Name: Grade Level:__________________________

Section: ________________________________ Date: _______________________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Variance of a Discrete Random Variable

I. Background Information for Learners

This activity sheet serves a guide to the learners. This will focus in the learner’s mastery on
interpreting the variance of a discrete random variable.
You’ve learned from the previous Learning Activity Sheet how to find the Mean of a Discrete
Random Variable. This time, let us find the Variance of a discrete random variable, Interpret the
Variance of a discrete random variable and Solve problems involving the variance of probability
distribution.
We have seen that the mean of a random variable Χ is a measure of the central location of the
distribution of Χ. If we are summarizing features of the distribution of Χ, it is clear that location is not
the only relevant feature. The second most important feature is the spread of the distribution.
If values of Χ near its mean 𝜇 x are very likely and values further away from 𝜇 x have very small
probability, then the distribution of Χ will be closely concentrated around 𝜇 x. In this case, the spread
of the distribution of Χ is small. On the other hand, if values of Χ some distance from its mean 𝜇 x are
likely, the spread of the distribution of Χ will be large.
These idea leads to the most important measure of spread, the variance and a closely related
measure, the standard deviation.
For a start, here are the steps on how to find the Variance of a Discrete Random Variable. This will
serve as your guide as you do the activity later on.

Steps in Finding the Variance and Standard Deviation

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4.

Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete

Probability Distribution
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:
𝝈𝟐 = ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the
formula:
𝝈 = √∑(X − μ)² ∙ P(X)
Where:
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
𝜇 = mean of the probability distribution

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II. Learning Competency:
1. Calculate the Variance of a Discrete Random Variable ( M11/12SP-111b-2)
2. Interprets the Variance of a Discrete Random Variable ( M11/12SP-111b-3)
3. Solve problems involving Variance of probability distribution (M11/12SP-IIIb-4)

III. Activity:

A. Number of Almonds
The random variable X, representing the number of almonds in a Fruit and Nut chocolate bar has the
following probability distribution. Compute the variance.

X 1 2 3 4 5

P (X) 2 3 3 1 1
10 10 10 10 10

Step 1: Find the mean of the probability distribution using the formula 𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ (𝑋).
Number of Almonds Probability

X P (X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
1 2 1•
2
=
𝟐
10 𝟏𝟎
10
2 3 2•
3
=
𝟔
10 𝟏𝟎
10
3 3 3•
3
=
𝟗
10 𝟏𝟎
10
4 1 4•
1
=
𝟒
10 𝟏𝟎
10
5 1 5•
1
=
𝟓
10 𝟏𝟎
10
𝟐𝟔
𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = or 2.6
𝟏𝟎

Step 2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
Number of Almonds Probability
X P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿–𝜇
1 2 2 1 − 2.6 = −𝟏. 𝟔
10 10
2 3 6 2 − 2.6 = −𝟎. 𝟔
10 10
3 3 9 3 − 2.6 = 𝟎. 𝟒
10 10
4 1 4 4 − 2.6 = 𝟏. 𝟒
10 10
5 1 5 5 − 2.6 = 𝟐. 𝟒
10 10
𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 2.6

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Step 3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
Number of Almonds Probability
X P(X)
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿–𝝁 (𝑿 – 𝝁)²

1 2 2 −1.6 (−1.6)² = 2.56

10 10
2 3 6 −0.6 (−0.6)² = 0.36
10 10
3 3 9 0.4 (0.4)² = 0.16
10 10
4 1 4 1.4 (1.4)² = 1.96
10 10
5 1 5 2.4 (2.4)² = 5.76
10 10
𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 2.6

Step 4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.

Number of Probability
Almonds P(X)
X 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿–𝜇 (𝑿 – 𝜇)² (𝑋 − 𝜇)² • 𝑷(𝑿)

1 2 2 −1.6 2.56 2
2.56 • = 0.512
10 10 10

2 3 6 −0.6 0.36 3
0.36 • = 0.108
10 10 10

3 3 9 0.4 0.16 3
0.16 • = 0.048
10 10 10

4 1 4 1.4 1.96 1
1.96 • = 0.196
10 10 10

5 1 5 2.4 5.76 1
5.76 • = 0.576
10 10 10

𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 2.6 𝜎2 = ∑(𝑋 − 𝜇)2 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) =

1.44

Step 5. Get the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.
The variance 𝜎2 of the probability distribution is 1.44
The standard deviation is 𝜎 =√𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 1.2
What does it mean?
The variance (1.44) is the weighted average of the squared deviation from the mean (2.6),
where the weights are given by the probability function.

B. Number of Face Mask

The number of boxes of face mask sold per day at a drugstore, with its corresponding probabilities, is
shown in the table. Find the variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.

Number of boxes sold Probability

X P (X)
19 0.20

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 20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10

Step 1: Find the mean of the probability distribution using the formula 𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ (𝑋).
Number of Almonds Probability

X P (X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

19 0.20 19•0.20 = 3.8

20 0.20 20•0.20 = 4.0

21 0.30 21•0.30 = 6.3

22 0.20 22•0.20 = 4.4

23 0.10 23•0.10 = 2.3

𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 20.8

Step 2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
Number of Almonds Probability

X P (X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝜇

19 0.20 3.8 19 – 20.8 = -1.8

20 0.20 4.0 20 – 20.8 = -0.8

21 0.30 6.3 21 – 20.8 = 0.2

22 0.20 4.4 22 – 20.8 = 1.2

23 0.10 2.3 23 – 20.8 = 2.2

𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 20.8

Step 3. Square the results obtained in Step 2

Number of Probability
Almonds
P (X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝜇 (𝑿 – 𝜇)²
X

19 0.20 3.8 -1.8 (-1.8)² = 3.24

20 0.20 4.0 -0.8 (-0.8)² = 0.64

21 0.30 6.3 0.2 (0.2)² = 0.04

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 22 0.20 4.4 1.2 (1.2)² = 1.44

23 0.10 2.3 2.2 (2.2)² = 4.84

𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 20.8

Step 4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.

Number of Probability
Almonds
P (X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝜇 (𝑿 – 𝜇)² (𝑋 − 𝜇)² • 𝑷(𝑿)
X

19 0.20 3.8 -1.8 3.24 3.24 • 0.20 = 0.648

20 0.20 4.0 -0.8 0.64 0.64 • 0.20 = 0.128

21 0.30 6.3 0.2 0.04 0.04•0.30 = 0.012

22 0.20 4.4 1.2 1.44 1.44 • 0.20 = 0.288

23 0.10 2.3 2.2 4.84 4.84 • 0.10 = 0.484

𝜇 =∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = 20.8 ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 1.56

Step 5. Get the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.
The variance of the probability distribution is 1.56.
The standard deviation is 𝜎 = √1.56 = 1.25.

C. Number of Heads
When three coins are tossed, the probability distribution for the random variable X representing the
number of heads that occur is given below. Compute the variance and standard deviation of the
probability distribution.

Number of Probability
Heads
P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝜇 (𝑿 – 𝜇)² (𝑋 − 𝜇)² • 𝑷(𝑿)
X

0 1
8
1 3
8
2 1
8
3 3
8
𝜇 =∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = _____ 𝜎² = ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = _____________

The variance of the probability distribution is _____.

The standard deviation is _______.

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 D. Number of Cakes
A Bake shop has the following schedule of daily demand for cakes. Find the expected number of cake
demands per day.
Number of cake demands (in hundred) Probability
X P (X)
0 0.10
1 0.15
2 0.20
3 0.25
4 0.20
5 0.10

Number of Probability
cake
P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝜇 (𝑿 – 𝜇)² (𝑋 − 𝜇)² • 𝑷(𝑿)
demands

0 0.10

1 0.15

2 0.20

3 0.25

4 0.20

5 0.10

𝜇 = ∑𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) = ___ 𝜎² = ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = _____________

The variance of the probability distribution is _____.

The standard deviation is _______.

IV. What I Have Learned

Answer the following questions. Write your answers on the space provided.
1. How do you interpret the variance of a probability distribution?
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.
2. How do you solve problems involving variance of probability distribution? Give the step by step procedure.
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.

V. Reflection

1. What have you learn from this activity?

______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
2. Have you had difficulty in dealing with answering the activities?
______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________._________________
____________________________________________.
3. What do you like the most with this activity sheet?

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