COMPUTING THE

MEAN, VARIANCE, AND

STANDARD DEVIATION
of a Discrete Probability Distribution
LESSON OBJECTIVES
illustrate and calculate the mean, variance, and
standard deviation of a discrete random
variable;
interpret the mean, variance, and standard
deviation of a discrete random variable; and,
solve problems involving mean, variance, and
standard deviation of probability distributions.
BRAINSTORM IDEAS!

1. What is the probability of each value of the

random variable?
2. Why is the sum of the probabilities in a
probability distribution always equal to 1?
TRY THIS!
Given the values of the variables X and Y, evaluate the summations:

1.
2 =

3. =

4. =

5. =
WHAT IS MEAN?
The mean is considered as a measure
of the ‘central location’ of a random
variable. It is the weighted average of the
values that random variable X can take,
with weights provided by the probability
distribution.
FORMULA FOR THE MEAN OF THE
DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

or

where:
are the values of the random variable X; and
are the corresponding probabilities
STEPS IN FINDING THE VARIANCE
AND STANDARD DEVIATION
 Step 1 and 2. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
 Step 3. Multiply the square of the value of the random
variable X by its corresponding probability.
 Step 4. Get the sum of the results obtained in the third step.
 Step 5. Subtract square of the mean from the results
obtained in the fourth step.
 FORMULA FOR THE MEAN, VARIANCE,
STANDARD DEVIATION OF THE
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
Variance or
Standard Deviation or
where:
= value of the random variable
= probability of the random variable X
μ = mean of the probability distribution
FORMAT:
NUMBER OF ____ PROBABILITY

0
1
2
…
____________
____________

Variance: Standard Deviation:

_____________ _____________
FORMAT: STEP 1 STEP 3
NUMBER OF ____ PROBABILITY

0
1
2
… STEP 2 STEP 4
____________
____________

STEP 5 STEP 6
Variance: Standard Deviation:

_____________ _____________
PROBLEM 1
GROCERY ITEMS
The probabilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4,
or 5 items in a grocery store are , respectively. What
is the average number (mean), variance, and
standard deviation of items that a customer will
buy?
 5th
Solution: 1st Step Step
Number of Probability
3rd Step Variance:
Grocery P(X)
Items (X)

1 Standard Deviation:
2

3
6th Step
4
Note: After the second
5
step.
Interpretation: (Mean)
Therefore, the average
number of grocery items
that a customer will buy is
4th Step 3.1.
2nd Step
PROBLEM 2
SURGERY PATIENTS
The probabilities that a 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 (mean), variance, standard deviation of
patients that a surgeon operates on a day.
 5th
Solution: 1st Step
3rd Step
Step
Variance:
Number Probability
of P(X)
Surgery
Patients
(X)
Standard Deviation:
3

5
6th Step
6

7 Interpretation: (Mean)

Therefore, the average

number of surgery patients
that a surgeon can operate
in any day is 5.45.
2nd Step 4th Step
 PROBLEM 3
NUMBER OF CARS SOLD Number of Cars Probability
Sold (X) P(X)
The number of cars sold per day at 0
a local car dealership, along with its
1
corresponding probabilities, is
2
shown in the succeeding table.
3
Compute the mean, variance and
the standard deviation of the 4

probability distribution by following

the given steps.
 5th
Solution: 1st Step
Variance:
Step
Number of Probability
3rd Step
Cars Sold P(X)
(X)

0
Standard Deviation:

2
6th Step
3
Note: After the second
4 step.
Interpretation: (Mean)
Therefore, the average
number of cars sold per
day at a local car
4th Step dealership is 2.2.
2nd Step
TRY THIS PROBLEM 4
NUMBER OF ITEMS SOLD
The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with
its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table
below. Find the mean, variance, and standard
deviation of the probability distribution.

Number of Item Sold (X) 19 20 21 22 23

Probability P(X) 0.20 0.20 0.30 0.20 0.10
 5th
Solution: 1st Step
Variance:
Step
Number of Probability
3rd Step
_______ P(X)
(X)

Standard Deviation:

6th Step

Note: After the second

step.
Interpretation: (Mean)
_____________________
_____________________
_________________
2nd Step 4th Step
THANK YOU SO
MUCH
STUDENTS.
MAY GOD
BLESS YOU
TODAY AND IN
THE DAYS
AHEAD OF