Statistics and

Probability

Quarter 3 – Module 2:
Mean and Variance of Discrete
Random Variable

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 What I Need to Know

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable; (M11/12SP-IIIb- 2)
2. Calculate the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable; (M11/12SP-IIIb
2)
3. Interpret the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable;
(M11/12SP-IIIb-3) and

4. Solve problems involving mean and variance of probability distributions. (M11/12SP-

IIIb-4)

What I Know

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

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

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
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 5. The probabilities that a printer produces 0,1,2, and 3 misprints are 42%, 28%, 18%,
and 12% 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?
Y 0 1 2 3 4
P(y)

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 numbers 8 and 9.

Complete the table below using mean (µ) = 5. Write the answer in your answer sheets.
Probability Distribution Table of Random Variable X
X 2 4 6 8
P(x) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
(x-µ) ? ? ? ?
(x-µ)2 ? ? ? ?

10. Compute for the variance and standard deviation of the Probability
Distribution table of the Random 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

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 Lesson
Mean of the Discrete
1 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

Let’s find out if you are ready to learn this new lesson. Do the following, write your answer in
your answer sheet.

A. Given the values of the variables X and Y, evaluate the following summations.
X1 = 5, Y1 = 3 X3 = 3, Y3 = 1
X2 = 4, Y2 = 2 X4 = 2, Y4 = 0

(1) ∑ 𝑋 (3) ∑(𝑋 + 𝑌) (5) ∑ 4𝑋𝑌

(2) ∑ 𝑋𝑌 (4) ∑ 𝑌

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.

P(w)

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that will help you in

guiding the learners.

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 What’s New

Consider the outcomes of a coin tossed as a random event. The

probability of getting tail is or 50%, and the probability of getting head is 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 proba bility mass function. It is also called
as the Expected Value. It is computed using the formula :

µ = ∑ 𝑋𝑃 (𝑥 )

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

What is It
Examples:
1. Determine the mean or Expected Value of random variable below.

X 0 1 2 3 4
P(x)

Solution:
µ = ∑ ⟮𝑥𝑃(𝑥)⟯

= or 2
Therefore, mean 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

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Solution
µ = ∑ ⟮𝑋𝑃(𝑥)⟯
= ∑ ⟮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. The probabilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 items in a grocery store are

, , , , and , respectively. What is the average number of items that a customer

will 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 random variable X representing the

number of items that the customer will buy.

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

Step 3: Add the results obtained in Step 2. Results obtained is the mean of the probability

distribution.

Solution:

Steps Solution
1. Construct the probability Number of Items Probability P(x)
distribution for the random variable X X
representing the number of items that 1
the customer will buy.
2

2. Multiply the value of the random Number of Probability X  P(x)

variable X by the corresponding Items X P(x)
probability. 1

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 4

3. Add the results obtained in Step 2. Number of Probability

Results obtained is the mean (µ) of Items X P(x)
X  P(x)
the probability distribution. 1

TOTAL
= 3.1
Using the formula: µ
= ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = 𝟑𝟏 = 𝟑. 𝟏
𝟏𝟎

So, the mean of the probability distribution is 3.1. This implies that the average number
of items that the customer will buy is 3.1.

Lesson Variance and Standard

2 Deviation of the Discrete

Random Variable
The variance and standard deviation describe the amount of spread, dispersion, or
variability of the items in a distribution. How 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.

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 What’s New

Variance and Standard Deviation of a Random Variable

The variance and standard deviation are two values that describe
how scattered or spread out the scores are from the mean value of
the random variable. The variance, denoted as σ2, is determined
using the formula:
σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)

The standard deviation σ is the square root of the variance, thus,

σ = ඥ∑(𝑥 − µ)²𝑝(𝑥 )

σ2 - variance σ – standard deviation

µ - mean p(x) – probability of the outcome

What 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.

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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.

STEPS SOLUTION
1. Find the mean of the probability Number of Probability X P(x)
distribution using the formula: µ = Car Sold X P(x)
∑ 𝑋𝑃(𝑥)
0 0.1 0
1 0.2 0.2
2 0.3 0.6
3 0.2 0.6
4 0.2 0.8
TOTAL 2.2
µ = ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = 𝟐. 𝟐
2. Subtract the mean from each X P(x) X-µ
X · P(x)
value of the random variable X.
0 0.1 0 0 – 2.2 =
-2.2
1 0.2 0.2 1 – 2.2 =
-1.2
2 0.3 0.6 2 – 2.2 =
- 0.2
3 0.2 0.6 3 – 2.2 =
0.8
4 0.2 0.8 4 – 2.2 =
1.8

3. Square the results obtained in X P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2

X · P(x)
Step 2.
0 0.1 0 -2.2 4.84
1 0.2 0.2 -1.2 1.44
2 0.3 0.6 -0.2 0.04
3 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.64
4 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.24

4. Multiply the results obtained in X P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2

X·P(x) (X - µ)2 · P(x)
Step 3 by the corresponding
probability. 0 0.1 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484
1 0.2 0.2 -1.2 1.44 0.288
2 0.3 0.6 -0.2 0.04 0.012
3 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.64 0.128
4 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.24 0.648

5. Get the sum of the results X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2

(X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 4. The result is
0 0.1 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484
the value of the variance. So, the
1 0.2 0.2 -1.2 1.44 0.288
formula is: 2 0.3 0.6 -0.2 0.04 0.012
3 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.64 0.128

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 σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x) 4 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.24 0.648
TOTAL 1.56

σ2 = ∑(𝒙 − µ)2p(x) = 1.56

To Solve for Standard Deviation:

Get the square root of the variance σ2 =

∑(𝑥 − 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. When three coins are tossed once, the probability distribution for the random variable
X representing the number of heads that occur is given below. Compute the variance and
standard deviation of the probability distribution.

Solution:

Follow the steps in finding variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.

STEPS SOLUTION
1. Find the mean of the probability Number of Probability X · P(x)
distribution using the formula µ = Heads P(x)
∑ 𝑋𝑃(𝑥) X
0 1/8 0

1 3/8 3/8

2 3/8 6/8

3 1/8 3/8

TOTAL

µ= ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = = 𝟏. 𝟓
2. Subtract the mean from each X P(x) X-µ
X · P(x)
value of the random variable X.
0 0 0 – 1.5 =
-1.5
1 1 – 1.5 =
-0.5

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 2 2 – 1.5 =
0.5

3 3 – 1.5 =
1.5

3. Square the results obtained in X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2

Step 2. 0 0 -1.5 2.25

1 -0.5 0.25

2 0.5 0.25

3 1.5 2.25

4. Multiply the results obtained in X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
Step 3 by the corresponding
probability. 0 0 -1.5 2.25 2.25/8 =
0.28

1 -0.5 0.25 0.75/8 =

0.09
2 3 0.5 0.25 0.75/8 =
0.09

3 1.5 2.25 2.25/8 =

0.28

5. Get the sum of the results X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 4. The result is
0 0 -1.5 2.25 0.28
the value of the variance (σ2). The
formula is:
1 3 -0.5 0.25 0.09

σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)
2 0.5 0.25 0.09

3 1.5 2.25 0.28

TOTAL 0.74

σ2 = ∑(𝒙 − µ)2p(x) = 0.74

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To solve for Standard Deviation

σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − 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

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

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

3.
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) = , P(2) = , and P(3) = .
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 mean of the
probability distribution.

B. Determine the Variance and Standard Deviation of each random variable. Write your
answer in your answer sheets.

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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.
X 1 2 3 4 5
P(x)

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 X Probability P(x)

19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10

What I Have 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.

Assessment

Directions: Find the mean, variance, and standard deviation of the following probability
distribution then interpret the computed values. Write your answer in your answer sheets.
1. Variable z representing the number of male teachers per Elementary school.
z 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
probability distribution below. Find the expected number of mobile phones that will be
sold in one day.

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 x 30 33 38 40 50
P(x) 0.2 0.2 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

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 Answer Key

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