COMPUTING THE

MEAN OF A
DISCRETE
PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
 LESSON OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson you should able to:
1.Illustrate and calculate the mean of a
discrete random variable;
2.Interpret the mean of a discrete random
variable; and
3.Solve problems involving mean of the
probability distributions.
 WHAT IS MEAN?
The statistical mean refers to the
mean or average that is used to
derive the central tendency of the
data in question. It is determined by
adding all the data points in a
population and then dividing the
total by the number of points. The
resulting number is known as the
EXAMPLE:
Kendra’s scores on her First
Quarter tests were 90, 85,
91, 95, 88, and 93. What is
the mean of her scores?
NUMBER OF SPOTS
Consider rolling a die.
What is the average
number of spots that
would happen?
STEP 1:
Construct a probability distribution for the random
variable X representing the number of spots that would
appear.
Number of spots Probability P(X)
(X)
1
2
3
4
5
6
STEP 2:
 Multiply the value of the random variable X by
the corresponding probability.
Number of Probability X • P(X)
spots (X) P(X)
1
2
2
3
3
4
5
4
6
5
6
STEP 3:
 Add the results obtain in step 2.
Number Probability X • P(X)
of spots P(X)
(X)
 
1 =
2
2
3  
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
So, the mean of the
probability distribution is
3.5.
FORMULA FOR THE MEAN
OF THE PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
The
  mean of a random variable with discrete probability distribution is:

Or

Where:
are the value of the random variable X, and
, , , . . . , are corresponding probabilities
STEPS IN COMPUTING THE
MEAN OF A DISCRETE
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
1.Construct a probability distribution
for the random variable X.
2. Multiply the value of the random
variable X by the corresponding
probability.
3.Add the results obtain in step 2.
GROCERY ITEMS
The probabilities that costumer will buy
 

1,2,3,4, or 5 in the grocery store are and ,

respectively. What is the average number
of items that a customer will buy?
1. Construct a probability distribution for the random
variable X representing the number of items that
the customer will buy.
2. Multiply the value of the random variable X by the
corresponding probability.
3. Add the results obtain in step 2.
So, the mean of the
probability distribution is
3.1. This implies that the
average number of items
that the customer will buy
is 3.1.
SURGERY PATIENTS
The probabilities that the surgeon
operates on 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.
1. Construct a probability distribution for the random
variable X representing the number of patients that a
surgeon operates on a day.
2. Multiply the value of the random variable X by the
corresponding probability.
3. Add the results obtain in step 2.
So, the average
number of patients
that a surgeon will
operate in a day is
5.45.
LET’S DO THIS
Find the mean of the probability
 

distribution of the random variable X,

which can take only the values 1,2, and
3, given that P(1) = P(2) = , and P(3) = .
 LET’S DO THIS
Find the mean of the probability
 

distribution of the random variable X,

which can take only the values 3,5,
and 7. given that P(3) = P(5) = , and
P(7) = .
LET’S DO THIS
Find the mean of the probability
 

distribution of the random variable

X, which can take only the values
2,4,5, and 9. given that P(2) = P(4) =
, P(5) = , and P(9) = .
SEATWORK:
A. Complete the table below and find the mean of the following probability
distribution.

1. X P(X) X • P(X)
1

11

16
16

21
21
SEATWORK:
2.
X P(X) X • P(X)
1

4
4

5
5
SEATWORK:
3.
X P(X) X • P(X)
3 0.15
6 0.35
8 0.40
10 0.10
SEATWORK:
4.
X P(X) X • P(X)
1

7
7
SEATWORK:
5.
X P(X) X • P(X)
2 0.10
4 0.23
6 0.25
8 0.36
10 0.06