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Statistics and
Probability
Quarter 3- MODULE 1
Random Variables and Probability Distributions
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Management Team
Chairperson: Cherry Mae L. Limbaco, PhD, CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent
Statistics and
Probability
Quarter 3- MODULE 1
Random Variables and
Probability Distributions
This instructional material was collaboratively developed and reviewed by
educators from public and private schools, colleges, and/or universities. We
encourage teachers and other education stakeholders to email their feedback,
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Lesson 3:
Solving the Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation of Discrete
Probability Distributions ........................................................................................... 13
What I Need to Know .............................................................................................. 13
What’s New . ......................................................................................................... .. 14
What’s Is It ............................................................................................................... 15
What I Can Do ....................................................................................................... .. 19
What’s More .......................................................................................................... .. 20
i
How to Learn From This Module
ii
What I Know (Pre-Test)
Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter of the best answer.
2. If two dice are rolled, which of the following is not a possible outcome of the
random variable 𝑋 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑜𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝?
a. 2 b. 3 c. 10 d. 13
3. Find the correct value of Y to make a valid probability distribution.
X 1 2 3 4 5
P(X) 0.11 0.15 0.35 Y 0.24
a. 0.11 b. 0.15 c. 0.35 d. 0.24
4. Which of the following is NOT a valid probability distribution?
a. X 1 2 3 4 5
P(X) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1
b. X 1 3 5 7 9
P(X) 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5
c. X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
d. X 4 8 12 14 16
P(X) 0.36 0.21 0.10 0.09 0.24
a. 1 b. 2 c. 2.5 d. 3
6. The mean of a probability distribution is the same as the expected value of a
discrete random variable of a probability distribution
a. True b. False c. Both d. Neither
iii
7. Tossing a die has the following probability distribution. Find the standard
deviation of the number of spots that will appear when a die is tossed.
Number of spots (Y) 1 2 3 4 5 6
iv
Lesson
The Concept of Random
1 Variables
What I Need to Know
A random variable is a variable whose value is unknown or a function that assigns values
to each of an experiment's outcomes. Random variables are often designated by letters and can
be classified as discrete, which are variables that have specific values, or continuous, which are
variables that can have any values within a continuous range. Random variables are often used
in econometric or regression analysis to determine statistical relationships among one another.
This lesson you will be able to learn about the concept of random variables and it's
illustration whether it is discrete or continuous. You may also be able to encounter words and
terminologies that may guide you throughout the lesson.
What’s New
Activity 1
Try and classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous. Each random
variable is assigned a letter. Once grouped, crack and form the “hidden words” from the letters
of each group.
(T) number of deaths due to AIDS (H) number of channels in Sea cable
(O) weight of ₱100 worth of pork (A) number of satellites orbiting the Earth
(U) volume of diesel used in a trip (Y) time needed to solve a Rubik’s cube
From the entries written in the table above, try to fill out the table below.
DISCRETE CONTINUOUS
Did you get the correct phrase? Good job! In that case, you’re welcome…
1
What Is It
As you have classified the following random variables as discrete or continuous above,
basically you are familiar with the concept of random variable. So, what is random variable
anyway?
A random variable may be confusing to you at first especially if you associate it with
the common variables that we use in algebra. Let us differentiate:
give value to equations like x +2=9 a random variable could be X= the number
of dots facing up after rolling a die
In this case can only take on a Notice how the random process of rolling
distinct value and that is 7 a die gives you a random outcome each
time you perform the experiment. Rolling
once may give you 5, and rolling again
may give you 6, and again 4; I think you
see the point here. Hence it is called a
“random” variable.
Note: The values “0 and 1” are just models/examples. You may use other values like 10, 500,
and even 2,020. Still, the values 0 and 1 are most commonly used in statistics.
2
There are two varieties of random variables that are numerical in nature:
Let us differentiate.
Note: A sample space is the set of all possible outcomes in a random experiment.
Here are some more examples of discrete and continuous random variables.
3
What I Can Do
Activity 1
What’s More
\
Activity 2
Write your own 5 examples of random variables then identify if it is Discrete or Continuous.
1. _____________________________________ 4. ___________________________________
2. _____________________________________ 5. ___________________________________
3. _____________________________________
4
Activity 3
Classify the following random variables as Discrete or Continuous Random
Variables. Write DRV if it is Discrete while CRV if Continuous.
____________ 8. The distance of golf ball travels after being hit with a driver.
____________ 9. The number of traffic fatalities per year in the state of Florida
____________10. The amount of gasoline needed to drive your car 200 miles.
5
Lesson
Probability Distribution of
2 Discrete Random Variables
What’s In
Again, the purpose of using random variable is so that we could measure observations
and process data to make a conclusion about the population. So what are the possible values of
a random variable, you might ask?
Below are some random variables with their corresponding possible values.
As a statistician, you must be able to identify the set of possible values of your random
variable even before conducting your survey.
A probability distribution is a statistical function that describes all the possible and
likelihoods that a random variable can take within a given range. This range will be bounded
between the minimum and maximum possible values but precisely where the possible value is
likely to be plotted on the probability distribution depends on a number of factors. This factors
include the distribution’s mean (average), standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis.
This lesson you will be able to learn how to find the possible values of a random variable,
illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its properties, construct the
probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its corresponding histogram.
6
What’s New
Activity 1
1. Three voters are asked whether they are in favor of online education. Each voter’s
response is recorded as ’Yes (Y)’ or ’No (N)’. Let O be the random variable
representing the number of Yes (Y) votes that occur. Complete the table below to find
the possible values of Y.
YYN 2
YNY
NYY
YNN
NYN
NNY
NNN
7
What Is It
In the study of random events, you should be interested in determining the possible values
of a random variable and its probability that will have a particular value.
Example 1. Suppose you are to test three random eggplants from a harvest to see if there are
worms in it. You want to find out the number of eggplants attacked by worms. Use W to represent
if there is a worm attack in an eggplant and N if there is none.
Note: The letters W and N are not random variables but are used to represent
the possible outcome upon checking an eggplant. X is the random variable
representing the number of eggplants attacked by worms.
Again, you are sampling three eggplants. The table has been filled
out to illustrate and demonstrate the possible outcomes of this experiment.
Try to understand the values therein.
NNW 1
NWN 1
NWW 2
WNN 1
WNW 2
WWN 2
WWW 3
8
Number of eggplants Probability
with worm attacks X P(X)
The table shown on the previous page is what we call the probability distribution or
probability mass function of the random variable. We can graph the distribution in the form of a
histogram as presented below.
3/8
2/8 3/8 3/8
Probability P(x)
1/8
1/8 1/8
0
0 1 2 3
Number of eggplants with worm attacks X
What is a histogram?
9
Example 2. Suppose that four coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable
representing the number of heads that occur.
In this example, the random variable Y represents the number of heads that occur when
tossing four coins. We have defined the sample space and their corresponding values as shown
in the table below.
There are 5 distinct possible values of which are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. We now assign the
probability values of each, as shown below.
Number of Heads Y Probability P(Y) Let’s stop and think for a moment.
6/16
Remember this!
Probability P(Y)
0 1 2 3 4
Number of heads Y
10
What I Can Do
Activity 1
11
What’s More
The 2010 Philippines Census found the chance of a household being a certain size. The data is
in the table ("Households by age," 2013). Draw a histogram of the probability distribution.
Size of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 or more
household
Probability 0.02 0.02 0.06 0.14 0.16 0.34 0.26
a) Is it unusual for a household to have six people in the family? Explain your answer.
b) If you did come upon many families that had six people in the family, what would you
think?
c) Is it unusual for a household to have four people in the family? Explain your answer.
d) If you did come upon a family that has four people in it, what would you think?
12
Lesson Solving for the Mean,
Variance, and Standard
3 Deviation of Discrete
Probability Distributions
What I Need to Know
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable is the same with the frequency
distribution of a sample in a given population that needs to be summarized using a central value
for it will give the general behavior of the random variable under observation. Any discrete
probability distribution has a mean, a variance, and a standard deviation
In this lesson, you will illustrate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable,
calculate the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable, interpret the mean and the
variance of a discrete random variable and solve problems involving mean and variance of
probability distributions
HIGH LOW
If the values of the variance and standard Individual outcomes of the experiment are
deviation are high, that means that the far relative to each other.
individual outcomes of the experiment are In other words, the values differ greatly.
far relative to each other.
In other words, the values differ greatly.
13
As a point of reference, if the values of all the
outcomes in an experiment are all the same, the
variance and standard deviation are both 0. But of
course, this rarely happens in real life application.
What’s New
Activity 1
1. A Random Variable X can take only two values, 1 and 2 .P(1) = 0.8 and P(2) = 0.2
Calculate the Expected value of X.
2. A Random Variable X can take only two values, 1 and 2. P(1) = 0.8 and P(2) = 0.2
Calculate the Variance of X
3. A lottery that pays off 100,000 pesos is made available for 5,000,000 tickets. Each ticket
costs 50 pesos. Suppose the variable X gives the net winnings from playing the lottery.
What is the expected gain for joining the lottery with only one ticket?
14
What Is It
In this section, we will learn to solve worded problems involving the Mean, Variance, and
Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distributions. Prior in solving, make sure that you
already mastered on the use of the formulas on the terms mentioned. Let us consider the
problems below.
Example 1. In a 5-item test, the probabilities that a student gets 0, 1,2,3,4, or 5 mistakes are
3 5 7 3 1 1
, , , , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 respectively. What is the average number of mistakes that a student
20 20 20 20 20 20
makes in this class? What is the variance and standard deviation of this discrete probability
distribution?
No. of mistakes Probability 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) Let’s stop and think for a moment.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
The symbol for mean is the Greek letter (read as “my”). To solve for the mean, all you
have to do is add up all the entries of the 3rd column.
Equation 1. = X • P(X )
15
So the value of the mean in the example above is just the sum of all entries in the third
column.
5 14 9 4 5 37
= X • P( X ) = 0 + + + + + = = 1.85
20 20 20 20 20 20
Therefore, the mean or expected value on the number of mistakes a student may
have in a 5-item quiz is 1.85. Again, we emphasize that none of the students actually got
1.85 mistakes. However, if we are to take the average of the total mistakes done by each
one of the students, we should get an average value of 1.85.
Now that we have found the mean of the discrete probability distribution, we can
now try and solve for the variance. You cannot solve for the variance without finding first
the mean. To solve for the variance, you need to add more columns in the table made a
while ago.
The table below shall discuss how you can solve the variance of a discrete
probability distribution. A sample value was used for demonstration purposes. A brief
explanation is shown below each entry for your guidance.
X P( X ) X • P( X ) X − ( X − )2 ( X − ) 2 • P( X )
2 7 14 0.15 3.4225 1.197875
20 20
You are already familiar with the Subtract the To find the value Lastly, multiply the
first three columns and know computed mean of the entry to value obtained in
how to fill these out. from the value of this column, column 5 back to the
the random simplify square probability in column
variable. Since the value that 2.So,
the computed you obtained in 7
mean is 1.85 column 4. So, 3.4225 = 1.197875
20
then, 2-1.85 = 1.852 = 3.4225
0.15
After performing all calculations, the completed table would look something like this. Try
and solve for yourself to see how these values were obtained.
X P( X ) X • P( X ) X − ( X − )2 ( X − ) 2 • P( X )
3 0
0 -1.85 3.4225 0.513375
20
5 5
1 -0.85 0.7225 0.180625
20 20
7 14
2 0.15 0.0225 0.007875
20 20
3 9
3 1.15 1.3225 0.198375
20 20
1 4
4 2.15 4.6225 0.231125
20 20
1 5
5 3.15 9.9225 0.496125
20 20
The symbol for variance is 2 . To solve for the variance, all we have to do is add up all
entries on the last column.
Equation 2. 2 = ( X − ) 2 • P( X )
16
So the value of the variance of the discrete probability distribution shown above is just the
sum of all entries in the last column.
2 = ( X − )2 • P( X )
= 0.513375 + 0.180625 +0.007875 + 0.198375 + 0.231125 + 0.496125
= 1.6275
The variance of the probability distribution is 1.6275. Now that the value of the variance is
found, we can now solve for the standard deviation. The symbol for standard deviation is .
Equation 3. = 2
So the value of the standard deviation is solved by getting the square root of the
variance. Again, you cannot solve for the value of the standard deviation without finding first the
variance and mean.
= 2 = 1.6275 1.28
The standard deviation is approximately equal to 1.28. We say “approximately equal to”
because we already rounded off the value from 1.2757350822 to 1.28.
Example 2. In a seafood restaurant, the manager wants to know if their customers like their new
raw large oysters. According to their sales representative, in the past 4 months, the number of
oysters consumed by a customer, along with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the
succeeding table. Compute the mean, variance and standard deviation.
1 2
20
2 3
20
3 2
20
4 1
20
17
Solution:
X P( X ) X • P( X ) X − ( X − )2 ( X − ) 2 • P( X )
2
0 0 -1.8 3.24 0.648
20
2 2
1 -0.8 0.64 0.128
20 20
3 6
2 0.2 0.04 0.012
20 20
2 6
3 1.2 1.44 0.288
20 20
1 4
4 2.2 4.84 0.484
20 20
= 2 = 1.56 1.25
18
What I Can Do
Activity 1
A. Find the mean, variance, and standard deviation of the following probability
distribution by completing the tables below.
19
Activity 2
2. A police lieutenant records the number of police blotter filed each day in their city. Based
on his records, the probability distribution of the number of police blotters filed each day is
in the table below. The city mayor claims that the crime rate is in its all-time low with only 2
blotters being filed each day. Determine the mean of the probability distribution shown and
decide if the mayor’s claim is valid.
What's More
Activity 1: Let Me Try!
20
2. The number of items sold per day at retail store, with its corresponding probabilities,
is shown in the table. Find the variance and standard deviation of the probability
distribution.
19 2
10
2
20 10
3
21 10
2
22 10
1
23 10
21
What I Have Learned
• A random variable is a function that links a specific numerical value to each element in
the sample space of any given experiment or situation.
• A discrete random variable is a random variable whose set of possible outcomes is finite.
Values of each sample are separated with a finite gap or space. Values of this variable
may be obtained through counting.
• A continuous random variable is a random variable whose set of possible outcomes is
infinite. This type of variable may take on a continuous stream of values. Its values can
only be obtained through measurement.
• A discrete probability distribution, otherwise known as a probability mass function, is
made up of the values that a random variable can take with their corresponding
probabilities. A valid probability distribution must have a sum of exactly equal to 1, no
more no less.
22
Assessment (Post-test)
2. If two dice are rolled, which of the following is not a possible outcome of the random
variable X: total number of dots facing up?
a. 2 b. 3 c. 10 d. 13
3. Find the correct value of Y to make a valid probability distribution.
X 1 2 3 4 5
a. X 1 2 3 4 5
b. X 1 3 5 7 9
c. X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
d. X 4 8 12 14 16
P(X) 0.36 0.21 0.10 0.09 0.24
5. A family of 4 children has the following probability distribution. What is the expected
number of girls in a group of 4 siblings?
Number of Girls Y 0 1 2 3 4
7. What is the probability that exactly 2 babies will be born in the home in any month?
a. 0.11 b. 0.15 c. 0.23 d. 0.25
8. What is the probability that less than 2 babies will be born in the home in any month?
a. 0.26 b. 0.38 c. 0.48 d. 0.36
9. What is the probability that more than 2 babies will be born in the home in any month?
a. 0.26 b. 0.51 c. 0.74 d. 0.89
10. What is the probability that at least 2 babies will be born in the home in any month?
a. 0.26 b. 0.51 c. 0.74 d. 0.89
11. What is the probability that at most 2 babies will be born in the home in any month?
a. 0.26 b. 0.49 c. 0.74 d. 0.87
12. Tossing a die has the following probability distribution. Find the standard deviation
of the number of spots that will appear when a die is tossed.
Y 0 1 2 3 4 5
24
B. Identify weather the given variable is discrete or continuous. Write your answer on the space
provided before each item.
__________________ 1. number of cars in a parking lot
__________________ 2. time it takes to finish a bowl of noodles
__________________ 3. number of visitors in a resort each day
__________________ 4. temperature needed to melt a metal
__________________ 5. weight of one whole watermelon
25
Key to Answers
PRE-TEST
1. A
2. D
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. D
9. B
10.B
26
What’s More, Page 4
Activity 2, Page 5
1. CRV 7. DRV
2. DRV 8. CRV
3. CRV 9. DRV
4. DRV 10. CRV
5. CRV
6. CRV
YYN 2
YNY 2
NYY 2
YNN 1
NYN 1
NNY 1
NNN 0
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8
Total: 1
27
What I Can Do, Page 11
Activity 1, Page 11
1. 1/8
2. 4/8 or 1/2
3. 7/8
4. 4/8 or ½
5. 6/8 or ¾
6. 1/8
7. 1/8
Activity 3, Page 13
State random variable: x = number of people in a household. You draw a histogram, where
the x values are on the horizontal axis and are the x values of the classes (for the 7 or more
category, just call it 7). The probabilities are on the vertical axis.
28
0.3
Probability
0.2
0.1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Household size
a) Is it unusual for a household to have six people in the family? Explain your answer.
To determine this, you need to look at probabilities. However, you cannot just look at
the probability of six people. You need to look at the probability of x being six or more
people or the probability of x being six or less people.
The P( x ≤ 6) = P( x = 1) + P( x = 2) + P( x = 3) + P( x = 4) + P( x = 5) + P( x = 6)
= 0.02 + 0.02 + 0.06 + 0.14 + 0.16 + 0.34 = 0.74 or 74%
Since this probability is more than 5%, then six is not an unusually low value.
The P (x ≥ 6) = P( x = 6) + P( x ≥ 7) = 0.34 + 0.26 = 0.6 or 60%
Since this probability is more than 5%, then six is not an unusually high value. It is
usual for a household to have six people in the family.
b) If you did come upon many families that had six people in the family, what would you
think?
Since it is not unusual for a family to have four members, then you would not think
anything is amiss.
c) Is it unusual for a household to have four people in the family? Explain your answer.
Solution: To determine this, you need to look at probabilities. Again, look at the
probability of x being four or more or the probability of x being four or less.
The P( x ≥ 4) = P( x = 4) + P( x = 5) + P( x = 6) + P( x = 7)
= 0.14+ 0.16+ 0.24+ 0.36 = 0.9 or 90%
Since this probability is more than 5%, four is not an unusually high value.
The P( x ≤ 4) = P( x = 1) + P( x = 2) + P( x = 3) + P( x = 4)
= 0.02+ 0.02+0.06+0.14 = 0.28 or 28%
Since this probability is more than 5%, four is not an unusually low value. Thus, four
is not an unusual size of a family.
d) If you did come upon a family that has four people in it, what would you think?
Since it is not unusual for a family to have four members, then you would not think
anything is amiss.
29
What’s New , Page 17
Activity 1
1. µ = 1.2
2. 𝜎 2 = 0.68
3. One lottery ticket will have an expected loss of 48 pesos.
4. The expected value is 7. Thus, the player is expected to gain an average of 7
pesos in the game.
30
31
32
POST-TEST
A. B.
1. A 1. Discrete
2. D 2. Continuous
3. B 3. Discrete
4. C 4. Continuous
5. D 5. Continuous
6. A
7. C
8. A
9. B
10. C
11. B
12. C
13. D
14. A
15. B
33
REFERENCES
Albay, Eduard M.,Statistics and Probability, 2nd ed.Makati City: DIWA Textbooks, 2019,
34-47.
Belecina, Rene S., Elisa S. Baccay, and Efren B. Mateo, Statistics and Probability, Manila:
Rex Book Store, Inc., 2016, 1-48.
Canva. Accessed December 22, 2020. https://www.canva.com/education
Calaca, Ninia I., Chin Uy, Nestor M. Noble, and Ronaldo A. Manalo, Statistics and Probability,
Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc., 2016, 40-92.
Ellen, L., Larry, O., Raja, A., Brenda, M. and Danielle, D., 2014. Ck-12 Advance Probability
And Statistics. 2nd ed. [ebook] United States: FlexBook, pp.128-129. Available
at: <http://www.ck12.org> [Accessed 24 June 2020].
Walpol, Ronald E., Raymond H. Myers, and Sharon L. Myers, Probability and Statistics: for
Engineers and Scientists, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458: Pearson
Education Asia Pte Ltd., 2001, 51-83.
“Section 5-Coconino Country Community College.” Accessed June 25,2020.
https://www.coconino.edu/Resources/Files/Pdfs/Academics/Sabbatical-
Reports/Kate-Kozak/chapter_5.docx.
“Probability Distributions for Discrete Random Variables”. Accessed June 25, 2020.
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_introductory-statistics/s08-02-probability-
distributions-for-.html
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