THIRD QUARTER

MODULE NO. II

TOPIC: RANDOM VARIABLES AND PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

RANDOM VARIABLE is a variable assigns a numerical value to each outcome of a random event.

TYPES OF RANDOM VARIABLE

A. DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE

 Its set of all possible outcomes is countable. Mostly, it represrents count data such as the number of defective chairs
produced in a factory.
 Whole number from 0 to infinity
 Takes on countable number of distinct values which are whole numbers.

Examples:

a. Number of defective computers produced by manufacturers.

b. Grade level of students
c. Delegates of Upcoming CARAA 2024
d. Blood type of students

B. CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE

 It takes values on values on a continuous scale, often, it represents measured data such as heights, weight and
temperature.
 Measurement
 Assumes an infinite number of possible values including the decimals between two counting numbers.

Examples

a. Frequency of radio station

b. Lifetime in hours of flashlights
c. Time needed to finish your examination
d. Unemployment rate in Tabuk city
e. Amount of sugar in a cup of coffee.

NOTE: Discrete data involves round, concrete numbers that are determined by counting while continuous data involves complex
numbers that are measured across a specific time interval.

EXAMPLES OF RANDOM VARIABLES

1. When two coins are tossed and the random variable X is defined as the number of heads appear, identify the range space?
Two Coins: S = { HH, HT, TH, TT} {2,1,1,0} or { 0,1,2}
*X: Number of heads appears * Range Space = {0,1,2}
Note: In Identifying the range space, arrange it from smallest to highest. If the number are being repeated you can make it
as one. Example: { 1,2,2,3} or {1,2,3}

2. Consider the random event of tossing four coins and the variable X gives the number of heads appear.
Identify the range space?
Multiplication rule: 4 x 4 = 16 outcomes
HHHH-4 HTHH-3 THHH-3 TTHH-2
HHHT-3 HTHT-2 THHT-2 TTHT-1
HHTH-3 HTTH-2 THTH-2 TTTH-1
HHTT-2 HTTT-1 THTT-1 TTTT-0

Note: Count the number of heads appear the summarize it from lowest to highest number.
*X: Number of heads appear * Range Space = {0,1,2,3,4}

PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
 Also called as Probability Mass Function
 Consists of the values a random variable can assume and the corresponding probabilities of the values.

NUMBER OF HEADS APPEAR (X) 0 1 2 3 4

P{X) 0.0625 0.25 0.375 0.25 0.0625
Note: Refer to Example no. 3 of random variables.
1
*P(0) = or 0.0625 (TTTT:1)
16
or 0.25 (HTTT, THTT, TTHT, TTTH : 4)
4
*P(1)=
16
*P(2)= or 0.375 (HHTT, HTHT, HTTH, THHT, THTH, TTHH: 6)
6
16
*P(3)= or 0.25 (HHHT, HHTH, HTHH, THHH : 4)
4
16
*P(4)= ∨0.0625 (HHHH : 1)
1
16

2.A card is drawn from a deck of 20 cards (all cards numbered from 1 to 5). And the random variables W
gives the number of cards. Construct a probability distribution?
* W: number of card * Range Space:{1,2,3,4,5}

P(W = 1)= = =0.2 Number of heads 1 2 3 4 5

4 1
(W)
20 5
P(W = 2)= = =0.2 P(W) 0. 0. 0.2 0. 0.2
4 1
2 2 2
20 5
P(W = 3)= = =0.2
4 1
20 5
P(W = 4)= = =0.2
4 1
20 5
P(W = 5)= = =0.2 Note: Reduce your answer into its lowest term and convert it to decimal.
4 1
20 5

MEAN ODF DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE

 It is the central value or average of its corresponding probability mass function.

Examples:
1. Find the mean of the probability distribution involving the random variable X that gives the
number of heads that appear after tossing four coins?
HHHH HTHH THHH TTHH
HHHT HTHT THHT TTHT
HHTH HTTH THTH TTTH
HHTT HTTT THTT TTTT
Number of heads (X) 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.0625 0.0625 0.0625 0.0625 0.065

Note: The symbol for mean (µ)

Mean (µ) = (0 x 0.0625) + (1 x 0.0625) + (2 x 0.0625) + (3 x 0.0625) + (4 x 0.0625)
Mean (µ) = 0 + 0.25 + 0.75 + 0.75 + 0.25
Mean (µ) = 2

Explanation: In finding the mean, multiply the number of heads (X) to their corresponding P(X), then add all the products to get
the mean of a discrete random variable.

2. Probability that a printer produces 0,1,2,3 misprints are 42%,28%,18% and 12%. Construct a probability mass function
and then mean value of the random variable.
Number of misprints (X) 0 1 2 3
P(X) 0.42 0.28 0.18 0.12

Mean (µ) = (0 x 0.42) +( 1 x 0.28) +( 2 x 0.18) +( 3 x 0.12)

Mean (µ) = (0 + 0.28 + 0.36 + 0.36)
Mean (µ) = 1
 RANDOM EVENTS even how “random” they may be understood through assigning a random variable. Probability
distribution can be used to represent and solve problems concerning randomness of an event in the real world.

VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION

Two values that describe how scattered or spread out the scores are from the mean value of the random variable.
Variance Formula STANDARD DEVIATION FORMULA
 σ = ∑ x 2 x P(X) - µ2 σ =√ ∑ x 2 x P( X )−µ2
X:Value of the random Variable
P(X): Probability of the random variable X
µ: mean of the probability distribution
Note: Don not be confused with the formula, it is not as complicated as you always think or see. The only difference
between variance and standard deviation is the square root symbol (√ ¿. If you already find the variance, just get the square
root of it and that is the standard deviation.

EXAMPLES
1. The number of car sold per day at a local car dealership, along with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the
succeeding table. Compute for the variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.

Number of car sold (X) Probability P(X) X.P(X) 2

X x P(X)
0 1 1 2 1
0x =0 0 x =0
10 10 10
1 2 2 2 2 2 2
1x = 1 x =
10 10 10 10 10
2 3 3 6 2 3 12
2x = 2 x =
10 10 10 10 10
3 2 2 6 2 2 18
3x = 3 x =
10 10 10 10 10
4 2 2 8 2 2 32
4x = 4 x =
10 10 10 10 10
22 2 64
µ/ ∑ X.P(X) = ∨2.20 ∑X x P ( X ) = ∨6.4
10 10

2 2
σ = ∑ x x P(X) - µ
2
σ = √ ∑ x 2 x P (X )−µ2
2
σ = 6.4 – (2.20 ¿ ¿
2
σ = √ 1.56
2
σ = 6.4 – 4.84 σ = 1.25 Note: Round off your answer into two decimal places
ONLY.
2
σ = 1.56

STEPS IN GETTING THE VARIANCE AND STANDANRD DEVIATION

A. First, Multiply X and P(X) and get the PRODUCT.
B. Second, get the mean ( refer to your page 2 and 3 of your module)
2 6 6 8 22
µ/∑ X. P (X) = 0 + + + + = or 2.20
10 10 10 10 10
C. Third, get first the square root of each given X then multiply it to their corresponding P(X).
2 12 18 32 64
∑ X 2 x P(X) = 0 + + + + = or 6.4
10 10 10 10 10
D. Fourth, apply now the formula for variance.
E. Fifth, apply the formula of Standard Deviation
Note: Always remember the five steps of finding the variance and standard deviation and follow the formula given.

2. The number of item sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table below. Find
the variance and standard deviation.

Number of items sold (X) Probability X . P(X) 2

X × P(X)
19 0.20 3.8 72.2
20 0.20 4 80
21 0.30 6.3 132.21
22 0.20 4.4 96.8
23 0.10 2.3 52.9
µ/∑ X.P(X) = 20.8 ∑ X 2 x P ( X ) =434.11

2 2
σ = ∑ x x P(X) - µ
2
σ = √ ∑ x 2 x P (X )−µ2
2
σ = 434.11 – (20.8 ¿ ¿
2
σ = √ 1.47
2
σ = 434.11 – 432.64 σ = 1.21 Note: Round off your answer into two decimal places
ONLY.
2
σ = 1.47
 3. 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.
(X) P(X) X.P(X) 2
X × P(X)
30 0.2 6 180
33 0.2 6.6 217.8
38 0.35 13.3 505.4
40 0.23 9.2 368
50 0.02 1 50
µ/¿∑ X.P(X) = 36.1 ∑ X 2 x P ( X ) = 1,321.2

2 2
σ = ∑ x x P(X) - µ
2
σ = √ ∑ x 2 x P (X )−µ2
2
σ = 1321.2– (36.1 ¿ ¿
2
σ = √ 17.99
2
σ = 1321.2 – 1303.21 σ = 4.24 Note: Round off your answer into two decimal places ONLY.
2
σ = 17.99

Prepared by: JAL