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STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY (ASHAC 2021)

Topic 4: Exploring Random Variables, Constructing Probability Distributions
Main Reference: Statistics and Probability, First Edition (Rex Book Store, Inc.)
Lesson 1: EXPLORING RANDOM VARIABLES
You have learned in the past topics that an experiment is any activity, which can be done repeatedly under similar conditions.
The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment is called the sample space. You have also learned how to systematically list the
possible outcomes of a given experiment.
If three coins are tossed, what numbers can be assigned for the frequency of heads that will occur? If three cards are drawn

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from a deck, what number can be assigned for the frequency of face cards that will occur? The answers to these questions require an
understanding of random variables.

2 ✗ 2 ✗ 2
Activity 1 (Defective Cell Phones)

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C2 03
Recall that a variable is a characteristic or attribute that can assume different values. We use capital letters to denote or represent a
variable. In this topic, we shall discuss variables that are associated with probabilities, called random variables.
Suppose three cell phones are tested at random. We want to find out the number of defective cell phones that occur.
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For now, let us assign D – defective and N – not defective.
The sample space becomes…
{ DDD ) NDD DND , DDN , NND NDN , DNN , NNN }
Ω = ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
, ,
Next, to each outcome in the sample space we shall assign a value.
•
•
:
If there are no defective cell phone, we assign the number ____.
If there is one defective cell phone, we assign the number ____.
• 2
If there are two defective cell phones, we assign the number ____.
• 3
If there are three defective cell phones, we assign the number ____.
In this case, the number of defective cell phones is a random variable. The possible values of this random variable are

01 1) 2) 3
_______________________.
Now, we let X be the random variable representing the number of defective cell phones. Let us complete the table below to show the
values of the random variable X. Y -
non defective
Possible Outcomes Values of the Random Variable X

J
Y (number of defective cellphones)
NNN 3 O
N ND 2 I
NDN 2 I
☐ NN , ,
N DD 7 2
DND / 2
NDD / 2

DDD 0 3
Definition:
A random variable is a function that associates a real number to each element in the sample space. It is a variable whose values are
determined by chance.

Activity 2 (Tossing Three Coins)

Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number of tails that occur. Let us find the values of the
random variable Y and complete the table below.
{ HAH, TAH , HHT , HTH , HTT, THT, TTH , TTT
Ω = ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}
Values of the Random Variable Y
Possible Outcomes
(number of tails)

AHH 0
THH 1
HHT I
HTH 1
HTT 2
THT 2
TTH 2
TTT 3

0, 1) 2 3
So, the possible values of the random variable Y are _____________________________.
,
B R B R
Activity 3 (Drawing Balls from an Urn) bat, bat
Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an urn containing 5 red balls and 6 blue balls. Let Z be the random variable
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representing the number of blue balls. Let us find the values of the random variable Z and complete the table below.
Values of the Random Variable Z
Possible Outcomes
(number of blue balls)

BB 2
BR I
RB I
RR 0
0 , I, 2
So, the possible values of the random variable Z are _____________________________.

The random variables in the preceding activities are called discrete random variables because the set of possible outcomes is
countable. Suppose an experiment is conducted to determine the distance that a certain type of car will travel using 10 liters of gasoline
over a prescribed test course. If distance is a random variable, then we have an infinite number of distances that cannot be equated to
the number of whole numbers. This is an example of a continuous random variable.
Definitions:
• A random variable is a discrete random variable if its set of possible outcomes is countable. Mostly, discrete random variables
represent count data such as the number of defective chairs produced in a factory.
• A random variable is a continuous random variable if it takes on values on a continuous scale. Often, continuous random
variables represent measured data, such as heights, weights, and temperatures.

SHORT ACTIVITY: Let us try to classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.
The number of defective computers produced by a manufacturer
The weight of newborns each year in a hospital
The number of siblings in a family of a region
The amount of paint utilized in a building project
The number of dropout in a school district for a period of 10 years
The speed of a car

Lesson 2: CONSTRUCTING PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS

Activity 1 (Number of Tails)

Recall Activity 2 of Lesson 1. We are now going to construct probability distribution of the random variable Y. We do that by finding
the probability of each of the values of the random variable Y.
Outcomes Number of Tails, Y Probability or P(Y)

OHHH 0 48
HHT , HTH , THH I 318
TTH , -111-5, HIT 2 318
TTT 3 48
Therefore, the Probability Distribution or the Probability Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable Y is shown below.
Y 0 I 2 3
P(Y)
48 3/8 318 '
18
Definition:
A discrete probability distribution or a probability mass function consists of the values of random variable can assume and the
corresponding probabilities of the values.

Activity 2 (Number of Blue Balls)

Recall Activity 3 of Lesson 1. We are now going to construct probability distribution of the random variable Z. We do that by finding
the probability of each of the values of the random variable Z.
 Outcomes Number of Blue Balls, Z Probability or P(Z)

RR 0 114
RB, BR I 214 or 1/2
BB 2 14
'

Therefore, the Probability Distribution or the Probability Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable Z is shown below.
Z 1
0 2
P(Z)
44 42 44
Properties of Probability Distribution
1. The probability of each value of the random variable (let say X) must be between or equal to 0 and 1. In symbol, we write
it as 0 ≤ 𝑃(𝑋) ≤ 1.
2. The sum of the probabilities of all values of the random variable (let say X) must be equal to 1. In symbol, we write it as
∑ 𝑃(𝑋) = 1.