Discrete Probability

Distribution
LESSON 2

Mr. Renell M.
Objectives:
Illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete variable;

Compute on probabilities corresponding to a given

random variable, calculate the mean and variance
of a discrete variable; and

Value the importance of finding the

probabilities to a given random variable as well
as finding the probabilities of doing things and
its consequences.
Recall: Frequency Distribution
The following data show the nationalities of the
participants in the International Conference on Human
Rights held in the Philippines. Construct a frequency
distribution for these data. Fill out the table that
follows.
American Italian Japanese German
American
German America Italian German
Japanese
Filipino Japanese Filipino Korean
Japanese
German American American Italian
Recall: Frequency Distribution
The following data show the nationalities of the
participants in the International Conference on Human
Rights held in the Philippines. Construct a frequency
distribution for these data. Fill Number
Nationality
out ofthe table that
Participants
follows. American 6
German 5
Filipino 4
Chinese 2
Japanese 7
Italian 4
Korean 2
Probability Distribution of the Discrete
Random Variable
A Discrete Probability Distribution is a
listing of all possible values of a
discrete random variable along with
their corresponding probabilities.
It is represented in tabular,
graphical/histogram or formula
Properties of Discrete Probability
Distribution
1. The probability of each value of a
discrete random variable is between 0
and 1 inclusive.

2. The sum of all probabilities is 1.

.
Example 1:
A basket contains 10 ripe and 4 unripe bananas. If
three bananas are taken from the basket one after the
other, determine the possible values of the random
variable R representing the number of ripe bananas.
Solution:
STEP 1: List the sample space of the experiment. Let
R represent the ripe bananas and let U represent
the unripe bananas.
𝑺={𝑹𝑹𝑹, 𝑹𝑹𝑼 , 𝑹𝑼𝑹, 𝑹𝑼𝑼 ,𝑼𝑹𝑹 ,𝑼𝑹𝑼 ,𝑼𝑼𝑹,𝑼𝑼𝑼 }
Solution:
STEP 2: Count the number of ripe bananas (R) in each
outcome and assign this number to this outcome.
Outcome Value of R
RRR 3
RRU 2
RUR 2
RUU 1
URR 2
URU 1
UUR 1
UUU 0
Solution:
STEP 3: Construct the frequency distribution of the
values of the random variable R.
Values of R Frequency
3 1
2 3
1 3
0 1
Total 8
Solution:
STEP 4: Construct probability distribution of the random
variable R by getting the probability of frequency of each
value of the random variable.
Probability
Values of R Frequency
P(R)
3 1 1/8
2 3 3/8
1 3 3/8
0 1 1/8
Total 8 1
Solution:
STEP 5: Write your answers in tabular, or graphical
representation.
The probability distribution of the random variable R
can be written as follows;

R 3 2 1 0
P(R) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
Example 2:
A fair coin is tossed twice. Let H be the number of
heads that are observed.

1. Construct the probability distribution of H.

2. Find the probability that at least one head is
observed.
3. Construct probability Histogram of the probability
distribution of H.
Example 2:
A fair coin is tossed twice. Let H be the number of
heads that are observed.
1. To construct a discrete property distribution, get the values of
Random Variable H.
Outcome Value of H Value of H Frequency P(H)
HH 2 0 1 1/4
HT 1 1 2 1/2
TH 1 2 1 1/4
TT 0 TOTAL 4 1
Example 2:
2. Find the probability that at least one head is observed.
Value of H Frequency P(H)
0 1 1/4
1 2 1/2
2 1 1/4
TOTAL 4 1

“at least one head” it means that , so we must add the random
variable 1 and 2.
𝟏 𝟏 𝟑
+ =
𝟐 𝟒 𝟒
So, the probability of getting at least one head is 3/4.
Example 2:
3. Construct probability Histogram of the probability distribution of H.

Random Variable H
0.6

0.5
0.5
0.4

0.3

0.2 0.25 0.25

0.1

0
0 1 2
Example 3:
Finding the discrete probability distribution
described by a formula.

Determine whether or not the formula below

describes a probability distribution.
, where X = 0, 1, 3. Find the following:
Example 3:
Solutions:

To determine if the formula describes a probability,

substitute the values of the random variables in the
formula to get the corresponding probability values.

X P(X)
0 1/7
1 2/7
3 4/7
Example 3:
Solutions:

X P(X)

0 1/7

1 2/7

3 4/7
 Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Probability
Distribution

Mr. Renell M.
Mean of a Discrete Probability Distribution
To find the mean or the expected value E(X) of a
discrete probability distribution, we use the following
formula.

Where;
= mean
= value of the random variable
= probability value of the random variable
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
Example 1:
Find the mean of the discrete random variable X with
the following probability distribution.
STEP 1: Multiply the value of X by its corresponding
probability value P(X).
X P(X) P(X)X
3 1/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
1 3/8 3/8
0 1/8 0
Example 1:
STEP 2: Find the mean of the probability distribution by
getting the sum of the values under the third column.
X P(X) P(X)X
3 1/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
1 3/8 3/8
0 1/8 0
12/8 or 3/2

Therefore, the mean or expected value of

the probability distribution is 1.5.
The Variance and Standard Deviation of a
discrete probability distribution
To find the variance and the standard deviation of a discrete
probability distribution, use the following formula;

Variance:
Standard Deviation:
Where;
= mean
= value of random variable
= probability value of random variable
= variance
= standard deviation
Example 2:Variance and Standard Deviation
Find the variance and the standard deviation of the
discrete random variable X with the following
probability distribution.
X P(X)

2 1/4

1 1/2

0 1/4
Example 2:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 1: Find the mean of the probability
distribution.
X P(X) X*P(X)

2 1/4 1/2

1 1/2 1/2

0 1/4 0

Therefore, the mean or expected value of

the probability distribution is 1.
Example 2:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 2: Subtract the obtained mean to the values of each
random variable.
X P(X) X*P(X)

2 1/4 1/2 1

1 1/2 1/2 0

0 1/4 0 -1

1
Example 2:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 3: Square the answers obtained from the
column four.
X P(X) X*P(X)

2 1/4 1/2 1 1

1 1/2 1/2 0 0

0 1/4 0 -1 1

1
Example 2:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 4: Multiply the column five to the column two.
After that, get the summation.
P(X) X*P(X)

2 1/4 1/2 1 1 1/4

1 1/2 1/2 0 0 0

0 1/4 0 -1 1 1/4

1 1/2
Example 2:Variance and Standard Deviation
Solution: Final Answer
The variance is:

The standard deviation is computed by getting the square root of the

variance.
Example 3:Variance and Standard Deviation
Find the variance and the standard deviation of the
discrete random variable X with the following
probability distribution.
X P(X)
1 0.238
2 0.290
3 0.177
4 0.158
5 0.137
Example 3:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 1: Find the mean of the probability
distribution. X P(X) X*P(X)
1 0.238 0.238
2 0.290 0.58
3 0.177 0.531
4 0.158 0.632
5 0.137 0.685
2.666

Therefore, the mean or expected value of

the probability distribution is 2.666.
Example 3:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 2: Subtract the obtained mean to the values of
each random variable.
X P(X) X*P(X)

1 0.238 0.238 -1.666

2 0.290 0.58 -0.666

3 0.177 0.531 0.334

4 0.158 0.632 1.334

5 0.137 0.685 2.334

2.666
Example 3:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 3: Square the answers obtained from the column
four.
X P(X) X*P(X)

1 0.238 0.238 -1.666 2.775556

2 0.290 0.58 -0.666 0.443556

3 0.177 0.531 0.334 0.111556

4 0.158 0.632 1.334 1.779556

5 0.137 0.685 2.334 5.447556

2.666
Example 3:Variance and Standard Deviation
STEP 4: Multiply the column five to the column two.
After that, get the summation.
X P(X) X*P(X)

1 0.238 0.238 -1.666 2.775556 0.660582328

2 0.290 0.58 -0.666 0.443556 0.12863124

3 0.177 0.531 0.334 0.111556 0.019745412

4 0.158 0.632 1.334 1.779556 0.281169848

5 0.137 0.685 2.334 5.447556 0.746315172

2.666 1.836444
Example 3:Variance and Standard Deviation
Solution: Final Answer
The variance is:

The standard deviation is computed by getting the square root of the

variance.
 Seatwork 2:
Solve for the following problems.
Show your solution on 1 whole
yellow paper.
Seatwork 2:
Solve for the following problems.
Show your solution on 1 whole
yellow paper.
A. Construct the probability B. Find the variance and the
distribution of the random standard deviation of the
variable for each of the following discrete random variable X with
situations. (5pts each) the following probability
distribution.
X P(X)
A coin was flipped four times. Let
T be the number of tails that 1 0.341
come out. 2 0.127
3 0.203
1. Construct the probability
4 0.198
distribution of the random
variable T. 5 0.131
2. Construct the probability
Thanks
CREDITS: This template has been created by
Slidesgo, and includes icons by Flaticon,
infographics & images by Freepik and content by
Eliana Delacour