Mean and Variance of DRV

MEAN AND VARIANCE OF A DISCRETE RANDOM

VARIABLE
• A mean/expected value () of a random variable is a number that attempts to
represent all the data gathered about a variable by getting the weighted average of
all the values that the random variable X would assume in the long run. Variance
() and standard deviation () on the other hand, measure how spread out the
distribution of data is.
• Formulas:
Mean:
Variance:
Standard Deviation:
“MEAN OF A DISCRETE
RANDOM VARIABLE”
Example 1: Consider the first experiment in the “Getting Ready Activity”.

Experiment: “tossing a coin twice”

Random Variable: X = no. of heads that turn up
Solve for the mean of X = the number of heads that turn up in tossing a coin twice.

x P(x) x•P(x) STEP 3: Add the results obtained in step 2.

0 1/4 0 (1/4) = 0

1 1/2 1(1/2) = 1/2

2 1/4 2(1/4) = 1/2

Therefore, the mean or expected value of X is 1. The mean tells us
STEP 1: Construct the STEP 2: Multiply the value of the that the average number of heads that would appear in tossing a coin
probability distribution. random variable by the twice is theoretically 1 head
corresponding probability. .
Example 2: Consider the second experiment in the “Getting Ready Activity”.

Experiment: “tossing a coin thrice”

Random Variable: X = no. of tails that turn up
Solve for the mean of X = the number of tails that turn up in tossing a coin thrice.
x P(x) x•P(x)
0 1/8 0 (1/8) = 0 STEP 3: Add the results obtained in step 2.

1 3/8 1(3/8) = 3/8

2 3/8 2(3/8) = 6/8

3 1/8 3(1/8) = 3/8

Therefore, the mean or expected value of X is 1.5. The mean tells us
STEP 1: Construct the STEP 2: Multiply the value of the that the average number of heads that would appear in tossing a coin
probability distribution. random variable by the thrice is theoretically 1.5 heads (approximately 2 heads).
corresponding probability. .
Example 3:
Experiment: “rolling a number cube”
Random Variable: X = the “number” that turns up
Solve for the mean of X = the number that turns up in rolling a die.
STEP 1: Construct the probability distribution.
x P(x) x•P(x)
STEP 2: Multiply the value of the random variable by
1 1/6 1(1/6) = 1/6 the corresponding probability. .

2 1/6 2(1/6) = 2/6 STEP 3: Add the results obtained in step 2.

3 1/6 3(1/6) = 3/6

4 1/6 4(1/6) = 4/6

5 1/6 5(1/6) = 5/6 Therefore, the mean or expected value of X is theoretically 3.5.

6 1/6 6(1/6) = 6/6

Example 4:
A fair roulette wheel contains 30 numbers: 15 are blue, 10 are green, and 5 are yellow. You win Php 300 if the
roulette lands on a blue number; you lose Php 200 if the roulette lands on a green number; and you lose Php 100
if the roulette lands on a yellow number.
Experiment: “spinning the roulette wheel”
Random Variable: X = the amount (in Php) a Solve for the expected value of X.
player can win or lose
x•P(x) STEP 3: Add the results obtained in step 2.

-200(1/3) = 200/3

-100(1/6) = -50/3

300(1/2) = 150

STEP 1: Construct the STEP 2: Multiply the value of the Therefore, the mean or expected value of X is Php 66.67. This means that a
probability distribution. random variable by the player is expected to win an average of Php 66.67 in the long run.
corresponding probability. .
“VARIANCE AND STANDARD
DEVIATION OF A DISCRETE
RANDOM VARIABLE”
Example 1: Consider the first experiment in the “Getting Ready Activity”.

Experiment: “tossing a coin twice”

Random Variable: X = no. of heads that turn up
Solve for the variance and standard deviation of X = the number of heads that turn up in tossing a coin
twice.
STEP 5: Get the sum of the results
x P(x) x- obtained in Step 4.
0 1/4 0 - 1 = -1 =1 (1)(1/4) = 1/4

1 1/2 1-1=0 =0 (0)(1/2) = 0

2 1/4 2-1=1 =1 (1)(1/4) = 1/4

Therefore, the variance and
STEP 1: Find the mean STEP 2: STEP 3: Square STEP 4: Multiply the standard deviation of the
of the probability Subtract the the results results obtained in Step random variable X are and
distribution. (The mean mean from obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding respectively.
is already calculated.) each value of 2. probability.
the random
variable X.
Example 2: Consider the second experiment in the “Getting Ready Activity”.

Experiment: “tossing a coin thrice”

Random Variable: X = no. of tails that turn up
Solve for the variance and standard deviation of X = the number of tails that turn up in tossing a coin
thrice.
STEP 5: Get the sum of the results
x P(x) x- obtained in Step 4.
(2.25)(1/8)
0 1/8 0 – 1.5 = -1.5 = 2.25 = 0.28125
(0.25)(3/8)
1 3/8 1 – 1.5 = -0.5 = 0.25 = 0.09375
(0.25)(3/8)
2 3/8 2 – 1.5 = 0.5 = 0.25 = 0.09375
Therefore, the variance and
(2.25)(1/8)
3 1/8 3 – 1.5 = 1.5 = 2.25 = 0.28125
standard deviation of the
random variable X are and
STEP 1: Find the mean STEP 2: Subtract STEP 3: Square STEP 4: Multiply respectively.
of the probability the mean from the results the results
distribution. (The mean each value of the obtained in Step obtained in Step
is already calculated.) random variable 2. 3 by the
X. corresponding
probability.
Example 3:
Experiment: “rolling a number cube”
Random Variable: X = the “number” that turns up.
Solve for the variance and standard deviation of X = the number that turns up in rolling a a number
cube.
STEP 5: Get the sum of the results
x P(x) x- (6.25)(1/6) obtained in Step 4.
= 1.04166667
1 1/6 1 – 3.5 = -2.5 = 6.25 (2.25)(1/6)
= 0. 375
2 1/6 2 – 3.5 = -1.5 = 2.25
(0.25)(1/6)
3 1/6 3 – 3.5 = -0.5 = 0.25 = 0.04166667
(0.25)(1/6)
4 1/6 4 – 3.5 = 0.5 = 0.25 = 0.04166667
(2.25)(1/6)
5 1/6 5 – 3.5 = 1.5 = 2.25
= 0. 375
(6.25)(1/6)
6 1/6 6 – 3.5 = 2.5 = 6.25
= 1.04166667
STEP 1: Find the mean STEP 2: Subtract STEP 3: Square STEP 4: Multiply
of the probability the mean from the results the results Therefore, the variance and standard deviation
distribution. (The mean each value of the obtained in Step obtained in Step 3 of the random variable X are and respectively.
is already calculated.) random variable 2. by the
X. corresponding
probability.
Example 4:
A fair roulette wheel contains 30 numbers: 15 are blue, 10 are green, and 5 are yellow. You win Php 300 if the
roulette lands on a blue number; you lose Php 200 if the roulette lands on a green number; and you lose Php 100
if the roulette lands on a yellow number.
Experiment: “spinning the roulette wheel”
Random Variable: X = the amount (in Php) a Solve for the standard deviation of X.
player can win or lose
STEP 5: Get the sum of the results
x- (640000/9)(1/3) obtained in Step 4.
-200 – 200/3
= -800/3 =640000/9 = 23703.7037
-100 – 200/3 (250000/9)(1/6)
= -500/3 =250000/9 = 4629.62963
300 – 200/3 (490000/9)(1/2)
=700/3 =490000/9 = 27222.22222

STEP 1: Find the mean STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4: Multiply the

of the probability Subtract the Square the results obtained in
distribution. (The mean mean from results Step 3 by the
is already calculated.) each value of obtained in corresponding Therefore, the standard deviation of the
the random Step 2. probability. random variable X is Php .
variable X.

Or 66.67