CHAP1 - “Random Variables and Probability

Distribution” MOD1-2
Last Edited @February 4, 2022 4:13 PM

Class SHS_STAT 🔢
Week 1

Recall from the pre-requisite:

experiment is an activity that produces outcomes. (i.e. tossing three coins and counting the number of heads)

random variable - a numerical quantity that represents the outcome of an experiment; denoted by any uppercase letter
(e.g. X, Y, A)

💡 a random variable is a function that maps the outcomes of a random process to a numeric value. That is,
X: Outcome → Number

sample space - a collection of all possible events; denoted with “S”

MODULE 1 - RANDOM VARIABLES

Two Types of Random Variables

1. Discrete Random Variables 2. Continuous Random Variables

(countable or whole numbers) (numerical values in a continuous scale; non-integers)

ex. Number of defective iPads produced by Apple in a ex. Amount of sugar in a cup of milk tea, Speed of vehicle
specific plant, Number of female athletes in a University travelling along NLEX

Determining the Possible Outcomes and Value of a Random Variable

Example 1.

In a box are two (2) balls — one white and one black, two balls are picked one at a time with replacement.

List down all the possible outcomes and the values of the random variable X representing the number of white balls drawn
using the table below

Possible Outcomes Number of white ball (X)

Black, Black 0

Black, White 1
White, Black 1

White, White 2

Example 2.
A manufacturer produces laptops. Suppose three unites are tested by the quality assurance team and they want to find the
number of defective units that occur. Let S represent the defective units and N the non-defective units. Show the values of the

CHAP1 - “Random Variables and Probability Distribution” MOD1-2 1

 random variable X representing the number of defective units using a table

Possible Outcomes Number of defective units (X)

NNN 0
NND 1

NDN 1
DNN 1
NDD 2

DND 2
DDN 2
DDD 3

Example 3.

In an experiment four coins are tossed. Let M be the random variable representing the number of tails that occur. Find the
values of the random variable M. Use a table.

Possible Outcomes Number of tails (X)

HHHH

HHHT
HHTH

HTHH
THHH
TTHH

HTTH
HHTT

HTTT
THTT
TTHT
TTTH

TTTT
THHT
etc.. (up until 16)

Using FPM:

n(S) = n(1) ∗ n(2) ∗ n(3) ∗ n(4)

n(S) = 2 ∗ 2 ∗ 2 ∗ 2
n(S) = 16

MODULE 2 - DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

Probability Distribution

function representing probabilities of occurrence of value within a given range.

Discrete Probability Distribution

presents the possible values of a random variable

CHAP1 - “Random Variables and Probability Distribution” MOD1-2 2

 organized tabulation, graph, or formula that lists the values of a discrete random variable together with their
corresponding probabilities

💡 The notation used for the probability distribution of a discrete random variable:
P(X) or P(X=k)

Where P(X) represents the probability of the random variable and k represents the value of the random variable.

ex.

P(X = 1) signifies the probability that the random variable is equal to 1.

Types of Probability

Theoretical (or Classical) Probability Experimental (or Observation/Empirical) Probability

likelihood of an event made in repeating an experiment and

likelihood of an event that is based of theory (mathematics). observing the outcomes. Its formula is:

Its formula is:

f
P (E) =
N

n(E) Where:
P (E) =
n(S) f is the frequency or the number of times E occurred

Where: N is the total number of observation

n(E) is any event (number of sample points in an event

or desired outcome)

n(S) is the total number of sample space (or the total

number of possible outcomes)

Properties of the Probability Distribution of a Discrete Random Variable:

it is only valid if the two following are satisfied (do not continue if one isn’t satisfied because it will be invalid):

1. The probability of each event in the sample space must 2. The sum of the probabilities of all events in the sample
be between or equal to 0 to 1. space must be equal to 1 (or in percentages, 100%)

0 ≤ P (X) ≤ 1 ∑ P (X) = 1

Example 1.

In a box are two (2) balls — one white and one black, two balls are picked one at a time with replacement. With the
numbers of white balls drawn construct the probability distribution table.

Number of white ball (X) Probability (P(X)) n(E)

P (E) =
0 (B,B) (a.) 0.25 n(S)
1 (B,W & W,B) (b.) 0.5
n(S) = 4
2 (R,R) (c.) 0.25

(a.) (b.)

CHAP1 - “Random Variables and Probability Distribution” MOD1-2 3

 n(E) 1 n(E) 2
P (X = 0) = n(S )
= 4
= 0.25 P (X = 1) = n(S )
= 4
= 0.5

(c.)
n(E) 1
P (X = 2) = n(S )
= 4
= 0.25

check if properties of the probability is valid:

1. is satisfied 2. is satified

0 ≤ P (X = 0) ≤ 1 = 0 ≤ 0.25 ≤ 1 ∑ P (X) = P (1) + P (2) + P (0)

0 ≤ P (X = 1) ≤ 1 = 0 ≤ 0.5 ≤ 1 ∑ P (X) = 0.25 + 0.5 + 0.25
0 ≤ P (X = 2) ≤ 1 = 0 ≤ 0.25 ≤ 1 ∑ P (X) = 1

Example 2.

Suppose a die is rolled 2 times. Let X = number of times a 6 comes up. Answer the following:

a. Construct the probability distribution for this experiment.

b. What is the probability that out of the 2 rolls there wouldn’t be a 6?

c. What is the probability that one out of the 2 rolls will give 6?

Answer for a.

We need the: In rolling a die twice and the number of times six (6) comes
up:
1. values of the random variable, and
The values of the random variable is X = 0, 1, 2
2. values that will be used to compute for the probability
no (0) six
n(E)
one (1) six
n(S)
two (2) six

1 2 3 4 5 6
n(S) = n1 ∗ n2
1 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6 n(S) = 6 ∗ 6
2 2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 n(S) = 36
3 3,1 3,2 3,3 3,4 3,5 3,6
4 4,1 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,5 4,6
n(E = 0) = 5 ∗ 5 = 25
5 5,1 5,2 5,3 5,4 5,5 5,6
n(E = 1) = (5 ∗ 1) + (1 ∗ 5) = 10
6 6,1 6,2 6,3 6,4 6,5 6,6
n(E = 2) = 1 ∗ 1 = 1

X P(X)

0 P(0) = 25/36 = 0.6944

1 P(1) = 10/36 = 0.2778

2 P(2) = 1/36 = 0.0278

CHAP1 - “Random Variables and Probability Distribution” MOD1-2 4

 check if properties of the probability is valid:

1. is satisfied 2. is satified

0 ≤ P (X = 0) ≤ 1 = 0 ≤ 0.6944 ≤ 1 ∑ P (X) = P (1) + P (2) + P (0)

0 ≤ P (X = 1) ≤ 1 = 0 ≤ 0.2778 ≤ 1 ∑ P (X) = 0.6944 + 0.2778 + 0.0278
0 ≤ P (X = 2) ≤ 1 = 0 ≤ 0.0278 ≤ 1 ∑ P (X) = 1

Answer for b. Answer for c.

the probability that out of the 2 rolls there wouldn’t be a 6? the probability that out of the 2 rolls there would be a 6?

P (X = 0) = 25 P (X = 2) = 1

Example 3.
Number of Pets at Home Frequency
The result of a survey given to Senior High School 0 5
students is shown:
1 4
Construct the probability distribution for the random 2 6
variable Y, the number of pets that they have at home,
3 8
and determine the chance that a senior high school
4 1
student have three (3) pets at home.
5 1

Solution:

Number of Pets at Home (Y) P ( Y = k ) = f/N

f
0 0.2000 P (Y = k) = N
5
1 0.1600 P (Y = 0) = 25
= 0.2000
2 0.2400 4
P (Y = 1) = 25
= 0.1600
3 0.3200 6
P (Y = 2) = 25
= 0.2400
4 0.0400 8
P (Y = 3) = 25
= 0.3200
5 0.0400
1
P (Y = 4) = 25
= 0.0400
1
P (Y = 5) = 25
= 0.0400

Answer:

The probability of a high school student having three (3) pets at home is:
8
P (Y = 3) = P (3) = 25
= 0.3200
or 32%.

Example 4.
Laboratory Number of Students who Committed
A nursing school is investigating the number of reported Accidents (X) Laboratory Accidents (f)
laboratory accidents committed by their students while 0 25
on their internship program. These are on-the-job 1 15
training related accidents over a period of one month.
2 2

CHAP1 - “Random Variables and Probability Distribution” MOD1-2 5

 The following are records om the laboratory accidents Laboratory Number of Students who Committed
that were documented: Accidents (X) Laboratory Accidents (f)

3 5
4 2

5 1

Answer the following:

a. Construct the probability distribution.

b. What is the probability of having no laboratory accident

c. What is the probability of having two (2) laboratory accidents?

d. What is the probability of having at least four (4) laboratory accidents?

e. What is the probability of having at most three (3) laboratory accidents?

Solution & Answer:

a. Construct the probability distribution.

n(S) = f0 + f1 + f2 + f3 + f4 + f5
n(S) = 25 + 15 + 2 + 5 + 2 + 1
n(S) = 50

Laboratory Accidents (X) P(X)

f
0 0.5000 P (X = k) = N
25
1 0.3000 P (X = 0) = 50
= 0.5000
2 0.0400 15
P (X = 1) = 50
= 0.3000
3 0.1000 2
P (X = 2) = 50
= 0.0400
4 0.0400 5
P (X = 3) = 50
= 0.1000
5 0.0200
2
P (X = 4) = 50
= 0.0400
1
P (X = 5) = 50
= 0.0200

b. What is the probability of having no laboratory accident?

25
P (X = 0) = P (3) = 50
= 0.5000
or 50%

c. What is the probability of having two (2) laboratory accidents?

2
P (X = 2) = P (2) = 50
= 0.0400
or 4%

d. What is the probability of having at least four (4) laboratory accidents?

P (X) = ∑ P (X = 4) ≤ P (X = k)
P (X) = P (X = 4) + P (X = 5)
P (X) = 0.0400 + 0.0200 = 0.0600
or 6%

CHAP1 - “Random Variables and Probability Distribution” MOD1-2 6

 e. What is the probability of having at most three (3) laboratory accidents?

P (X) = ∑ P (X = k) ≤ P (X = 3)
P (X) = P (X = 0) + P (X = 1) + P (X = 2) + P (X = 3)
P (X) = 0.5000 + 0.3000 + 0.0400 + 0.1000 = 0.9400
or 94%

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