Lesson 2

Mean of a
Discrete Random
Variable
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly calculate the mean of a discrete random

variable;

● correctly interpret the mean of a discrete random

variable; and

● accurately apply the concept of the mean of a

discrete random variable in real-life situations.
 Essential Questions

● What is the difference between the mean of a raw data to

the mean of a probability distribution?

● How does the interpretation of the mean affect our

understanding of the probability distribution?
 Warm Up!

Before we learn about the mean of a discrete random

variable, let us review about the basic concepts on central
measures of tendency through a game.

(Click the link below to access the game)

“Mean, Median and Mode Game.” Kids Math Games.

Retrieved 01 July 2019 from
http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/numbers/meanmedia
nmode.html
 Guide Questions

● How well did you answer the practice questions?

● What is the difference between mean, median and mode?

● How do you calculate for the mean?

 Learn about It!

1 Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

Let 𝑋 be a discrete random variable. The expected value of 𝑋, also referred to as
the mean of 𝑋, is
𝜇 = 𝐸 𝑋 = ෍[𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋)]

To compute for the mean of a discrete random variable,

follow these steps:
1. Construct the probability distribution
2. Determine the value of 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋)
3. Add all the values of 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋) to determine Σ[𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃 𝑋 ]
Learn about It!

2 Properties of the Mean of a Discrete Random

Variable
Let 𝑋 and 𝑌 be random variables and let 𝑎 and 𝑏 be constants. The following
properties hold:
1. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝜇 = 0
2. 𝐸 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏 = 𝑎𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑏
3. 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝐸(𝑌)
4. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝐸(𝑌)
5. 𝐸 𝑋𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 ⋅ 𝐸 𝑌 , provided that 𝑋 and 𝑌 are independent of each other.
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable 𝑋

with the following probability distribution.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
3 1
8
2 3
8
1 3
8
0 1
8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
1. Construct the column for 1
𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋). 3
8
2 3
8
1 3
8
0 1
8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
2. Multiply the value of 𝑋 by its 1 3
corresponding probability 3
8 8
value 𝑃(𝑋). 3 6
2
8 8
1 3 3
8 8
0 1 0
8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 2:
3. Find the mean or the expected value of the probability
distribution by getting the sum of the values under the
column 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋)
𝜇 =𝐸 𝑋 =෍ 𝑋⋅𝑃 𝑋

3 6 3
= + + +0
8 8 8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 2:
12
=
8
3
=
2
= 1.5
Therefore, the mean or the expected value of the probability
distribution is 𝟏. 𝟓.
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
1 0.09
2 0.16
3 0.17
4 0.28
5 0.25
6 0.05
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
1. Construct the column for 1 0.09
𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋). 2 0.16
3 0.17
4 0.28
5 0.25
6 0.05
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
2. Multiply the value of 𝑋 by its 1 0.09 0.09
corresponding probability value 2 0.16 0.32
𝑃(𝑋). 3 0.17 0.51
4 0.28 1.12
5 0.25 1.25
6 0.05 0.3
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 2: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
3. Find the mean or the 1 0.09 0.09
expected value of the 2 0.16 0.32
probability distribution by 3 0.17 0.51
getting the sum of the values 4 0.28 1.12
under the column 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋).
5 0.25 1.25
6 0.05 0.3
TOTAL 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 2: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
Thus, 𝐸 𝑋 = Σ 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃 𝑋 = 3.59. 1 0.09 0.09
The mean or the expected 2 0.16 0.32
value of the probability 3 0.17 0.51
distribution is 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗. 4 0.28 1.12
5 0.25 1.25
6 0.05 0.3
TOTAL 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

1. Given the probability distribution of a random variable 𝑋

below, compute for the expected value.
𝑿 1 2 3 4
1 1 2 3
𝑷(𝑿)
5 10 5 10
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

2. Construct a probability distribution for the random

variable 𝑋 that refers to the number of heads in tossing a
coin three times. Find the mean of the random variable 𝑋.
 Let’s Practice!

Group Practice: To be done in groups of two to five

The data shown on the Number of Probability
right is the number of Laptops 𝑳 𝑷(𝑳)
laptops sold per day during 0 0.10
the past six months and its 1 0.20
corresponding probability. 2 0.45
Compute for the expected 3 0.15
value of the laptop sales 4 0.05
and interpret its value. 5 0.05
Key Points

1 Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

Let 𝑋 be a discrete random variable. The expected value of 𝑋, also referred to as
the mean of 𝑋, is
𝜇 = 𝐸 𝑋 = ෍[𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋)]
Key Points

2 Properties of the Mean of a Discrete Random

Variable
Let 𝑋 and 𝑌 be random variables and let 𝑎 and 𝑏 be constants. The following
properties hold:
1. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝜇 = 0
2. 𝐸 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏 = 𝑎𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑏
3. 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝐸(𝑌)
4. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝐸(𝑌)
5. 𝐸 𝑋𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 ⋅ 𝐸 𝑌 , provided that 𝑋 and 𝑌 are independent of each other.
 Synthesis

● How do you determine the mean of a discrete random

variable?

● Why is it important to determine the expected value of a

discrete random variable?

● What do we mean when a data is dispersed?