STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY (ASHAC 2021)

Topic 5: Computing the Mean and Variance of a Discrete Probability Distributions

Main Reference: Statistics and Probability, First Edition (Rex Book Store, Inc.)
Lesson 1: Computing the Mean of a Discrete Probability Distribution
Mathematicians usually consider the outcomes of a coin toss as a random event. If it is a fair coin, the probability of getting a head is ½
and the probability of getting a tail is also ½. However, it is not possible to predict with 100% certainty which outcome will occur. But new
studies question this theory. In this lesson, you will learn how to determine the likeliness of the happening of an event.

Activity 1 (Number of Spots)

Consider rolling a die. What is the average number of spots that would appear? The following activity will help us answer the question.
Step 1: Construct the probability distribution for the random variable X representing the number of spots that would appear.
Step 2: Multiply the value of the random variable X by the corresponding probability.
Step 3: Add the results obtained in Step 2.
Number of Spots X Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

I '
16 111/67=46
2 116 2/6
3
1/6 316
4 116 416
5
116 5
/6
6 46 t

3
Total

The value obtained in Step 3 is called the mean (or expectation) of the random variable X or the mean (or expectation) of the
probability distribution of X.
➢ What does the mean tell us?
o The mean tells us the average number of spots that would appear in a roll of die.
o So, the average number of spots that would appear is 3.5.
▪ Although the die will never show a number which is 3.5, this implies that rolling the die many times, the
theoretical mean would be 3.5.

Formula for the Mean of the Probability Distribution

The mean (or expectation) of a random variable with a discrete probability distribution is:
𝝁 = 𝑬(𝑿) = 𝑿𝟏 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿𝟏 ) + 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿𝟐 ) + 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿𝟐 ) + ⋯ + 𝑿𝒏 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿𝒏 )
or

𝝁 = 𝑬(𝑿) = ∑ 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
?⃝
 Activity 2 (Grocery Items)
3 1 1 2 3
The probabilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 items in a grocery store are 10 , 10 , 10 , 10, and 10, respectively. What is the

average number of items that a customer will buy?

Number of Items X Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

I 3110 0.3
2 410 0 2 .

3
1110 0.3
4 410 0 -
8
5 3110 1.5
Mean µ or Expectation E(X)

around
3. /
So, the mean of the probability distribution is _______. This implies that the average number of items that the customer will buy is ______.

3 items
.

Activity 3 (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 of patients that a surgeon operates on a day.
Number of Patients X Probability P(X) 𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

3 0.15 0.45
4 0.10 0.40
b- 0.20 1.00
6 0.2T 1.50
7 0.30 2.10
Mean µ or Expectation E(X)
5. 45
around
So, the average number of patients that a surgeon will operate in a day is ________. ⑤
Lesson 2: Computing the Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The variance and standard deviation describe the amount of spread, dispersion, or variability of the items in a distribution. How do you
describe the spread or distribution in a probability distribution? This lesson will teach you how to compute the variance and standard
deviation of a discrete probability distribution.

Activity 1 (Number of Cars Sold)

The number of cars sold per day at a local car dealership, along with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table.
Compute the variance and the standard deviation of the probability distribution by following the given steps.
Step 1: Find the mean of the probability distribution.
Step 2: Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
Step 3: Square the results obtained in Step 2.
Step 4: Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
?⃝
 Step 5: Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4. This is the variance.
Step 6: Get the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.
✓
Number of Cars Sold Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿−𝝁 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 (𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)

0
1
10
0 0-2,2=-2.2 4.84 4.8440-1=0.484
2
1
10 0.2 1-2,2=-1.2 1.44 1.44%1=0-288
3
2
10 0.6 2-2.2=0.2 0.04 0.012
2
3
10 0.6 3-2.2=0.8 0.64 0.128
2
4
10 0.8 4-2.2=1-8 3.24 0.648
Mean µ Variance 𝝈𝟐
2.2
1.56

o=¥=F56
Now, solving for the standard deviation….

=
cars

or
arourdtcar

Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

𝝈𝟐 = 𝑽𝒂𝒓(𝑿) = ∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

𝝈 = √∑(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

where X is the value of the random variable

P(X) is the probability of the random variable X
µ is the mean of the probability distribution

Alternatively, the variance and standard deviation can be obtained using a shorter formula and procedure.
 Alternative Procedure in Finding the Variance and Standard Deviation of a Probability Distribution
Step 1: Find the mean of the probability distribution.
Step 2: Multiply the square of the value of the random variable X by its corresponding probability.
Step 3: Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 2.
Step 4: Subtract the square of the mean from the results obtained in Step 3. This is the variance.
Step 5: Get the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.

Alternative Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

𝝈𝟐 = 𝑽𝒂𝒓(𝑿) = ∑ 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) − 𝝁𝟐

𝝈𝟐 = 𝑽𝒂𝒓(𝑿) = 𝑬(𝑿𝟐 ) − [𝑬(𝑿)]𝟐

The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

𝝈 = √∑ 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) − 𝝁𝟐

𝝈 = √𝑬(𝑿𝟐 ) − [𝑬(𝑿)]𝟐
where X is the value of the random variable
P(X) is the probability of the random variable X
µ or E(X) is the mean of the probability distribution

Using the data from the previous activity above (Activity 1 – Number of Cars Sold), we will find the variance and the standard deviation.
Number of Cars Sold Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
So
X P(X)

02/1/10)
1
0 0 = 0
10
2
1
10
0.2
12(2/10)=0.2
3
2
10
0.6 22 (3/10)=1.2
2
3
10
2
0<6 32 (2/10)=8.68
4
10 0.8 42 (2/10)--3-2
Mean µ 2. 2 ∑ 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 6.4
 ⑦
Now, solving for variance and standard deviation…

02=1 6.4 ) -

( 2.2

=
1.56

o= =
1.25

Activity 2 (Number of Heads)

When three coins are tossed, the probability distribution for the random variable X representing the number of heads that occur is given
below. Compute the variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.
Number of Heads Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)
1
0
8 0 02 (1/8)=0
3
1
8 0.375 12(3/8)--0.375
3
2
8 0,75 22 (3/8)=1.50
1
3
8 0.375 3211/8) 1.125 =

Mean µ
1.50 ∑ 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) = 3

Now, solving for variance and standard deviation…

≥

02 -_
( 3
) -
( 1.50 )
02--0.75
0--0.87

0.75 and the standard deviation is ___________.

∴ The variance is ___________ 0.87
Activity 3 (Number of Items Sold)
The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table. Find the variance and
standard deviation of the probability distribution.
Number of Items Sold Probability
𝑿 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)
X P(X)
19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10

Mean µ ∑ 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿) =

Now, solving for variance and standard deviation…

∴ The variance is ___________ and the standard deviation is ___________.