STATISTICS

AND
PROBABILITY
Tuesday andThursday
10:00 – 12:00

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LESSON 2.3: Random Variables

Learning Objectives:

1. Illustrate or provide examples of random variables

2. Distinguish between discrete and continuous random
variables.
3. Find possible values of a random variable

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Statistical Experiment
An activity that will produce outcomes, or
a process that will generate data.

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Statistical Experiment
Examples:
• Tossing three coins and counting the
number of heads.
• Recording the time, a person can hold
his/her breath.
• Counting the number of students in the
classroom who are present today.
• Obtaining the height of a student.
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Random Variable
A random variable 𝑿 is a function whose
value 𝑥 is a real number that is determined by
each sample point in the sample space.

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Random Variable
• A random variable 𝑿 is a function whose
value 𝑥 is a real number that is determined
by each sample point in the sample space.
• Each outcome or sample point must be
mapped to exactly one real number or value
of the random variable.
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Random Variable
• A random variable 𝑿 is a function whose
value 𝑥 is a real number that is determined
by each sample point in the sample space.
• Each outcome or sample point must be
mapped to exactly one real number or value
of the random variable.
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Types of Random Variables
Discrete Random Variable - random variables
that can take on a finite (or countably infinite)
number of distinct values.
Continuous Random Variable - random
variables that take an infinitely uncountable
number of possible values, typically
measurable quantities.
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Identify if it is Discrete or Continuous.
1) The number of siblings a person has.
2) Height
3) Weight
4) BMI
5) The number of students present in a
classroom at a given time.
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1. Given a statistical experiment, identify
possible random variables (Discrete and
Continuous).
a. Take a quiz.
b. Ask your friend about his or her breakfast.
c. Ask a friend about Facebook.
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LESSON 2.4: Probability Distribution of
Discrete Random Variables
Learning Objectives:

1. Illustrate the probability distribution for discrete random

variables and its properties.
2. Compute probabilities corresponding to a given discrete
random variable.
3. Construct the probability mass function of a discrete
random variable and its corresponding histogram
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Frequency
Refers to the number of times a value of the data
occurs.

Relative Frequency
The ratio of the number of times a value of the
data occurs in the set of all outcomes to the total
number of outcomes.
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Histogram
A histogram is a display of statistical information
that uses rectangles to show the frequency of
data items in successive numerical intervals of
equal size

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Suppose we let 𝑊 as the
number of siblings a learner has.

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Properties of a histogram
1. All the possible values for y (in percent)
are either zero or a positive number less
than or equal to 1.
2. The sum of all the areas under the
graph should be equal to 1 (or 100 percent).

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Properties of a histogram
1. All the possible values for y (in percent)
are either zero or a positive number less
than or equal to 1.
2. The sum of all the areas under the
graph should be equal to 1 (or 100 percent).

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Probability Mass Function or
Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variables
A table, graph, or formula that lists all the
possible values of the random variable and
the corresponding probability for each
value.

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Probability Mass Function or
Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variables

The table and histogram are two ways to

represent the probability mass function, also
called the probability distribution.

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Probability Mass Function or
Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variables
No. of Outcome
Outcome
1 TTT
2 TTH
3 THH
4 HHH
5 HHT
6 HTT
7 HTH
8 THT
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Probability Mass Function or
Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variables

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Probability Mass Function or
Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variables

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Probability Mass Function or
Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variables
In general, when flipping a coin n times where the coin has
probability 𝑝 of getting a head in 1 toss, then the probability
mass function for generating exactly 𝑋 heads is

This is referred to as the Binomial probability mass function.

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Properties of Probability
Distributions of Discrete
Random Variables
1. Probabilities should be confined between
zero (0) and 1 (inclusive of both ends).
2. The sum of all the probabilities should be
1 (i.e., 100%)
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Determining Probabilities based
on the Probability Distribution

1. What is the probability that a randomly selected learner

is an only child?
2. What is the chance that a randomly selected learner
has at most two siblings?
3. What is the probability that a randomly selected learner
has three or more siblings?
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Determining Probabilities based
on the Probability Distribution
For a discrete random variable 𝑋, the
probability that 𝑋 lies in some discrete set A,
may be obtained by summing the probability for
the distinct values in the set A, that is

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The Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable
For a random variable 𝑋, we use the
expected value of 𝑿, also referred to as the
mean of 𝑿, denoted by 𝑬(𝑿), to know
where the center of the distribution lies.
Given a discrete random variable 𝑋,

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The Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable
For a random variable 𝑋, we use the expected value of 𝑿, also referred to as
the mean of 𝑿, denoted by 𝑬(𝑿), to know where the center of the distribution
lies. Given a discrete random variable 𝑋,

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The Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable
For a random variable 𝑋, we use the expected value of 𝑿, also referred to as
the mean of 𝑿, denoted by 𝑬(𝑿), to know where the center of the distribution
lies. Given a discrete random variable 𝑋,

𝐸 ( 𝑋 )=𝜇=𝑥1 𝑓 ( 𝑥1)+ 𝑥2 𝑓 ( 𝑥2)+⋯ +𝑥𝑛 𝑓 ( 𝑥𝑛)=∑ 𝑥𝑖 𝑓 ( 𝑥𝑖)

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The Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable

𝐸 ( 𝑋 )=𝜇=𝑥1 𝑓 ( 𝑥1)+ 𝑥2 𝑓 ( 𝑥2)+⋯ +𝑥𝑛 𝑓 ( 𝑥𝑛)=∑ 𝑥𝑖 𝑓 ( 𝑥𝑖)

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 The Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable

If we want o know how con e traed or dispers d the values are of a r ndom vari ble 𝑋 about is mean 𝜇,we use its vari nce.The vari nce of 𝑿,denoted by
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The Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable

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The Mean and Variance of a
Discrete Random Variable

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ASSESSMENT
Given the results of a survey of high school students,
given the following probability distribution of 𝑌, the
number of pets they have at home.

Determine the probability of selecting a student having

a. 3 pets
b. At most 2 pets
c. At least 3 pets Find the mean and variance of
d. At least 1 pet the random variable 𝑌.
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