RANDOM VARIABLES

UTSC Math & Stats support – Supplementary videos Olivia Rennie, 2021
RANDOM VARIABLES
H

H H P(2 or more heads) = P(2 or 3 heads) = P(2) + P(3) = 3/8 + 1/8

= 4/8
H H

H H P(at least 1 head) = 1 – P(no heads) = 1 – 1/8 = 7/8

H H H
Median: the value of X where summed-up probability first pass 0.5
PAST EXAM QUESTION!!!

Notice we have a situation where

there are a set of values, and each
value has an associated probability!
This should make you think of
random variables!

Also note, “expected value,”

“expected number,” “average,”
etc. are all synonymous with
“mean”
Number of Probability this
computers that many
are defective computers will
be defective

0 0.4096

1 0.4096

2 0.1536

3 0.0256

4 0.0016
Number of Probability this xP(X)
computers that many
are defective computers will
be defective

0 0.4096 0 x 0.4096 = 0

1 0.4096 1 x 0.4096 =
0.4096
2 0.1536 2 x 0.1536 =
0.3072
3 0.0256 3 x 0.0256 =
0.0768
4 0.0016 4 x 0.0016 =
6.4 x 10-3

𝑥𝑃 𝑥 = 0 + 0.4096 + 0.3072 + 0.0768 + 6.4 x 10-3 = 0.8

Number of Probability this
computers that
are defective
many
computers will
The median here would be 1.
be defective

0 0.4096

1 0.4096 The value of “0” only contains 40.96% of

2 0.1536
3 0.0256
4 0.0016
the data – we are not at 50% yet.
However, the summed-up probability for
X=0 + X=1 = 0.4096 + 0.4096 = 0.8192.
We have passed 0.5 (50%)! This means
X=1 is our median.
PAST EXAM QUESTION!!!

Notice we have a situation where

there are a set of values, and each
value has an associated probability!
This should make you think of
random variables!
Number of Probability of xp (𝑥 − μ) (𝑥 − μ)2 (𝑥 − μ)2 P(x)
burglaries this many
burglaries

0 0.52 0.2 2 – 3.9 = -1.9 (-1.9)^2 = 3.61 (3.61)(0.1)=0

.361
1 0.42 0.6 3 – 3.9 = -0.9 (-0.9)^2 = 0.81 (0.81)(0.2)=
1.62
2 0.05 1.6 4 – 3.9 = 0.1 (0.1)^2 = 0.01 (0.01)(0.4) =
0.004
3 0.01 1.5 5 – 3.9 = 1.1 (1.1)^2 = 1.21 (1.21)(0.3) =
0.363
Number of Probability of xP(x) (𝑥 − μ) (𝑥 − μ)2 (𝑥 − μ)2 P(x)
burglaries this many
burglaries

0 0.52 0 x 0.52 = 0 2 – 3.9 = -1.9 (-1.9)^2 = 3.61 (3.61)(0.1)=0

.361
1 0.42 1 x 0.42 = 3 – 3.9 = -0.9 (-0.9)^2 = 0.81 (0.81)(0.2)=
0.42 1.62
2 0.05 2 x 0.05 = 0.1 4 – 3.9 = 0.1 (0.1)^2 = 0.01 (0.01)(0.4) =
0.004
3 0.01 3 x 0.01 = 5 – 3.9 = 1.1 (1.1)^2 = 1.21 (1.21)(0.3) =
0.03 0.363

𝑥𝑃(𝑥) = 0.55 = mean

Number of Probability of xP(x) (𝑥 − μ) (𝑥 − μ)2 (𝑥 − μ)2 P(x)
burglaries this many
burglaries

0 0.52 0 x 0.52 = 0 2 – 3.9 = -1.9 (-1.9)^2 = 3.61 (3.61)(0.1)=0

.361
1 0.42 1 x 0.42 = 3 – 3.9 = -0.9 (-0.9)^2 = 0.81 (0.81)(0.2)=
0.42 1.62
2 0.05 2 x 0.05 = 0.1 4 – 3.9 = 0.1 (0.1)^2 = 0.01 (0.01)(0.4) =
0.004
3 0.01 3 x 0.01 = 5 – 3.9 = 1.1 (1.1)^2 = 1.21 (1.21)(0.3) =
0.03 0.363

𝑥𝑃(𝑥) = 0.55 = mean

Number of Probability of xP(x) (𝑥 − μ) (𝑥 − μ)2 (𝑥 − μ)2 P(x)
burglaries this many
burglaries

0 0.52 0 x 0.52 = 0 0 – 0.55 = (-1.9)^2 = 3.61 (3.61)(0.1)=0

-0.55 .361
1 0.42 1 x 0.42 = 1 – 0.55 = (-0.9)^2 = 0.81 (0.81)(0.2)=
0.42 0.45 1.62
2 0.05 2 x 0.05 = 0.1 2 – 0.55 = (0.1)^2 = 0.01 (0.01)(0.4) =
1.45 0.004
3 0.01 3 x 0.01 = 3 – 0.55 = (1.1)^2 = 1.21 (1.21)(0.3) =
0.03 2.45 0.363

𝑥𝑃(𝑥) = 0.55 = mean

Number of Probability of xP(x) (𝑥 − μ) (𝑥 − μ)2 (𝑥 − μ)2 P(x)
burglaries this many
burglaries

0 0.52 0 x 0.52 = 0 0 – 0.55 = (-0.55)2 = (3.61)(0.1)=0

-0.55 0.3025 .361
1 0.42 1 x 0.42 = 1 – 0.55 = (0.45)2 = (0.81)(0.2)=
0.42 0.45 0.2025 1.62
2 0.05 2 x 0.05 = 0.1 2 – 0.55 = (1.45)2 = (0.01)(0.4) =
1.45 2.1025 0.004
3 0.01 3 x 0.01 = 3 – 0.55 = (2.45)2 = (1.21)(0.3) =
0.03 2.45 6.0025 0.363

𝑥𝑃(𝑥) = 0.55 = mean

Number of Probability of xP(x) (𝑥 − μ) (𝑥 − μ)2 (𝑥 − μ)2 P(x)
burglaries this many
burglaries

0 0.52 0 x 0.52 = 0 0 – 0.55 = (-0.55)2 = (0.3025)(0.52)

-0.55 0.3025 = 0.1573

1 0.42 1 x 0.42 = 1 – 0.55 = (0.45)2 = (0.2025)(0.42)

0.42 0.45 0.2025 = 0.08505

2 0.05 2 x 0.05 = 0.1 2 – 0.55 = (1.45)2 = (2.1025)(0.05)

1.45 2.1025 = 0.105125

3 0.01 3 x 0.01 = 3 – 0.55 = (2.45)2 = (6.0025)(0.01)

0.03 2.45 6.0025 = 0.060025

(𝑥 − μ)2 P(x) = 0.4075 = variance! 

𝑥𝑃(𝑥) = 0.55 = mean

Just take square root to find

SD!
= 0.6384
Number of Probability of xP(x) (𝑥 − μ) (𝑥 − μ)2 (𝑥 − μ)2 P(x)
burglaries this many
burglaries

0 0.52 0 x 0.52 = 0 0 – 0.55 = (-0.55)2 = (0.3025)(0.52)

-0.55 0.3025 = 0.1573

1 0.42 1 x 0.42 = 1 – 0.55 = (0.45)2 = (0.2025)(0.42)

0.42 0.45 0.2025 = 0.08505

2 0.05 2 x 0.05 = 0.1 2 – 0.55 = (1.45)2 = (2.1025)(0.05)

1.45 2.1025 = 0.105125

3 0.01 3 x 0.01 = 3 – 0.55 = (2.45)2 = (6.0025)(0.01)

0.03 2.45 6.0025 = 0.060025

(𝑥 − μ)2 P(x) = 0.4075 = variance! 

𝑥𝑃(𝑥) = 0.55 = mean

Just take square root to find

SD!
= 0.6384
PAST EXAM QUESTION!!!

Notice we have a situation where

there are a set of values, and each
value has an associated probability!
This should make you think of
random variables!
Number of Probability of
cheesecakes selling this
sold in a day many
cheesecakes

10 0.1

20 0.5

30 0.1

35 0.2

x 0.1
Number of Probability of xP(x)
cheesecakes selling this
sold in a day many
cheesecakes 𝑥𝑃 𝑥 = 1 + 10 + 3 + 7 + 0.1x = 25
10 0.1 10 x 0.1 = 1
0.1x = 25 – 21
20 0.5 20 x 0.5 = 10
0.1x = 4
X = 40
30 0.1 30 x 0.1 = 3

35 0.2 35 x 0.2 = 7

x 0.1 (x)(0.1) = 0.1x