Probability distribution for a

discrete random variable and its

properties.
Discrete random variable

Objective:

1. Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random

variable and its properties.
2. Compute probabilities corresponding to a given random
variable.
3. Construct the probability mass function of a discrete random
variable and its corresponding histogram.
Discrete random variable

DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

A discrete random variable consists of the values a random

variable can assume and the corresponding probabilities.
Discrete random variable

Example: if two coins are tossed, what are the possible outcomes? If X
is the random variable for the number of head.
Possible Variable X
Outcome (Number of
Heads) No Heads One Head Two Heads
HH 2
HT 1
TH 1
Number of 0 1 2
TT 0 Heads
Probability,
P(x)
Discrete random variable

Example 2.
Construct a probability distribution for rolling a single die.

What is the probability of getting the sample space if you will roll a single
die?
Sample Space

Outcome, 1 2 3 4 5 6
X
P(X)
Discrete random variable

PROPERTIES OF DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

1. The sum of all probabilities should be 1.

2. Probabilities should be confined between zero (0) and 1.

Discrete random variable

Example 3. Determine whether the distribution is a discrete probability

distribution.

𝟎 ≤𝐏 ( 𝐗 ) ≤ 𝟏 𝑷 ( 𝑿 )=𝟏

No, it is not a discrete probability Yes, it is a discrete

distribution, P(x) cannot be -0.3. probability distribution.
Discrete random variable

Example 3: Supposed three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random

variable representing the number of tails. Construct the probability
distribution and draw the histogram.
Possible Value of the Number of 0 1 2 3
Outcomes random variable Y tails Y
(number of tails)
Possible
Outcomes
HHH 0
HHT 1
HTH 1
HTT 2
THH 1
THT 2
TTH 2
TTT 3
Discrete random variable

Example 4: Box A and Box B contain 1, 2, 3, 4. Write the probability

mass function and draw the histogram of the sum when one number
from each box is taken at a time, with replacement.
x 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P(x)

(1, 1) (2, 1) (3, 1) (4, 1)

(1, 2) (2, 2) (3, 2) (4, 2)
(1, 3) (2, 3) (3, 3) (4, 3)
(1, 4) (2, 4) (3, 4) (4, 4)