PROBABILITY

DISTRIBUTION FOR A
DISCRETE RANDOM
VARIABLE AND ITS
PROPERTIES

INSPIRED BY
 The probability distribution of a
random variable defines the
probability of each possible value of
the random variable. Its distribution
functions are concentrated as a mass
for a particular value, and also
known as a Probability Mass
Function.
 Properties of discrete
probability distribution
The probability of each value of the random
variable must be between or equal to 0 and 1. In
symbol 0 P (X) 1.

The sum of all values of the random variable must

be equal to 1. In symbol, we write it as P(X)=1
 Supposed three coins are
tossed. Let X be the random
Example 1 variable representing the
number of heads. Construct the
probability distribution and
draw the histogram
Possible Outcomes Value of random variable,
X
TTT 3
TTH 2
THT 2
THH 1
HTT 2
HTH 1
HHT 1
HHH 0

no. of tails, X 0 1 2 3
probability P(X) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
 Histogram
4/8

3/8

2/8

1/8

0 1 2 3
Properties of Discrete Probability
Distribution
Example A
1. X 2 4 6
P(X) 1/2 3/4 -1/4

X 5 10 15 20
2.
P(X) 1/8 3/8 1/2 0

0 X 1
P(X)= 1
Properties of Discrete Probability
Distribution
Example A
1. X 2 4 6
P(X) 1/2 3/4 -1/4

X 5 10 15 20
2.
P(X) 1/8 3/8 1/2 0

P(X)= 1/8 + 3/8 + 1/2 + 0

= 4/8 + 1/2
= 1/2 + 1/2 = 1
Example 2
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.06 0.23 __ 0.35 0.05

A. find P(2)= B. find P(X 3)=

C. find P(X 2= D. find P(1 X 3)

Example 2
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.06 0.23 __ 0.35 0.05
A. find P(2)= .31
B. find P(X 3)=
P(X)=1
= P (3)+ P(4)
.06 + .23 + .35 + .05 = 1
= 0.35 + 0.05
K+ .69=1
K = 1- .69 = .31 P(X 3)= 0.40
Example 2
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.06 0.23 __
0.31 0.35 0.05
A. find P(2)= .31
B. find P(X 3)=
P(X)=1
.06 + .23 + .35 + .05 = 1
K+ .69=1
K = 1- .69 = .31
Example 2
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.06 0.23 __
0.31 0.35 0.05
A. find P(2)= .31
B. find P(X 3)=
P(X)=1
= P (3)+ P(4)
.06 + .23 + .35 + .05 = 1
= 0.35 + 0.05
K+ .69=1
K = 1- .69 = .31 P(X 3)= 0.40
C. find P(X 2)= )

D. find P(1 X 3)
C. find P(X 2)= P(0) + P(1)
=0.06 + 0.23
P(X 2)= 0.29

D. find P(1 X 3)
C. find P(X 2)= P(0) + P(1)
=0.06 + 0.23
P(X 2)= 0.29

D. find P(1 X 3)
= P(1)+ P(2) + P(3)
= 0.23 + 0.31 + 0.35
= 0.89
 QUIZ:
1.What is the result if you add all the probabilities of all the values of the random
variable
a. -1 b. 0 c. 1 d. 2

2. It describes probability associated with the possible values of X.

a. Statistics c. Integer
b. Whole Number d. Probability Distribution
0.6 m

1.1 m
3. Complete the following values to make it a probability distribution.
P(1)= 0.27, P(2)=____, P(3)= 0.35 1m

a. 0. 28 b. 0.38 c. 0.39 d. 0.33 0.5 m

4. The probability of each value of the random variable must be:
a. 1 P(X) 4 c. 0 P(X) 1
b. P(X)=0 d. P(X) -1

5. Determine whether this distribution illustrates a probability

distribution.
P(1)= 0.29, P(2)= 0.44, P(3)= 0.37
a. Yes c. Maybe
b. No d. I don’t know