __________________ ___________________

What I Have Learned

Classify the following if it is discrete, continuous, or not a random

variable.

__________1. Number of goods sold in a retail store

__________2. Volume of gasoline consumed by an automatic car
__________3. Names listed in a voting center
__________4. Outcomes when tossing a coin
__________5. Temperature observed in Kelvin units
__________6. Annual gross sales in a supermarket
__________7. Actual number of metric tons loaded in a container van
__________8. The angle of elevation projected by missile launchers
__________9. Type of blood extracted
__________10. Color of hair

Lesson
Discrete
2 Probability Distribution
 In this course, you will discover patterns regarding the likelihood of its
occurrences paved way to forecasting and estimating significant results of
related variables. This lesson set forth to bring about understanding the
concepts, learning the computational skills, and exploring the applications it has
to offer.

What’s In
EXPERIMENT: ROLLING A DIE

When you roll a die, there are only six possible outcomes corresponding to the
six faces of a die; the numbers 1 to 6. Suppose you roll the die twenty times, there are
twenty possible outcomes. Let us record the results of rolling the die 20 times.

Possible face of the die after each No. of times the face appeared [(x):n]
roll (x)
1 3
2 7
3 4
4 3
5 2
6 1

1. What is the chance that when a die is rolled, the number 2 will
appear? The number 5?

2. How can we show graphically the probability of the occurrence of an

event?

Recall that since the data to be obtained by rolling a die are whole
numbers from 1 to 6, the variable is considered discrete random
variable.

Let us consider how to describe a discrete random variable.

Since the die is rolled 20 times, the total number of occurrences (N) in
the experiment is 20 observations [N=20].

From the table, the number of times the possible outcome “2” (x = 2)
has occurred [(x):n] is 7 or [(2):7].
The chance that a “2” will appear when a die is rolled is the quotient of
dividing the number of occurrences associated to the value [(x):n] by the
total number of observations N. Thus, we get 7/20. This is also known
as the probability of occurrence.
The probability mass function for this random variable is given by P(x) =
[(x):n]/N.
We extend this and say that the probability that a “5” will appear when
a die is rolled is 2/20.

To represent the distribution graphically, we can use a histogram.

The histogram is constructed by doing the following:
1. Assign the probability values on the vertical grid.
2. Assign the discrete random variable (x) on the horizontal grid.
3. Use thin lines or sticks to replace the thick bars.

Let us come up with the following table for the die rolling experiment.

Outcomes (x) No. of [(x):n]/N P(x)

Occurrences
[(x):n]
1 3 3/20 0.15
2 7 7/20 0.35
3 4 4/20 0.20
4 3 3/20 0.15
5 2 2/20 0.10
6 1 1/20 0.05
N=20
∑ P ( x )=1.00

The following is the histogram showing the probability distribution

of the die rolling experiment.
From the above, the following observations and analysis can be
made:

Properties of Probability Distribution:

1. In a discrete probability distribution, the probability values for all its

possible outcomes are greater than or equal to zero [P(x)≥ 0]
2. The sum of the probability values associated to the corresponding outcome
is equal to one [ ∑ P ( x )=1 ]
3. The probability mass function (PMF) is an equation that defines the
relationship between an outcome and its associated probability. [P(x) = (x):n/N]
4. The probability value is the proportion of frequency of occurrences relative to
the total number of occurrences.
5. Since probability is a measure of chance, the probability value of 0.35 for
x=2 would mean that there is 35% chance that “2” will appear as a result of
tossing the particular die in the experiment. Also, since the probability value of
0.35 is higher than the other probability values, the possibility of getting “2”
when you roll a die is better than any possible outcome.

What’s New

Key Concepts
Discrete Probability Distribution – distribution of assigned probabilities associated
with a discrete random variable.

Probability Distribution – an organized tabulation of assigned probabilities

associated with the outcomes of a random variable.

Probability mass function – an equation that defines the relationship between an

outcome and its associated probability.

Probability Value – the ratio of frequency of occurrences relative to the total number
of occurrences.

Random Variable – a function that assigns a numerical value to each outcome of the
experiment.

Coefficient of Variation – the percentage variability of the mean.

Population mean or Expected Value – a parameter or a population characteristic

that describes the center or common data in the distribution.

Population Variance – a parameter that measures the average squared distance or

deviation of each item in the data from the mean.

What is It
A laboratory supervisor in a type III hospital is investigating the number of reported
on-the-job training accidents over a period of 1 month. Based on past records, she has
derived the following probability distribution for x; where x is the number of reported
accidents per month.

Accidents Probability P(x)

Reported(x)
0 0.50
1 0.25
2 0.10
3 0.10
4 0.05

To calculate the population mean (µ):

Formula: µ = ∑ ( x ¿ . P( x ))¿
µ = (0) (0.50) + (1) (0.25) + (2) (0.10) + (3) (0.10) + (4) (0.05)
= 0.95
There is 0.95 ( nearly 1) accident reported on the average per month.

To determine the variance and standard deviation:

x P(x) x. P(x) x- µ ( x )2.P(x)

0 0.5 0 (0-0.5) 0
1 0.25 0.25 (1-0.25) 0.25
2 0.1 0.2 (2-0.1) 0.4
3 0.1 0.3 (3-0.1) 0.9
4 0.05 0.2 (4-0.05) 0.8
Total 1 0.95(mean) 2.35

Variance:
Formula: σ =[ x 2 . P ( x ) ] −mean
σ =2.35− (.95 )2
= 1.45

Standard deviation: √ σ = √ 1.45 = 1.20

Formulas:
Mean(µ) = x. P(x) (multiply each random variable to its corresponding
probability)

Variance (σ ¿=¿

Where:

x.P(x) is the mean

Standard Deviation (√ σ ¿ = √ ¿ ¿ = √ variance

 What’s More

Answer what is asked in the problem.

Problem: In one of the meeting in a Statistics class, the professor decided to

give a surprise quiz to check if they are studying their lessons at home.
Johnny, who is not very serious in his studies, is not performing well in the
course because he is absent most of the time. Since he is not ready for the
quiz, he intends to rely on luck to pass the quiz. The quiz consists of 5
multiple-choice questions. Each question has four options and only one of
which is correct. If Johnny plans to guess the answer to each question:

1. What is the probability that Johnny will get zero in the quiz?
2. What is the probability that Jonny will get a perfect score?
3. What is the probability that Jonny will get three correct answers?
4. If a score of less than 3 is considered a failing score, what is the probability
that he will fail in the quiz?

What I Have Learned

A. Write down the formula needed to solve the following.

1. Mean of Discrete Random Variable

______________________________________________________.

2. Variance of Discrete Random Variable

______________________________________________________.

B. Write down the differences Variables and Random Variables.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

18
 What I Can Do

Interview 5 friends and complete the table below.

Friend Age Size of Weight Height(cm) Grade Daily

family (kilo) in Math allowance

1
2
3
4
5

1. Classify each random variable.

2. Describe the values of each random variable.
 Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on
a separate sheet of paper.

1. A random variable which can only assume a finite number of value is a

_______.
a. Continuous random variable
b. Discrete random variable
c. Mass point
d. Probability mass function

2. The height in meters that a pole vaulter can clear in his final attempt is an
example of a _______.
a. Continuous random variable
b. Discrete random variable
c. Mass point
d. Probability mass function

3. Which of the following represents the average value of a random variable?

a. Expected value c. Standard deviation

b. Median d. Variance

For numbers 4 – 6
The probability mass function (PMF) of a discrete random variable is shown in
the table:
x -1 0 2 4
P(x) 0.1 0.3 p 0.25
4. What is the value of p?
a. 0.3 c. 0.4
b. 0.35 d. 0.45
5. What is P(x>0)?
a. 0.25 c. 0.50
b. 0.35 d. 0.60
6. What is the expected value of the random variable?
a. 1.0 c. 1.6
b. 1.5 d. 1.8

For numbers 7 and 8.

x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3

7. What is the
a. 1.4 c. 1.96
b. 1.6 d. 2.16
8. The random variable has mean equal to ________.
a. 2.2 c. 4.2
b. 3.2 d. 5.2
9. Which of the following is a property of a discrete probability distribution?
a. The sum of the probabilities for the values of random variable is equal to 1.
b. At least one of the values of a random variable has a probability equal to 0.5.
c. The probabilities of any two different values of a random variable are different.
d. The probability for every value of a random variable is positive and not greater
than 9.

10. Which of the following is NOT classified as a discrete probability

distribution?
a. Normal c. Hypergeometric
Distribution Distribution
b. Binomial d. Poisson
Distribution Distribution

11. Which of the following is NOT classified as continuous probability

distribution?
a. Uniform Distribution c. Exponential Distribution
b. Normal Distribution d. None of these

12. Which of the following experiment will result to a discrete random

variable?
a. Satisfaction rating of public servants
b. Duration
c. Audit of tax return errors
d. None of these

13. In rolling three dice, how many outcomes are possible?

a. 6 c. 120
b. 36 d. 150

14. In the experiment of tossing a fair coin 4 times, the probability

distribution of showing the number of tails in 4 tosses may be observed.
What is the probability of getting 3 tails?
a. 0.125 c. 0.375
b. 0.250 d. 0.350

15. Which of the following column items of a frequency distribution may be

used as the probability distribution?
 a. Frequency Distribution
b. Frequency Cumulative Distribution
c. Relative Frequency Distribution
d. None of these

Additional Activities
X is a discrete random variable, given its probability distribution below.

x P(x)

100 0.38
250 0.30
380 0.17
420 0.10
510 0.05

Answer the following:

1. What is the probability that x = 250?
2. What is the probability that x is below 420?
3. What is the probability that x is greater than 100 but less than 420?
4. What is the probability that x is greater than or equal to 380?
5. What makes the distribution a valid discrete probability distribution? Draw the
histogram for the variable x.
References
Calaca, Uy, Manalo, Noble. Statistics and Probability. Vibal Group Inc. 2016. Pp. 40-
74

Lim Yvette, Nocon Rizalde, Nocon Ederlena, Ruivivar Leonor. Statistics and
Probability for Senior High School. Sibs Publishing, Inc. 2016 pp. 32-53