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Note 04 - Discrete Probability Distributions

The document discusses several discrete probability distributions including the discrete uniform distribution, Bernoulli distribution, binomial distribution, hypergeometric distribution, Poisson distribution, geometric distribution, and negative binomial distribution. Examples are provided to illustrate how to calculate probabilities for each distribution.

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10 views

Note 04 - Discrete Probability Distributions

The document discusses several discrete probability distributions including the discrete uniform distribution, Bernoulli distribution, binomial distribution, hypergeometric distribution, Poisson distribution, geometric distribution, and negative binomial distribution. Examples are provided to illustrate how to calculate probabilities for each distribution.

Uploaded by

anupriya6105
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IT3011 - Theory & Practices in Statistical Modelling

Discrete Probability Distributions

H.M. Samadhi Chathuranga Rathnayake


MSc, PgDip, BSc
Introduction to Discrete Probability
Distributions
• A discrete probability distribution counts occurrences that have countable or finite
outcomes.
Discrete Uniform Distribution
• A random variable is defined to have a discrete uniform distribution, if the probability
mass function of X is given by,
Discrete Uniform Distribution
• Example: Let X represent a random variable taking on the possible values of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and each possible value has equal probability.
• This is a discrete uniform distribution and the probability for each of the 10 possible
value is
Bernoulli Distribution
• Consider the toss of a coin, which comes up a head with probability p, and a tail with
probability 1-p. Define

• The random variable X is said to have a Bernoulli distribution and the probability mass
function of X is given by,
Binomial Distribution
• A coin is tossed n times. At each toss, the coin comes up a head with probability p, and a
tail with probability 1-p, independently of prior tosses.
• Let X be the number of heads in the n-toss sequence.
• The random variable X is said to have a Binomial distribution with parameters n and p
and the probability mass function of X is given by,
Binomial Distribution
• Example: A die is tossed 3 times. What is the probability of
• No fives turning up?
• 1 five?
• 3 five?
Binomial Distribution
Hypergeometric Distributions
• Assume that a population of size N which contains M defective items.
• A random sample of size n is drawn and observed that it contains X number of defective
items. The random variable X is said to have a hypergeometric distribution and the
probability mass function of X is given by
Hypergeometric Distributions
• Example: Suppose we randomly select 5 cards without replacement from an ordinary
deck of playing cards. What is the probability of getting exactly 2 red cards (i.e., hearts or
diamonds)?
Poisson Distributions
• The number of events occurring (X) within a fixed period of time has Poisson distribution
and its probability mass function is given by

• Poisson distribution can be effectively used to approximate Binomial probabilities when


the number of trials n is large, and the probability of success p is small.
Poisson Distributions
• Example: A life insurance salesman sells on the average 3 life insurance policies per
week. Use Poisson’s law to calculate the probability that in a given week he will sell
• Some policies
• 2 or more policies but less than 5 policies.
Poisson Distributions
Geometric Distribution
• Suppose that we repeatedly and independently toss a coin with probability of a head p.
• The geometric random variable is the number X of tosses needed before a head to come
up for the first time. The probability mass function of X is given by,

-1
Geometric Distribution
• Example: Suppose you are playing a game of darts. The probability of success is 0.4.
What is the probability that you will hit the bullseye on the third try?
Negative Binomial Distribution
• Let X denote the number of trials until the rth success.
• Then, the probability mass function of X is
Negative Binomial Distribution
• Example: Jim is writing an exam with multiple-choice questions, and his probability of
attempting the question with the right answer is 60%. What is the probability that Jim
gives the third correct answer for the fifth attempted question?

5−1
. 0.63 . 0.45−3
3−1

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