MATH03

Statistics and Probability

DISCRETE PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
COURSE OUTCOME 2
 Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to :
• List the possible values of a discrete random variable.
• Illustrate discrete probability distribution and its properties.
• Compute probabilities corresponding to a given discrete random variable.
• Calculate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable

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CO2 Topics
Random Variables and Probability Distributions
Definition of terms
Discrete Random
Variables

Discrete Probability Distribution and its Properties

Probability Mass Function of a Discrete Random Variable and its
Histogram
Some Discrete Probability Distributions (Binomial, Poisson,
Hypergeometric Distributions)

Laws of Expected Value and Variance

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Applications involving Mean and Variance of Discrete Probability
Distributions

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Randomness plays dominant role in our lives. Most things happen
randomly. For example, consider the following events: getting
involved in an accident, losing a job, having COVID case in the whole
world, who will win in a basketball game? Who would have thought
that this pandemic will happen to us? All of these events are uncertain,
and they happen randomly to people.

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Random Variable
A random variable is a variable whose value is determined by the outcome
of a random experiment. It is a function that assigns a real number to each
outcome in the sample space of a random experiment.

Notation
• Uppercase letter such as X
• The measured value is denoted by a lowercase letter such as
x = 70 milliamperes
• For multiple values, subscripts are used (x1, x2, x3, …)

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Discrete Random Variable vs
Continuous Random Variable
A random variable that assumes countable values is called a discrete
random variable.
Example: Number of active COVID patients in Metro Manila, Number of
students who take the Basic Statistics exam

A random variable that can assume any value contained in one or more
intervals is called a continuous random variable.
Example: The length of the book cover , the distance travelled from
home to school

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Exercises:

Classify each of the following random variables as discrete or

continuous.
1. The regular price of a bicycle
2. The number of books in the main library
3. The time left for a student to answer the test
4. The number of typographical errors in a rough draft of a book
5. The number of cars passing through EDSA Roadway everyday

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Exercises:
Classify each of the following random variables as discrete or
continuous.
1. The regular price of a bicycle Continuous
2. The number of books in the main library Discrete
3. The time left for a student to answer the test Continuous
4. The number of typographical errors in a rough draft of a Discrete
book Discrete
5. The number of cars passing through EDSA Roadway everyday

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Characteristics of a Probability Distribution
These are the characteristics of a Probability Distribution:

1. Each probability listed in the P(x) column is in the range zero to 1.0, inclusive.

0 ≤ 𝑃𝑥 ≤ 1; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑥

2. The sum of all the probabilities listed in the P(x) column is 1.0.

෍ 𝑃𝑥 =1

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 X 0 5 10 15 20
A
P(X) 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5

VALID PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

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 X 0 2 4 6
B
P(X) -1. 0 1. 5 0. 3 0. 2

INVALID PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

0 ≤ 𝑃(𝑋) ≤ 1
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 X 2 3 7
C
P(X) 0. 5 0. 3 0. 4

INVALID PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

෍ 𝑃𝑋 =1
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Example 1
Use the probability distribution listed in the given table, determine the
requested probabilities.
x ─2 ─1 0 1 2
P(x) 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1

a. 𝑃(𝑥 ≤ 2)
b. 𝑃(𝑥 > −2)
c. 𝑃(−1 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 1)
d. 𝑃(𝑥 ≤ −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 2)

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Example 1a
Use the probability distribution listed in the given table, determine the
requested probabilities.
x ─2 ─1 0 1 2
P(x) 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1

a. 𝑃(𝑥 ≤ 2)
= 𝑃 𝑋 = −2 + 𝑃 𝑋 = −1 + 𝑃 𝑋 = 0 + 𝑃 𝑋 = 1 + 𝑃(𝑋 = 2)
= 0.2 + 0.4 + 0.1 + 0.2 + 0.1
=1

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Example 1b
Use the probability distribution listed in the given table, determine the
requested probabilities.
x ─2 ─1 0 1 2
P(x) 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1

b. 𝑃(𝑥 > −2)

= 𝑃 𝑋 = −1 + 𝑃 𝑋 = 0 + 𝑃 𝑋 = 1 + 𝑃(𝑋 = 2)
= 0.4 + 0.1 + 0.2 + 0.1
= 0.8

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Example 1c
Use the probability distribution listed in the given table, determine the
requested probabilities.
x ─2 ─1 0 1 2
P(x) 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1

c. 𝑃(−1 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 1)
= 𝑃 𝑋 = −1 + 𝑃 𝑋 = 0 + 𝑃 𝑋 = 1
= 0.4 + 0.1 + 0.2
= 0.7

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Example 1d
Use the probability distribution listed in the given table, determine the
requested probabilities.
x ─2 ─1 0 1 2
P(x) 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1

d. 𝑃(𝑥 ≤ −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 2)
= 𝑃 𝑋 = −2 + 𝑃 𝑋 = −1 + 𝑃(𝑋 = 2)
= 0.2 + 0.4 + 0.1
= 0.7

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Probability Distribution of a
Discrete Random Variable
Let X be a discrete random variable. The probability
distribution of X describes how the probabilities are distributed over all
the possible values of X.

The probability distribution of a discrete random variable lists all the

possible values that the discrete random variable X can assume and
their corresponding probabilities P(X).

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Example of Discrete Probability Distribution

Example 1: Construct a probability distribution for rolling a single die.

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Example of Discrete Probability Distribution

Example 1: Construct a probability distribution for rolling a single die.

Outcome (X) 1 2 3 4 5 6
Probability P(X) 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6

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Example of Discrete Probability Distribution
Example 2: Construct the probability distribution for the sample space
for tossing three coins where X represent the number of heads.

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Example of Discrete Probability Distribution
Example 2: Construct the probability distribution for the sample space
for tossing three coins where X represent the number of heads.
The possible outcomes for such an
experiment will be: TTT, TTH, THT,
THH, HTT, HTH, HHT, HHH.
Thus, the possible values of x (number
of heads) are
x=0: TTT
x=1: TTH, THT, HTT
x=2: THH, HTH, HHT
x=3: HHH

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Example of Discrete Probability Distribution
Example 2: Construct the probability distribution for the sample space for
tossing three coins where X represent the number of heads.

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Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable
The mean or expected value of the discrete random variable X, denoted by 𝜇
or 𝐸(𝑥), is
𝜇 = 𝐸 𝑥 = ෍ 𝑥𝑃(𝑥)

The variance of X, denoted as

𝜎2 = 𝑉 𝑋 = 𝑥−𝜇 2
= 𝑥−𝜇 2
𝑃(𝑥)
𝐸 ෍

𝜎2 = 𝑉 𝑋 =෍ − 𝜇2
𝑥2𝑃
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 𝑥

The standard deviation of X is 𝜎 = 𝜎 2

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Example 1
Given the probability distribution for the sample space for tossing three
coins where X represent the number of heads, find the mean and
standard deviation of the distribution.

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Example 1
Given the probability distribution for the sample space for tossing three
coins where X represent the number of heads, find the mean of the
distribution.

𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝜇 = ෍ 3 3 1
= 𝟑
𝑋 = 01 + 18 + 28 + 8 � = 𝟏.𝟓
𝑋𝑃 8
3

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Example 1
Given the probability distribution for the sample space for tossing three
coins where X represent the number of heads, find the mean of the
distribution.

𝑋𝑃(𝑋) 3 6 3
0 8 8 8
𝑋2𝑃(𝑋) 3 12 9
0 8 8 8

𝜎 2 = ∑𝑥2𝑃 3 129
𝑥 − 𝜇 = 0 ++
2
8 + − 1.52 = 3 − 2.25 = 0.75
88
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𝜎2 =0.75 = 0.87

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Example 2
The probability distribution shown represents the number of trips of
five nights or more that American adults take per year. (That is, 6% do
not take any trips lasting five nights or more, 70% take one trip lasting
five nights or more per year, etc.) Find the mean.

Number of trips (X) 0 1 2 3 4

Probability P(X) 0.06 0.70 0.20 0.03 0.01

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Example 2
The probability distribution shown represents the number of trips of five
nights or more that American adults take per year. (That is, 6% do not take
any trips lasting five nights or more, 70% take one trip lasting five nights or
more per year, etc.) Find the mean.

Number of trips (X) 0 1 2 3 4

Probability P(X) 0.06 0.70 0.20 0.03 0.01
𝑿(𝑷 𝑿 ) 0 0.70 0.40 0.09 0.04

𝜇 = ෍ 𝑋𝑃𝑋 = 0 + 0.70 + 0.40 + 0.09 + 0.04 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟑

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Example 3
A talk radio station has four telephone lines. If the host is unable to
talk (i.e., during a commercial) or is talking to a person, the other
callers are placed on hold. When all lines are in use, others who are
trying to call in get a busy signal. The probability that 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4
people will get through is shown in the distribution. Find the variance
and standard deviation for the distribution.

X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.18 0.34 0.23 0.21 0.04

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Example 3
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.18 0.34 0.23 0.21 0.04
XP(X) 0 0.34 0.46 0.63 0.16
𝑋 2𝑃(𝑋) 0 0.34 0.92 1.89 0.64

𝜇 = ෍ 𝑋𝑃𝑋 = 0 + 0.34 + 0.46 + 0.63 + 0.16 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟗

෍ 𝑥 2𝑃(𝑥) = 0 + 0.34 + 0.92 + 1.89 + 0.64 = 3.79

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 Example 3

𝜎 2 = ∑ 𝑥 2𝑃(𝑥) − 𝜇2 = 3.79 − 1.59 2

≈ 𝟏. 𝟐𝟔 Variance

𝝈 = 1.262 ≈ 𝟏. 𝟏𝟐 Standard Deviation

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Example 4
One thousand tickets are sold at $1 each for four prizes of $100, $50, $25,
and $10. After each prize drawing, the winning ticket is then returned to
the pool of tickets. What is the expected value if you purchase two
tickets?

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Example 4
One thousand tickets are sold at $1 each for four prizes of $100, $50,
$25, and $10. After each prize drawing, the winning ticket is then
returned to the pool of tickets. What is the expected value if you
purchase two tickets?
Gain X $98 $48 $23 $8 - $2
2 2 2 2 992
Probability P(X)
1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

E  X  $98  2
 $48  2
 $23  2

 1000 1000 1000

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 $8  2
  $2   992
 $1.63
1000 1000

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Resources
• Mann, P. (2015). Introductory Statistics, 9th Edition. John Wiley
and Sons, Inc.

• Bluman, A. (2017). Elementary Statistics: A Step By Step

Approach, 10th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education

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End of Presentation