Statistics and

Probability
Quarter 3 – Module 1:
Random Variables 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
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions,
exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-bystep
as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each

SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you
need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of
the lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check
your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust that you
will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can
best help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part
of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. And
read the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the
tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.
 What I Need to Know

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Illustrate a random variable (discrete or continuous).

M11/12SP-IIIa-1
2. Distinguish between a discrete and continuous random variable.
M11/12SPIIIa-2
3. Find possible values of a random variable. M11/12SP-IIIa-3
4. Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its
properties. M11/12SP-IIIa-4
5. Compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable. M11/12SP-
IIIa-6

1
 What I Know

DIRECTION: Write your answer on a separate sheet of

paper.

A. Read the statements carefully and choose the letter of the best
answer.

1. If two coins are tossed once, which is NOT a possible value of the random
variable for the number of heads?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3

2. Which of the following is a discrete random variable?

A. Length of wire ropes
B. Number of soldiers in the troop
C. Amount of paint used in repainting the building
D. Voltage of car batteries

3. Which formula gives the probability distribution shown by the table?

X 3 4 5
P(X) 1/3 1/4 1/5

A. P(X) = X
B. P(X) = 1/X
C. P(X) = X/3
D. P(X) = X/5

4. How many ways are there in tossing two coins once?

A. 4 B. 3 C. 2
D. 1

5. It is a numerical quantity that is assigned to the outcome of an experiment.

A. random variable
B. variable
C. probability
D. probability distribution

B. Classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.

2
 1. The weight of the professional wrestlers
2. The number of winners in lotto for each day
3. The area of lots in an exclusive subdivision
4. The speed of a car
5. The number of dropouts in a school per district

C. Determine the values of the random variables in each of the following

distributions.

1. Two coins are tossed. Let T be the number of tails that occur. Determine
the values of the random variable T.

2. A meeting of envoys was attended by 4 Koreans and 2 Filipinos. If three

envoys were selected at random one after the other, determine the values
of the random variable F representing the number of Filipinos.

3
 Lesson
Random Variables and
1 Probability Distribution
You have learned in your past lessons in junior high school Mathematics that
an experiment or trial is any procedure or activity that can be done repeatedly under
similar conditions. The set of all possible outcomes in an experiment is called the
sample space. The concept of probability distribution is very important in analyzing
statistical data especially in hypothesis testing.

In this lesson, you will explore and understand the random variable.

Before we discuss probability distribution, it is necessary to study first the

concept of random variable. Try to do the next activity to prepare you for this lesson.
Stay focused.

What’s In

A. Identify the term being described in each of the following:

1. Any activity which can be done repeatedly under similar conditions
2. The set of all possible outcomes in an experiment
3. A subset of a sample space
4. The elements in a sample space
5. The ratio of the number of favorable outcomes to the number of
possible outcomes
B. Answer the following questions.
1. In how many ways can two coins fall?
2. If three coins are tossed, in how many ways can they fall?
3. In how many ways can a die fall?
4. In how many ways can two dice fall?
5. How many ways are there in tossing one coin and rolling a die?

Notes to the Teacher

This part aims to assess if the students have prior
knowledge about the topic. Also, it prepares the students to
absorb the lesson.

4
 What’s New

Mary Ann, Hazel, and Analyn want to know what numbers can be assigned for
the frequency of heads that will occur in tossing three coins. Can you help
them? Thanks!

The answer in this question requires an understanding of random variables.

You can do it! Aja!

Definition s of Random Variable

A random variable is a result of chance event, that you can measure or

count.
A random variable is a numerical quantity that is assigned to the
outcome of an experiment. It is a variable that assumes numerical
values associated with the events of an experiment.
A random variable is a quantitativ e variable which values depends on
change.

NOTE:
We use capital letters to represent a random variable.

Example 1

Suppose two coins are tossed and we are interested to determine the number
of tails that will come out. Let us use T to represent the number of tails that will come
out. Determine the values of the random variable T.

Solution:

Steps Solution

5
 1. List the sample space S = {HH, HT, TH, TT}

2. Count the number of tails in

each outcome and assign
this number to this Outcome
Number of Tails
outcome.
(Value of T)

HH 0

HT 1

TH 1

TT 2
3. Conclusion
The values of the random variable T (number of
tails) in this experiment are 0, 1 and 2.

Example 2

Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an urn containing 5
orange balls and 6 violet balls. Let V be the random variable representing the number
of violet balls. Find the values of the random variable V.

Solution:

Steps Solution

1. List the sample space S = {OO, OV, VO, VV}

2. Count the number of violet

balls in each outcome and Outcome
assign this number to this Number of Violet
outcome. balls
(Value of V)

OO 0

OV 1

VO 1

VV 2
3. Conclusion
The values of the random variable V (number of
violet balls) in this experiment are 0, 1, and 2.

Example 3

6
 A basket contains 10 red balls and 4 white balls. If three balls are taken from
the basket one after the other, determine the possible values of the random variable
R representing the number of red balls.

Solution:

Steps Solution
1. List the sample space
S = {RRR, RRW, RWR, WRR, WWR, WRW,
RWW, WWW}
2. Count the number of red
balls in each outcome and
assign this number to this Outcome
Number of Red balls
outcome.
(Value of R)

RRR 3

RRW 2

RWR 2

WRR 2

WWR 1

WRW 1

RWW 1

WWW 0
3. Conclusion
The values of the random variable R (number of
red balls) in this experiment are 0, 1, 2, and 3.

Example 4

Four coins are tossed. Let T be the random variable representing the number
of tails that occur. Find the values of the random variable T.

Solution:

Steps Solution
1. List the sample space
S = {HHHH, HHHT, HHTH, HHTT, HTHH,
HTHT, HTTH, HTTT, THHH, THHT, THTH,
THTT, TTHH, TTHT, TTTH, TTTT}

7
 2. Count the number of tails Outcome
Number of tails
in each outcome and
assign this number to this (Value of T)
outcome.
HHHH 0

HHHT 1

HHTH 1

HHTT 2

HTHH 1

HTHT 2

HTTH 2

HTTT 3

THHH 1

THHT 2

THTH 2

THTT 3

TTHH 2

TTHT 3

TTTH 3

TTTT 4
3. Conclusion
The values of the random variable T (number of
tails) in this experiment are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Example 5

A pair of dice is rolled. Let X be the random variable representing the sum of
the number of dots on the top faces. Find the values of the random variable X.

Solution:

Steps Solution

8
 1. List the sample space

S=
{(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (1, 4), (1, 5), (1, 6),
(2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3), (2, 4), (2, 5), (2, 6),
(3, 1), (3, 2), (3, 3), (3, 4), (3, 5), (3, 6),
(4, 1), (4, 2), (4, 3), (4, 4), (4, 5), (4, 6),
(5, 1), (5, 2), (5, 3), (5, 4), (5, 5), (5, 6),
(6, 1), (6, 2), (6, 3), (6, 4), (6, 5), (6, 6)}
2. Count the sum of the
number of dots in each Outcome
outcome and assign this Sum of the number of
number to this outcome. dots
(Value of X)

(1, 1) 2

(1, 2), (2, 1) 3

(1, 3), (3, 1), (2, 2) 4
5
(1, 4), (4, 1), (2,
3), (3, 2)
6
(1, 5), (5, 1), (2,
4), (4, 2), (3, 3)
7
(1, 6), (6, 1), (2,
5), (5, 2), (4, 3),
(3, 4)
8
(3, 5), (5, 3), (2,
6), (6, 2), (4, 4)
9
(5, 4), (4, 5), (6,
3), (3, 6)
(6, 4), (4, 6), (5, 5) 10

(5, 6), (6, 5) 11

(6, 6) 12
3. Conclusion
The values of the random variable X (sum of the
number of dots) in this experiment are 2, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Discrete and Continuous Random Variable

A random variable may be classified as discrete and continuous. A discrete random
variable has a countable number of possible values. A continuous random variable
can assume an infinite number of values in one or more intervals.
9
Examples:
Discrete Random Variable Continuous Random Variable
Number of pens in a box Amount of antibiotics in the vial
Number of ants in a colony Length of electric wires
Number of ripe bananas in a basket Voltage of car batteries
Number of COVID 19 positive cases in Weight of newborn in the hospital
Hermosa, Bataan
Number of defective batteries Amount of sugar in a cup of coffee

What is It

In the previous grade levels in studying Mathematics, we have learned how to make
a frequency distribution table given a set of raw data. In this part, you will learn how
to construct a probability distribution.

In the previous part of this module, you already learned how to determine the
values of discrete random variable. Constructing a probability distribution is just a
continuation of the previous part. We just need to include an additional step to
illustrate and compute the probabilities corresponding to a given random variable.
Using Example 1 in the previous page,

Steps Solution

1. List the sample space S = {HH, HT, TH, TT}

2. Count the number of tails in

each outcome and assign Outcome
Number of Tails
this number to this
outcome. (Value of T)

HH 0

HT 1

TH 1

TT 2
The values of the random variable T (number of
tails) in this experiment are 0, 1, and 2.

10
 3. Construct the frequency Number of Tails
Number of
distribution of the values of
(Value of T) Occurrence
the random variable T.
(Frequency)
0 1
1 2
2 1
Total 4
4. Construct the probability
distribution of the random Probability
Number of Number of
variable T by getting the P(T)
Tails Occurrence
probability of occurrence of
each value of the random (Value of T) (Frequency)
variable.
0 1 1/4

1 2 2/4 or 1/2

2 1 1/4

Total 4 1
The probability distribution of the random
variable T can be written as follows:

T 2 1 0
1/4
P(T) 1/2 1/4
5. Construct the probability 4
histogram.

P(T) 2

0
0 12
T

Using Example 2 in the previous page,

11
 Steps Solution

1. List the sample space S = {OO, OV, VO, VV}

2. Count the number of violet

balls in each outcome and Outcome
Number of Violet
assign this number to this Balls
outcome.
(Value of V)

OO 0

OV 1

VO 1

VV 2
The values of the random variable V (number of
violet balls) in this experiment are 0, 1, and 2.

3. Construct the frequency

distribution of the values of
the random variable V.
Number of Violet Number of
Balls Occurrence
(Value of V) (Frequency)

0 1

1 2

2 1

Total
4

4. Construct the probability

distribution of the random
variable V by getting the
probability of occurrence of Probability
Number of Number of
each value of the random P(V)
Violet balls Occurrence
variable.
(Value of V) (Frequency)

0 1 1/4

1 2 2/4 or 1/2

2 1 1/4
12
 Total 4 1
The probability distribution of the random
variable V can be written as follows:

V 2 1 0

1/4
P(V) 1/2 1/4

5. Construct the probability 4

histogram.

P(V) 2

0
0 12
V

Using Example 4 in the previous page,

Steps Solution

1. List the sample space

S = {HHHH, HHHT, HHTH, HHTT, HTHH,
HTHT, HTTH, HTTT, THHH, THHT, THTH,
THTT, TTHH, TTHT, TTTH, TTTT}

13
2. Count the number of tails in
each outcome and assign Outcome
Number of tails
this number to this
outcome. (Value of T)

HHHH 0

HHHT 1

HHTH 1

HHTT 2

HTHH 1

HTHT 2

HTTH 2

HTTT 3

THHH 1

THHT 2

THTH 2

THTT 3

TTHH 2

TTHT 3

TTTH 3

TTTT 4
The values of the random variable T (number of
tails) in this experiment are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
3. Construct the frequency
distribution of the values of
Number of Tails
the random variable T. Number of
(Value of T) Occurrence
(Frequency)

0 1

1 4
14
 2 6

3 4

4 1

Total 16

4. Construct the probability

distribution of the random Probability
Number of Number of
variable T by getting the P(T)
Tails Occurrence
probability of occurrence of
each value of the random (Value of T) (Frequency)
variable.
0 1 1/16

1 4
4/16 or
1/4

2 6
6/16 or
3/8

3 4
4/16 or
1/4

4 1 1/16

Total 16 1
The probability distribution of the random
variable T can be written as follows:

T 0 1 2 3 4

3/8
P(T) 1/16 1/4 1/4 1/16

15
 5. Construct the probability 16
histogram.

14

12

10

P(T) 8

0 1 2 3 4

Using Example 5 in the previous page,

Steps Solution

1. List the sample space

S=
{(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (1, 4), (1, 5), (1, 6),
(2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3), (2, 4), (2, 5), (2, 6),
(3, 1), (3, 2), (3, 3), (3, 4), (3, 5), (3, 6),
(4, 1), (4, 2), (4, 3), (4, 4), (4, 5), (4, 6),
(5, 1), (5, 2), (5, 3), (5, 4), (5, 5), (5, 6),
(6, 1), (6, 2), (6, 3), (6, 4), (6, 5), (6, 6)}

16
2. Count the sum of the
number of dots in each Outcome
Sum of the
outcome and assign this number of
number to this dots
outcome.
(Value of
X)

(1, 1) 2

(1, 2), (2, 1) 3

(1, 3), (3, 1), (2, 2) 4

(1, 4), (4, 1), (2, 3), (3, 2) 5

(1, 5), (5, 1), (2, 4), (4, 2), (3, 3) 6

7
(1, 6), (6, 1), (2, 5), (5, 2), (4, 3),
(3, 4)

(3, 5), (5, 3), (2, 6), (6, 2), (4, 4) 8

(5, 4), (4, 5), (6, 3), (3, 6) 9

(6, 4), (4, 6), (5, 5) 10

(5, 6), (6, 5) 11

(6, 6) 12
The values of the random variable X (sum of the
number of dots) in this experiment are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

3. Construct the
frequency distribution
of the values of the
random variable X. Sum of the Number of
number of dots Occurrence
(Value of X) (Frequency)

2 1

3 2

17
 4 3

5 4

6 5

7 6

8 5

9 4

10 3

11 2

12 1

Total 36
4. Construct the probability
distribution of the
random variable X by
getting the probability Number of Probability P(X)
Sum of the
of occurrence of each Occurrence
number of
value of the random dots (Frequency)
variable.
(Value of X)

2 1 1/36

3 2 2/36 or 1/18

4 3 3/36 or 1/12

5 4 4/36 or 1/9

6 5 5/36

7 6 6/36 or 1/6

8 5 5/36

9 4 4/36 or 1/9

10 3 3/36 or 1/12

18
 11 2 2/36 or 1/18

12 1 1/36

Total 36 1

The probability distribution of the random variable X

can be written as follows:

X 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
P(X) 1 1

9 9

19
5. Construct the probability P(X)
histogram.

20
 36 27

18

0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

21
 What’s More

Direction: Complete the table below by constructing and

illustrating the probability distribution of Example 3 (refer to page 7).

Steps Solution

1. List the sample space

2. Count the number of tails in

each outcome and assign
this number to this
outcome.

3. Construct the frequency

distribution of the values of
the given random variable.

4. Construct the probability

distribution of the given
random variable by getting
the probability of
occurrence of each value of
the random variable.

5. Construct the probability

histogram.

What I Have Learned

Direction: Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Answer the following in 2-3 sentences only.

1. How do you describe a discrete random variable?

22
2. How do you describe a continuous random variable?

3. Give three examples of discrete random variable.

4. Give three examples of continuous random variable.

5. What do you notice about the probability values of random variable in each

probability distribution?

6. What is the sum of the probabilities of a random variable?

7. Why should the sum of the probabilities in a probability distribution is always

equal to 1?

8. What is the shape of most probability distributions? Why do you think so?

23
 Scoring Rubric

0 1 2 3 4
No answer at Correct answer Correct answer Correct answer Correct
all but not in a written in a written in a answer
sentence form. sentence form sentence form written in a
but no with 1 sentence form
supporting supporting with 2 or
details. detail from the more
text. supporting
detail from
the text.
Did not use Used
capitalization capitalization Used
and and capitalization
punctuation. punctuation. and
punctuation.
3 or more 1-2 spelling
spelling mistakes. All words
mistakes. spelled
correctly.

What I Can Do
Number of Defective COVID-19 Rapid Antibody Test Kit
Suppose three test kits are tested at random. Let D represent the defective test
kit and let N represent the non-defective test kit. If we let X be the random variable
for the number of defective test kits, construct the probability distribution of the
random variable X.

24
 Assessment

DIRECTION: Write your answer on a separate sheet of

paper.

A. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. If three coins are tossed, which is NOT a possible value of the random
variable for the number of tails?
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3
D. 4

2. Which of the following is a discrete random variable?

A. Length of electrical wires
B. Number of pencils in a box
C. Amount of sugar used in a cup of coffee
D. Voltage of car batteries

3. Which formula gives the probability distribution shown by the table?

X 3 4 5
P(X) 1/3 ¼ 1/5

A. P(X) = X
B. P(X) = 1/X
C. P(X) = X/3 D. P(X) = X/5

4. How many ways can a "double" come out when you roll two dice?
A. 2 B. 4 C. 6
D. 8

5. It is a numerical quantity that is assigned to the outcome of an experiment.

A. random variable
B. variable
C. probability
D. probability distribution

B. Classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.

1. The weight of the professional boxers

2. The number of defective COVID-19 Rapid Antibody Test Kit
3. The area of lots in an exclusive subdivision
4. The number of recovered patients of COVID-19 per province
5. The number of students with Academic Excellence in a school per district

25
C. Determine the values of the random variables in each of the following
distributions.

1. Two coins are tossed. Let H be the number of tails that occur. Determine
the values of the random variable H.
2. A meeting of envoys was attended by 4 Koreans and 2 Filipinos. If three
envoys were selected at random one after the other, determine the values
of the random variable K representing the number of Koreans.

D. Construct the probability distribution of the situation below:

Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an urn
containing 5 white balls and 6 black balls. Let B be the random variable
representing the number of black balls. Construct the probability distribution
of the random variable B.

Additional Activities

Grace Ann wants to determine if the formula below describes a probability

distribution. Solve the following:

𝑋 +1
𝑃(𝑋) = 6
where X = 0, 1, 2. If it is, find the following:

1. P(X = 2)

2. P(X ≥ 1)

3. P(X ≤ 1)

26
References

Books
Belecina, R. R., Baccay, E. S., & Mateo, E. B. (2016).
Statistics and Probability. Rex Book Store.
Ocampo, J. J., & Marquez, W. G. (2016). Senior High Conceptual Math & Beyond
Statistics and Probability. Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.

Website

britannica.com. (2021). Retrieved from Britannica:

https://www.britannica.com/science/statistics/Random-variables-
andprobability-distributions

courses.lumenlearning.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from lumen Boundless Statistics:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-
statistics/chapter/discreterandom-variables/

27
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