Computing the

Mean of a
Discrete
Probability
By: JOVIC G. RULLEPA

Distribution
 Objectives
At the end of the lesson the
learners are expected to:
• Illustrate and calculate the mean of
a discrete random variable;
• Interpret the mean of a discrete
random variable.
 Entry Card
A. Given the values of the variables X and
Y, evaluate the following summations.
X1 = 4, X2 = 2, X3 = 5, X4 = 1
Y1 = 2, Y2 = 1, Y3 = 0, Y4 = 2

1. ∑X 2. ∑Y
3. ∑XY 4. ∑(X + Y)
5. ∑4XY
 Entry Card
B. The following are the scores of 40
students in a test. Compute the mean
score.
Score Number of Students
x f
42 8

50 12

53 9

38 7

46 4

∑f = 40
 Number of Spots

Consider rolling a die. What is the

average number of spots that would appear?
The following activity will help you answer this
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.
Step 1: Construct the probability distribution for the
random variable X representing the number of
spots that would appear.

Value of Random Variable Probability

x P(x)

1 1/6

2 1/6

3 1/6

4 1/6

5 1/6

6 1/6
Step 2: Multiply the value of the random variable X by
the corresponding probability

Value of Random Variable Probability

X ● P(X)
x P(x)

1 1/6 1/6

2 1/6 2/6

3 1/6 3/6

4 1/6 4/6

5 1/6 5/6

6 1/6 6/6
Step 3: Add the results obtained in Step 2.

Value of Random Variable Probability

X ● P(X)
x P(x)

1 1/6 1/6

2 1/6 2/6

3 1/6 3/6

4 1/6 4/6

5 1/6 5/6

6 1/6 6/6

∑X●P(X) = 21/6 = 3.5

 Formula for the Mean of the Probability
Distribution
The mean of a random variable with a
discrete probability distribution is

m = X1P(X1) + X2P(X2) + X3P(X3) + … + XnP(Xn)

Or
m =  XP(X)
Where: X1, X2, X3, …, Xn are the values of the random
variable X,
and
P(X1), P(X2), P(X3), …, P(Xn) are the
corresponding probabilities
Example 2: The probability that a customer will buy
1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 items in a grocery store are
3/10, 1/10, 1/10, 2/10 and 3/10, respectively.
What is the average number of items that a
customer will buy?

Value of Random Variable Probability

X ● P(X)
x P(x)

1 3/10 3/10

2 1/10 2/10

3 1/10 3/10

4 2/10 8/10

5 3/10 15/10

∑X●P(X) = 31/10 = 3.1

Example 3: 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.

Value of Random Variable Probability

X ● P(X)
x P(x)

3 0.15 0.45

4 0.10 0.40

5 0.20 1.00

6 0.25 1.50

7 0.30 2.10

∑X●P(X) = 5.45
Exercises:
Problem 1: The probabilities of a machine
manufacturing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 defective parts
in one day are 0.75, 0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01,
and 0.005, respectively. Find the mean of the
probability distribution.
Value of Random Variable Probability
X ● P(X)
x P(x)

∑X●P(X) =
Exercises:
Problem 2: A bakeshop owner determines the
number of boxes of pandesal that are
delivered each day. Find the mean of the
probability distribution shown. If the manager
stated that 35 boxes of pandesal were
delivered in one day, do you think that this is a
believable claim?
Number of Boxes Probability
X ● P(X)
x P(x)
35 0.10
36 0.20
37 0.30
38 0.30
39 0.10
∑X●P(X) =
Exercises:
Problem 3: The following table gives the probabilities
that a probation officer will receive 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,
or 5 reports of probation violations on any
given day.

Number of Violations Probability

X ● P(X)
x P(x)

0 0.15
1 0.25
2 0.36
3 0.18
4 0.04
5 0.02
∑X●P(X) =
 Look Back and
Reflect:
1. What are the steps in computing the
mean of a probability distribution of a
random variable? How is it similar to
the procedure in finding the mean of a
frequency distribution?
2. Compare the formulas for finding the
mean of a frequency distribution and
that of a probability distribution.
End of Slide
Computing the
Variance and
Standard
Deviation of a
Discrete
By: JOVIC G. RULLEPA

Probability
 Objectives
At the end of the lesson the
learners are expected to:
• Illustrate and calculate the variance
of a discrete random variable; and
• Interpret the variance of a discrete
random variable.
 Entry Card
Below is the data representing the
number of cars sold per day at local car
dealership for ten days.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day

0 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4

a) Construct a probability distribution out of the

given data.
b) Compute the mean of the probability
distribution.
 Steps in Finding the Variance and
Standard Deviation of Probability
Distribution

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.
Example 1:
The number of cars sold per day at a local
car dealership, along with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the table below. Compute
the variance and the standard deviation of the
probability distribution.

Number of cars sold (x) Probability P(x)

0 1/10

1 2/10

2 3/10

3 2/10

4 2/10
Step 1: Compute the mean by using the formula
μ = ∑X•P(X).

Number of cars Probability

X•P(X)
x P(x)

0 1/10 0

1 2/10 2/10

2 3/10 6/10

3 2/10 6/10

4 2/10 8/10
μ = ∑fX = 22/10 = 2.2

μ = ∑X•P(X) = 22/10 = 2.2

Step 2: Subtract the mean from each value of random
variable.

Step 3: Square the results.

No. of
Probability
cars X–μ (X – μ)2
P(x)
x
0 1/10 -2.2 4.84

1 2/10 -1.2 1.44

2 3/10 -0.2 0.04

3 2/10 0.8 0.64

4 2/10 1.8 3.24

Step 4: Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the
corresponding probability.

No. of
Probability
cars X–μ (X – μ)2 (X – μ)2•P(X)
P(x)
x
0 1/10 -2.2 4.84 0.484

1 2/10 -1.2 1.44 0.288

2 3/10 -0.2 0.04 0.012

3 2/10 0.8 0.64 0.128

4 2/10 1.8 3.24 0.648

σ2 = ∑(X– μ)2 • P(X) = 1.56

Variance σ2 = ∑(X– μ)2 • P(X) = 1.56

Standard
Deviation σ = ∑(X– μ)2 • P(X) = 1.56 = 1.25
 Formula for the Variance and Standard
Deviation of the Probability
Distribution
The variance (σ2) of a discrete probability
μdistribution is
σ2 = ∑(X – μ)2  P(X)
The standard deviation (σ) of a discrete
probability distribution is
σ = √∑(X – μ)2  P(X)
Where: X = value of the random variable,
P(X) = probability of random variable
μ = mean of the probability distribution
Exercises:
Problem 1: The probabilities of a machine
manufacturing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 defective parts
in one day are 0.75, 0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01,
and 0.005, respectively. Find the variance and
the standard deviation of the probability
distribution.

x P(x) X ● P(X) X-μ (X – μ)2 (X – μ)2•P(x)

∑X●P(X) =
Exercises:
Problem 2: A bakeshop owner determines the
number of boxes of pandesal that are
delivered each day. Find the variance of the
probability distribution shown. If the manager
stated that 35 boxes of pandesal were
delivered in one day, do you think that this is a
believable claim?
Number of Boxes Probability
X ● P(X)
x P(x)
35 0.10
36 0.20
37 0.30
38 0.30
39 0.10
∑X●P(X) =
Exercises:
Problem 3: The following table gives the probabilities
that a probation officer will receive 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,
or 5 reports of probation violations on any
given day.

Number of Violations Probability

X ● P(X)
x P(x)

0 0.15
1 0.25
2 0.36
3 0.18
4 0.04
5 0.02
∑X●P(X) =
 Alternative Method in Finding the
Variance and Standard Deviation
of Probability Distribution

Step 1: Find the mean of the probability

distribution.
Step 2: Multiply the square of the value of
random variable X to its corresponding
probabilities.
Step 3: Get the sum of the results obtained in
Step 2.
Step 4: Subtract the square of the mean from
the result of Step 3.
Recall Example 1:
The number of cars sold per day at a local
car dealership, along with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the table below. Compute
the variance and the standard deviation of the
probability distribution.

Number of cars sold (x) Probability P(x)

0 1/10

1 2/10

2 3/10

3 2/10

4 2/10
Step 1: Compute the mean by using the formula
μ = ∑X•P(X).

Number of cars Probability

X•P(X)
x P(x)

0 1/10 0

1 2/10 2/10

2 3/10 6/10

3 2/10 6/10

4 2/10 8/10
∑fX = 22/10 = 2.2

μ = ∑X•P(X) = 22/10 = 2.2

Step 2: Multiply the square of the value of random
variable (x) to each corresponding P(x) and
get the sum of the results.

No. of cars Probability

x2•P(x)
x P(x)

0 1/10 02•1/10 = 0

1 2/10 12•2/10 = 2/10

2 3/10 22•3/10 = 12/10

3 2/10 32•2/10 = 18/10

4 2/10 42•2/10 = 32/10

∑x2•P(x) = 64/10 or 6.4

Step 3: Subtract the square of the mean from the sum
of Step 2 (x2•P(x) )

Variance (σ2) = ∑x2•P(x) – μ2

= 6.4 – (2.2)2
= 6.4 – 4.84
= 1.56

Standard Deviation (σ) = √ σ2 = 1.25

Exercises:
Problem 1: The probabilities of a machine
manufacturing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 defective parts
in one day are 0.75, 0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01,
and 0.005, respectively. Find the mean of the
probability distribution.
Value of Random Variable Probability
X ● P(X)
x P(x)

∑X●P(X) =
Exercises:
Problem 2: A bakeshop owner determines the
number of boxes of pandesal that are
delivered each day. Find the mean of the
probability distribution shown. If the manager
stated that 35 boxes of pandesal were
delivered in one day, do you think that this is a
believable claim?
Number of Boxes Probability
X ● P(X)
x P(x)
35 0.10
36 0.20
37 0.30
38 0.30
39 0.10
∑X●P(X) =
Exercises:
Problem 3: The following table gives the probabilities
that a probation officer will receive 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,
or 5 reports of probation violations on any
given day.

Number of Violations Probability

X ● P(X)
x P(x)

0 0.15
1 0.25
2 0.36
3 0.18
4 0.04
5 0.02
∑X●P(X) =
 Let’s Try
Situation 1: The department store has the following
This:
sales in thousands for two weeks. Compute for
the variance and standard deviation.

Sales Sales
Days Days
(in thousand) (in thousand)

1 220 8 205
2 210 9 205
3 225 10 210
4 215 11 215
5 200 12 220
6 210 13 225
7 220 14 220
Show What You
Situation 1: Given the table below, complete the
Got!:
probability distribution and find the variance
and the standard deviation.

x P(x) x•P(x) x-μ (x - μ)2 (x - μ)2•P(x)

1 1/7
6 1/7
11 2/7
16 2/7
21 1/7
Variance (σ2)
Mean (μ) Standard Deviation (σ)