Mean and Variance of a

Discrete Random
Variable
 Objectives
1. Define mean, variance and standard deviation.
2. Calculates the mean and the variance and
standard deviation of a discrete random variable.
3. Value the importance of interpreting a data
using the mean and variance of a discrete random
variable and apply it in real-life situation.
Find the mean of the discrete random variable X with the following
probability distribution.

Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.

x P(x) x∙P(x)
2 1/4 1/2
1 1/2 1/2
0 1/4 0
= E(X) = xP(x)]
=
=1
 Step 2. Square each value of the random variable and
multiply by the corresponding probability value [x^2∙P(x)].
x P(x) P(x)

2 4 1

1 1

0 0 0
0
Step 3. Find the variance and by applying the formula.

= (1 + 1/2 + 0) - 1^2
= 0.5
Step 4. The standard deviation is computed by
getting the square root of the variance
σ = √0.5
= 0.71
Thus, the variance is 0.5 and the standard
deviation is 0.71
1. How do you define mean, variance and
standard deviation?

2. How do you solve the mean of discrete

random variable? variance? standard
deviation?
3. How do you interpret the data using the
value of mean, variance and standard
deviation?
 Remember!
Mean- tells the value of a random variable that is
expected to be obtained if the experiment is done
repeatedly.

Variance- measurement of how far each value in a data

set is from the mean and thus from every other value in
the set.

Standard Deviation- indicates how far, on the average,

an observed value from the mean.
The number of patients seen in the Emergency Room
in any given hour is a random variable represented by
x. The probability distribution for x is:
x 10 11 12 13 14
P(x) 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1

Compute the mean, variance, and standard deviation

of this distribution.
 Quiz 3
1. Which of the following use the formula of
∑[x⦁ P(x)] ? (Remembering)
A. Probability Distribution
B.Variance of Discrete Probability Distribution
C.Standard Deviation of Discrete Probability
Distribution
D.Mean or Expected Value of Discrete Probability
Distribution
 Quiz 3
2. If the variance of a probability
distribution is 2.6 grams, what is the standard
deviation?
A. 1.61
B. 1.16
C. 1.06
D. 1.01
3. Which of the following statement is TRUE?
(Understanding)
A. A small value of standard deviation (or variance) indicates
that the distribution of the random variable is concentrated
narrowly around the mean
B. A negative value of standard deviation (or variance)
indicates that the distribution of the random variable is
concentrated narrowly around the mean.
C. The values closer from 𝜇𝑥 have equal probability.
D. The values closer from 𝜇𝑥 have equal probability.
 4. In a recent Barangay Basketball League,
each player went to free throws 2 times. The
number of free throws made by each player is
described by the following probability
distribution. (Analyzing)
No. of Free Throws (x) Probability P(x)
0 0.20
1 0.45
2 0.35
4. What is the mean of the probability
distribution?
A. 1.00
B. 1.15
C. 2.00
D. 2.25
 Quiz 3
5. The number of qualified voters living in the
household on a randomly selected Subdivision block is
described by the following probability distribution.

No. of Qualified Voters (x) 1 2 3 4

Probability P(x) 0.25 0.50 0.15 0.10
5. What is the variance and standard
deviation of the given data? (Evaluating)
A. 0.99 and 0.50
B. 0.89 and 0.62
C. 0.79 and 0.89
D. 0.80 and .088
Answer key!