MEAN AND VARIANCE OF A

RANDOM VARIABLES
At the end of the lesson the learners, computes probabilities corresponding to a
given random variable, illustrates the mean and variance of a discrete random
variable, calculates the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable.

Review:

A. Given the values of variables x and y, evaluate the following

summations.

Solve: 8 2 0 2

∑ x = 12
∑ y= 5
∑ x y= 12
The following are the scores of 40 students in a test, Compute the mean.

336+600+477+266+184=1,863
1863/40 = 46.58

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MEAN OF DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

DEFINITION: If X is a discrete random variable with values 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒙𝟐 , 𝒙𝟑 , . . . , 𝒙𝒏

with probabilities 𝑷(𝒙𝟏 ) , P(𝒙𝟐) , 𝑷(𝒙𝟑 ), . . . , 𝑷(𝒙𝒏) , respectively, then the mean or
expected value of X denoted by 𝑬(𝑿) is ;

μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]=x1 • P ( x 1) + ¿ ¿ x 2 • P ( x 2 ) + x 3 • P ( x 3 ) +…+ xn • P ( x n ) for all elements

of x.

EXAMPLE 1:Grocery Items

The probabilities that customers will buy 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 items in a grocery store are
2
∧3
3 1 1 10 respectively. What is the average of items a customer will buy?
, , ,
10 10 10 10

The average of items a customer will buy is 3.1.

Number of Items Probability x•P(x)

(x) P(x)

1 3/10 3/10

2 1/10 2/10

3 1/10 3/10

4 2/10 8/10

5 3/10 15/10

Total μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]=¿ ¿31/10

Solution 1: Solve for mean

μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]¿= x 1 • P ( x 1 ) +¿ x 2 • P ( x 2 ) + x 3 • P ( x 3 ) +…+ xn • P ( x n )

= 3/10 + 2/10 + 3/10 + 8/10 + 15/10
= 31/10 or 3.1

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EXAMPLE 2: Surgery Patients
The probabilities that a surgeon operates 3,4,5,6 or 7 patients in any day are 0.15,
0.10, 0.20, 0.25 𝑎𝑛𝑑 0.30 respectively. Find the average number of patients that a
surgeon operates on a day.

Number of 3 4 5 6 7 Total
patients (x)

Probability 0.15 0.10 0.20 0.25 0.30

P(x)

x•P(x) 0.45 0.40 1.0 1.5 2.1 μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]=¿ ¿5.4

5

Solution 2: solve for mean

μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]¿= x 1 • P ( x 1 ) +¿ x 2 • P ( x 2 ) + x 3 • P ( x 3 ) +…+ xn • P ( x n )

= 0.45 + 0.40 + 1.0 + 1.5 + 2.1
= 5.45

EXAMPLE 3:Defective parts

The probabilities of a machine manufacturing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 defective parts in
one day are 0.75, 0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01 and 0.005, respectively. Find the mean
probability distribution.

Number of 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
patients (x)

Probability 0.75 0.17 0.04 0.025 0.01 0.005

P(x)

x•P(x) 0 0.17 0.08 0.075 0.04 0.025 μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]=¿ ¿0

.39

Solution 3: solve for mean

μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]¿= x 1 • P ( x 1 ) +¿ x 2 • P ( x 2 ) + x 3 • P ( x 3 ) +…+ xn • P ( x n )

= 0+ 0.17 + 0.08 + 0.075 + 0.04 + 0.025
= 0.39

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF MEAN OF PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

EXAMPLE 1:

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By investing in a particular stock Florence can make 4000 Php in a month with a
probability of 0.2 or take a loss of 1000 Php with a probability of 0.8. What is
his expected gain per month?
X p(x)
x•P(x)
4000 0.2 800
-1000 0.8 -800
800 + (-800) = 0
EXAMPLE 2:
By investing a business, Rita can make a profit in a year of ₱150,000 with a
probability of 0.28 or take a loss of ₱10,000 with a probability of 0.72. What is
Rita’s expected gain?
EXAMPLE 3:
The following table provides a probability distribution for the random variable x.

X 2 5 9

P(X) 0.24 0.48 ?0.28

0.48 2.4 2.52

Find the value of the following
1. P(9) = 0.28

2. μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]¿ = 5.4

VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION OF DISCRETE PROBABILITY

DISTRIBUTION
The Variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

σ =∑ [ x • P ( x ) ]−μ the summation of x squared

2 2 2
times p of x minus mean
squared
The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the
formula:

σ= √∑ [ x • P ( x ) ]−μ
2 2
the square root of the variance

Where:

μ=meanof t h e probability distribuion

σ 2=variance of t h e probability distribution

σ =standard deviation of t h e probability dsitribution

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EXAMPLE 1: Number of Cars Sold
The number of cars sold per day at a local dealership, along with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the table. Compute the variance and standard
deviation of the probability distribution.

Number of Car Probability x•P(x) x2

2
x • P(x)
Sold (x) P(x)

0 1/10 0 0 0

1 2/10 2/10 1 2/10

2 3/10 6/10 4 12/10

3 2/10 6/10 9 18/10

4 2/10 8/10 16 32/10

Total 22 64
μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]=
10
∨2.2 ¿ ∑ [ x 2 • P ( x ) ] = 10 ∨6.4

Solution 1: solve for variance Solve for standard deviation:

σ =∑ [ x • P ( x ) ]−μ
2 2 2
σ= √∑ [ x • P ( x ) ]−μ
2 2

= 6.4−¿
=√ 1.56
= 6.4−4.84
=1.24899959968 or 1.25
= 1 .56
Therefore the standard deviation is equal to
Therefore the variance is equal to 1.25

1.56

EXAMPLE 2:Number of Items Sold

The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding
probabilities is shown in the table. Find the variance and standard
deviation of the probability distribution.

Number of Probability x•P(x) x

2
x2• P ( x )
Items Sold (x) P(x)

19 0.20 3.8 361 72.2

20 0.20 4 400 80

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 21 0.30 6.3 441 132.3

22 0.20 4.4 484 96.8

23 0.10 2.3 529 52.9

Total μ=∑ [ x ¿• P ( x ) ]=20.8 ¿ ∑ [ x 2 • P ( x ) ] =434.2

Solution 2: solve for variance

Solve for standard deviation:
σ =∑ [ x • P ( x ) ]−μ
2 2 2

σ= √∑ [ x • P ( x ) ]−μ
2 2

= 434.2−¿
=√ 1.56
= 434.2−432.64
=1.24899959968 or 1.25
= 1 .56

PRACTICE

1. Based from the data gathered below, compute for the mean, variance,
and the standard deviation.
Study Time (X) Percentage P(X)
1 hour 10%
2 hours 10%
3 hours 30%
4 hours 50%
Total

X P(x) x•P(x) x
2
x2• P ( x )
1 0.1 0.1 1 0.1
2 0.1 0.2 4 0.4
3 0.3 0.9 9 2.7
4 0.5 2 16 8

3.2 11.2

Spent in Social Media (X) Percentage P(X)

1 hour 40%
2 hours 20%
3 hours 25%
4 hours 15%
Total

X P(x) x•P(x) x
2
x2• P ( x )
1 0.4 0.4 1 0.4

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 2 0.2 0.4 4 0.8
3 0.25 0.75 9 2.25
4 0.15 0.6 16 2.4

2.15 5.85

ENRICHMEN: (Think-Pair –Share)

Compare the Data obtained from the number of hours spent in social and data
from the number of hours spent in studying.

1. Compare the means obtained from the two sets of data?

2. Compare the two standard deviations, what does it imply?

ACTIVITY 1: MEAN AND VARIANCE OF PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

A. Find the mean of the following probability distribution

X P(X)

15 1/7

6 1/7

10 2/7

15 2/7

20 1/7

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 X P(X)

2 0.15

4 0.18

6 0.31

8 0.30

10 0.06

B. SOLVE THE FOLLOWING

1. Bakeshop owner determines the number of boxes of pandesal that delivered
each day. Find the mean of the probability distribution shown. If the manager
stated that 35 boxes of pandesal were delivered in one day, do you think that this
is a believable claim?

Number of Boxes (X) Probability (X)

35 0.10

36 0.15

37 0.35

38 0.25

39 0.15

2. The following table gives the probabilities that a probation officer will receive 0,
1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 reports o probation violations on any given day, Find the average
reports of violation in a day.

Number of Violations (X) Probability (X)

0 0.10

1 0.20

2 0.38

3 0.14

4 0.06

5 0.12
1. The probabilities of a machine manufacturing 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 defective parts
in one day are 0.75, 0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01 and 0.005, respectively. Find the
variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.

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2. The number of computers sold per day at a local computer store
along with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table. Find the
variance and standard deviation of the distribution.

Number of Computer Sold (X) Probability P(X)

0 0.1

1 0.2

3 0.3

5 0.2

7 0.2

3. The number of inquiries received per day by the Office of Admissions in a

certain university is shown below. Find the variance and standard deviation

Number of Inquiries Probability

12 0.08

20 0.19

15 0.36

20 0.25

10 0.07

27 0.05

ASSESSMENT:

1. A study conducted by a TV station showed the number of televisions

per household and the corresponding probabilities for each. Find the
mean, variance and standard deviation. Interpret the results.

Number of 2 5 8 10
Television (X)

P(X) 0.32 0.51 0.12 0.05

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References:
Belecina, R. R. (2016), Statistics and Probability First Edition: Rex Bookstore Inc.,
Sampaloc Manila

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9y4LHnr1Q0&t=389s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Im8-zVO9kI&t=428s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU5_HVgMpHg

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