SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Statistics & Probability

Learning Activity Sheet
Quarter 3 – Week 2
Exploring Random Variables and
Constructing Probability
Distributions

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Grade & Section: _____________________________________________

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Statistics & Probability– Grade 11
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Quarter 3 – Week 2
Exploring Random Variables and Constructing Probability Distributions

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 Learning Activity Sheet No. 2

Learning Competencies:
`
Compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable.

Code: M11/12SP-IIIa-6

Objectives:

1. Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and properties

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

Lesson Title: Exploring Random Variables and Constructing Probability Distributions

I. Background Information for the Learners

Starting Point !!!!

In your previous study of mathematics, you have learned how to find the probability of
an event. In this lesson, you will learn how to construct a probability distribution of a discrete
random variable. Your knowledge of getting the probability of an event is very important in
understanding the present lesson. To find out if you are ready to learn this new lesson do the
following activity:

ENTRY CARD
A. Find the probability of the following events.

Event E Probability P ( E )
1. Getting an even number in a single roll of a die
2. Getting a sum of 6 when two dice are rolled
3. Getting an ace when a card is drawn from a deck
4. The probability that all children are boys if a couple has 3
children
5. Getting an odd number and a tail when a die is rolled and a
coin is tossed simultaneously
 6. Getting a black card and a 10 when a card is drawn from a
deck
7. Getting Sum of 11 when 2 dice are rolled
8. Getting a red queen when a card is drawn from a deck
9. Getting doubles when two dice are rolled
10. Getting a red ball from a box containing 3 red and 6 balls

Illustrative example:

Number of Red Balls

1.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 the red balls.
Construct the probability distribution of the random variable Z.
Solution:

Steps Solution

1. Determine the sample The sample space for this experiment is:
space. Let B represent the
S= {RR,RB,BR,BB}
blue ball and R represent the
red ball.

2. Count the number of red

balls in each outcome in the Possible Outcomes Value of the random Variable Z
sample space and assign this (Number of Red Balls)
number to this outcome.
RR 2

RB 1

BR 1

BB 0

3. There are three possible values of the Number of Red Probability P (Z)
random variable Z representing the number of balls Z
red balls. These are 0, 1 and 2. Assign
probability values P(Z) to each value of the
random variables.
⚫ There are 4 possible outcomes and no
red ball occur once, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 0
is 1/4. 0 1/4

2
 ⚫ There are 4 possible outcomes and 1 red
ball occurs 2 times, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 1
is 2/4 or 1/2.

1 1/2
⚫ There are 4 possible outcomes and 2 red
balls occur once, so the probability that
we shall assign to the random variable 2
is 1/4

2 1/4

Table 1.1. The Probability Distribution or the Probability Mass Function of Discrete
Random Variable Z.

Number of Blue Balls (Z) 0 1 2

Probability P(Z) 1/4 1/2 ¼

A discrete probability distribution or a probability mass function consists of the

values a random variable can assume and the corresponding probabilities of the
values.

Can you make a histogram for this probability distribution?

Remember that a histogram is a bar graph. To construct a histogram for a probability

distribution, follow these steps:

1. Plot the values of the random variable along the horizontal axis.
2. Plot the probabilities along vertical axis.

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 0.6

0.5

0.4
Probability P(Z)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0 1 2
Number of Blue Balls (Z)
Figure 1.0 The Histogram for the Probability Distribution of the Discrete Random Variable Z

Properties of Probability Distribution

1. The probability of each value of the random variable must be between or equal to
0 and 1.
2. The sum of the probabilities of all values of the random variable must be equal to 1.

II. General Direction: Read the instructions carefully and answer the activities on a
Separate sheet of paper

III. Learning Activities

ACTIVITY 1

A. Determine whether the following represents a probability distribution. Write YES if it

represents a probability distribution and NO if it does not represent probability distribution.
Explain your answer.

1.

X 1 5 8 7 9

P(X) 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3

4
2.

X 0 2 4 6 8

P(X) 1/6 1/6 1/3 1/6 1/6

2.

3.

X 1 2 3 5

P(X) 1/4 1/8 1/4 1/8

4.

X 4 8 12 15 17

P(X) 1/5 1/8 1/8 1/5 1/8

5.
X 1 3 5 7

P(X) 0.35 0.25 0.22 0.12

B. Construct the probability distribution for the random variables described in each of the
following situations. Draw the corresponding histogram for each probability distribution.

1. Suppose 4 coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number
of tails that occur. Find the probability of each of the values of the random variable Y.

Value of Random Variable Y Probability P(Y)

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 2. Suppose three cell phones are tested randomly. We want to find out the number of
defective cellphone that occur. Let D represents the defective and N for non-defective
cell phone . If we let X be the random variable for the number of defective cell phones,
show the values of random variable X and construct the probability distribution.

Value of the random Variable X Probability P (X)

3. Let T be a random variable giving the number of heads in three tosses of a coin. List
elements of the sample space S for the three tosses of the coin and assign a value to
each sample point.

Value of the Random Variable T Probability P(T)

6
Activity 2
A. Construct a probability distribution for the data and draw a histogram of the distribution.
1. The probabilities that a surgeon operates on 3,4,5,6,or 7 patients in any one day are
0.15,0.20.0.25,0.20 and 0.20, respectively.
2. The probabilities that a costumer buys 2, 3, 4,5, or 6 items in a convenience store are
0.32, 0.12, 0.23, 0.18, and 0.15 respectively.
3. The probabilities that a student will borrow 1,2,3 or 4 books are 0.45, 0.30, 0.15 and
0.10 respectively .
4. The probabilities that a bias die will fall as 1,2, 3 4, 5 and 6 are 1/2,1/6,1/12,1/12,1/12
and 1/12 respectively.
5. The probabilities that a depositor will invest ₱100,000, ₱ 250,000, or ₱180,000 are
1/4, 1/4 and 1/4 respectively.

B. 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 1,2,3 and 4. Explain your answer.
1. P(1)= 1/9, P(2)=10/19, P(3)= 5/19, P(4)=5/19,
2. P(1)=0.25, P(2)= 0.75, P(3)= 0.25, P(4)= -0.25
3. P(1)= 0.15, P(2)= 0.27, P(3)= 0.25, P(4)= 0.29
4. P(1)= 0, P(2)=0.45, P(3)= 0.25, P(4)= 0.35
5. (P1)=1/8, P(2)= 3/8, P(3)= 3/8, P(4)=1/8

IV. Guide Questions

1. Why should the sum of the probability distribution is always equal to 1?
2. What is the shape of most probability distributions? Why do you think so?

7
 8
Activity 2
A
1.
Number of Patients (X) 3 4 5 6 7
Probability P (X) 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.20 0.20
2.
Number of Items (Y) 2 3 4 5 6
Probability P(Y) 0.32 0.12 0.23 0.18 0.15
3.
Number of BOOKS (Y) 1 2 3 4
Probability P(Y) 0.45 0.30 0.15 0.10
4.
Number of Bias die will 1 2 3 4 5 6
fall (X)
Probability P(X) 1/2 1/6 1/12 1/12 1/12 1/12
5.
Number of BOOKS (Y) 100,000 250,000 180,000
Probability P(Y) 1/4 1/4 1/4
Activity 1
A.
1.No 2.Yes 3.No 4.No 5.No
B.
1.
Number of Tails (Y) 0 1 2 3 4
Probability P(Y) 1/16 4/16 6/16 4/12 1/16
2.
Number of Defective 0 1 2 3
cell phones (X)
Probability P(X) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
3.
Number of Heads(T) 0 1 2 3
Probability P(T) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
V. Answer Key
Reference:

Belecina, Rene R., Mateo, Elisa S. Baccay, and Efren Mateo. 2016. Statistic and Probability.
2016 ed. Manila. Rex Bookstore, Inc.