VARIABLE

is a characteristic or attribute that is measurable, and

values or answers may vary
Qualitative:
are characteristics that do not strictly take numerical
values. And express in categorical attributes.
Quantitative:
are also called numerical data. These data answer the
questions “how many” and “how much”.
 RANDOM VARIABLE
- Are variable whose values
are determined by chances.
Discrete:
if its set of possible outcomes is countable. Mostly,
these data represent “count” data.
Continuous:
if it takes on values on a continuous scale. Mostly,
these data represent “measured” data.
To get the value of random variable:
1. List all the possible outcomes(event) in sample space.
2. Count the value of random variable for each possible
event. (Random variable asked to identify.)
3. List all possible values for random variable(X) from
each event as, X={random variables}
 LESSON 2.
CONSTRUCTING
PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
LESSON OBJECTIVES
 illustrate a probability distribution for discrete
random variable and its properties;
 construct the probability mass function of a
discrete random variable and its corresponding
histogram; and
 compute probabilities corresponding to a given
random variable.
FINDING PROBABILITIES
1.Find the probability of
getting an even number in
a single roll of die.
FINDING PROBABILITIES

There are 3 possible outcomes (2,4,and 6) in

the event with a sample space of 6.
FINDING PROBABILITIES

Therefore, the probability of getting an even

number in a single roll is 3/6 or 1/2.
FINDING PROBABILITIES
2. Find the probability that
all children are boys if a
couple has three children.
FINDING PROBABILITIES

Let: B = Boys and G = Girls

FINDING PROBABILITIES

S={BBB, BBG, BGB, BGG,GBB, GGB, GBG,

GGG}
FINDING PROBABILITIES

There is only 1 possible outcome (BBB) in the

event with a sample space of 8.
Therefore, the probability that all children are boys
if a couple has three children is 1/8.
 To get probabilities of values of a random variable:
Step 1. Lists all possible event in sample space.
Step 2. Count the value of random variable for each
possible event.
Step 3. List possible values for random variable X and
identify the value for each event as X={possible value}
Step 4. Assign probability values P(X) to each values of
random variable.
TRY THIS!
Find the probability of
the following events.
TRY THIS!
1.Getting a face card in
a deck of cards.
ANSWER
jack = (4)
Favorable
queen = (4)
Outcomes
king = (4)
12 P(x) = 12 = 3
Total Deck of 52 13
cards = 52
Total # of outcomes
TRY THIS!
2.Getting the sum of 5
when two dice are
rolled.
 5

5
ANSWER
Getting the sum of 5 in rolling two dice.
S = {1+4, 4+1, 2+3,
3+2}
Favorable Outcomes = 4
Total Outcomes(6)^6 = 36

P(x) = 4 = 1
36 9
TRY THIS!
3. Getting an ace when
a card is drawn from a
deck.
Possible outcomes Values Random Probability (X)
Variable X

1 1
52
1 1
52
1 1
52
1
1
52
 1 1 1 1
ΣP(X) =P(52)+P(52 )+P(52 )+P(52 )
ΣP(X) = 1+1+1+1
52
ΣP(X) = 4 or 1
52 13
 FORMULA OF
PROBABILITY
P = FAVORABLE OUTCOMES
TOTAL NUMBER OF
OUTCOMES
ANSWER
Getting an ace when a card is drawn
from a deck.
Favorable Outcomes = 4
Total Outcomes(52) = 52

P(x) = 4 = 1
52 13
 -consists of the values a
Discrete random variable and can
Probability assume the corresponding
probabilities of the values. It
Distribution is also known as probability
mass function.
EXAMPLE 1
Number of Heads
Supposed that we tossed 3 coins. Let C be the
random variable representing the number of
heads that occur. Find the probability of each of
values of the random variable C.
EXAMPLE 1
Number of Heads H=head T=Tail
C={0,1,2,3
Possible outcomes} Values Random Variable C
HHH 3
HHT 2
HTH 2
THH 2
HTT 1
THT 1
TTH 1
TTT 0
EXAMPLE 1
Number of Heads H=head T=Tail
C ={0,1,2,3}
# of Heads (C) P(C)
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION of
Discrete Random Variable:

NUMBER OF HEADS 0 1 2 3

1 3 3 1
PROBABILITY (C)
8 8 8 8
 Discrete
Probability or Probability
Distribution Mass Function
EXAMPLE 2
Supposed we are going to test 3 laptops. Let
D represent the defective laptop and N
represent non-defective laptop. Then, we let
X to represent the random variable of the
number of defective laptops. Find the
probability of each of values of the random
variable X.
EXAMPLE 2
Number of Defective laptops

X={0,1,2,3}
Possible outcomes Values Random Variable X
DDD 3
DDN 2
DND 2
NDD 2
DNN 1
NDN 1
NND 1
NNN 0
EXAMPLE 2
Number of Defective laptops
X ={0,1,2,3}
# of Defective LT (X) P(X)
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION of
Discrete Random Variable:

NUMBER OF (X) 0 1 2 3

1 3 3 1
PROBABILITY (X)
8 8 8 8
EXAMPLE 3
Two winners will be drawn from 5 security
guards (S) and 6 canteen staff
(C). Let W be the random variable
representing the canteen staffs. Find the
values of random variable W.
EXAMPLE 2
Number Representing Canteen Staff

W={0,1,2}
Possible outcomes Values Random Variable W
CC 2
CS 1
SC 1
SS 0
EXAMPLE 2
Number Representing Canteen Staff
W ={0,1,2}
# of Defective LT (W) P(W)
0 1/4
1 2/4
2 1/4
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION of
Discrete Random Variable:

NUMBER OF (W) 0 1 2

1 2 1
PROBABILITY (W)
4 4 4
TRY THIS !
Number of Blue Balls
Two balls are drawn in succession without
replacement from an urn containing 5 red balls
and 6 blue balls. Let Z be the random variable
representing the number of blue balls.
Construct the probability distribution of
random variable Z.
 Number of Blue Balls
5 red balls; 6 blue balls. R-red; B-Blue
Let Z = Random variable # of B.
Sample space Z

BB 2
Z 0 1 2

BR 1 1 2 1
P(z)
RB 1 4 4 4
RR 0
HISTOGRAM VS BAR
Histogram
GRAPH
•
is the graphical representation of
data where data is grouped into
continuous number ranges and each
range corresponds to a vertical bar.
HISTOGRAM VS BAR
Bar Graph
GRAPH
•
is the graphical representation of
categorical data using rectangular
bars where the length of each bar is
proportional to the value they
represent.
HISTOGRAM VS BAR
GRAPH
LETS MAKE A
Steps to
HISTOGRAM construct histogram
• Plot the values of the random
variable along the horizontal axis.
• Plot the probabilities along the
vertical axis.
 Number of Blue Balls
5 red balls; 6 blue balls. R-red; B-Blue
Let Z = Random variable # of B.
Sample space Z

BB 2
Z 0 1 2

BR 1 1 2 1
P(z)
RB 1 4 4 4
RR 0
 Z 0 1 2

1 1 1
P(z)
4 2 4

1.0
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
.
0.3
0.2 . .
0.1

0 1 2
 Z 0 1 2

1 1 1
P(z)
4 2 4
EXERCISE:
Number of Tails
• Three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random
variable that represent the
number of tails that will occur.
EXERCISE:
Number of Tails
a. Construct the probability distribution
of random variable Y.
b. Make a histogram for the Probability
Distribution of the Discrete Random
Variable Y.
 # of Tails 0 1 2 3
(Y)
Probability 1 3 3 1
P(Y) 8 8 8 8

0 1 2 3
 Properties of a
Remember! Probability Distribution

• The probability of each value of the random

variable must be between or equal to 0 and 1.
In symbol, we write it as:
0 ≤ P(X) ≤ 1.
 Properties of a
Remember! Probability Distribution

2. The sum of the probabilities of all values of

the random variable must be equal to 1. In
symbol, we write it as ∑ 𝑃(𝑥) = 1
EXAMPLE 1
Determine whether the following
Distribution represents a Probability
Distribution.
Note: To say whether the distribution is a probability distribution, we must
satisfy ∑ 𝑃(𝑥) = 1.
Solution: ∑ 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃(2) + 𝑃(4) + 𝑃(6) + 𝑃(8)
= 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/3 + 1/6 + 1/6
= 1/6 + 1/6 + 2/6 + 1/6 + 1/6
= 6/6 or 1

Therefore, the distribution is a probability distribution because the sum

of the probabilities is 1.
EXAMPLE 2
Determine whether the following
Distribution represents a Properties of
Probability Distribution.
 Solution: ∑ 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑃(1) + 𝑃(3) + 𝑃(5) +
=𝑃0.35
(7) + 0.25 + 0.22 + 0.12
= 0.94

Since the sum of the probabilities of the distribution is 0.94 which is

not equal to 1, therefore the distribution is NOT a probability
distribution.
TRY THIS!
Determine whether the given values can
serve as the values of a probability
distribution of the random variable X that
can take only the values 1, 2 and 3. Justify.
TRY THIS!
x 1 2
ITIES I S = 1 3
P RO BA B I L
E SU M O F
YES , TH
px 0.06 0.23 0.71

x 1 2 W H I C H I S 3
N OT
ES I S 1.1 5 4
O BA B I LI T I
S U M O F P R 1
TH
NO, px E 8/13EQUA L T O 4/13 3/13
3. The following
data shows the
probability for the
number of
computers
sold in a given day at
a certain mall.
=0.60
=0.72
=0.57
Steps on getting the probability of each value of the random
variable:
1. Determine the sample space. Assign letters that will
represent each outcome.
2. Count the number of the value of the random variable
(capital letter assigned).
3. Given the total possible values of the random variable,
assign probability values to each value of the random variable.
WELL DONE!
Prepare for a quiz