Mean of a discrete random variable

Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

The expected value of a discrete random variable X, symbolized as E(X), is
often referred to as the long-term average or mean (symbolized as μ). This means that
over the long term of doing an experiment over and over, you would expect this average.

To find the expected value, E(X), or mean μ of a discrete random variable X, simply
multiply each value of the random variable by its probability and add the products. The
formula is given as
E(X)= μ =∑x ● P(x).

Here x represents values of the random

variable X, P(x), represents the corresponding probability, and symbol ∑ represents the
sum of all products x ● P(x). Here we use symbol μ for the mean because it is a parameter.
It represents the mean of a population.

Example 1: In tossing a coin once, let X be a random variable that represents the number
of heads. Find the expected value.

X P(X=x) X ● P(x)
1
0
2
1
1
2

Add the last column x ● P(x) to get the expected value/mean of the random
variable X

E(X) = μ = ∑x ● P(x)

𝜇𝑥 = 0 ( 12 1
) + 1 (2 )

𝜇𝑥 = 0 + 12
𝜇𝑥 = 1
2
1
Thus, the expected number of heads is .
2
𝟏
Interpretation: Although a coin will never show a number, which is 𝟐, this implies
𝟏
that tossing a coin many times, the theoretical mean would be .
𝟐

GENERAL MATHEMATICS: Functions and their graphs |1

 Variance of a Discrete Random LESSON
Variable 3
The variance of a discrete random variable X measures the spread, or
variability, of the distribution. To find the variance σ2 of a discrete probability
distribution, find each deviation from its expected value, square it, multiply it by its
probability, and add the products. The formulas are given as below.

σ2 = ∑(𝒙 − 𝝁)𝟐 P(x)

x represents values of the random variable x, 𝜇 is the

mean of x, p(x) represents the corresponding
probability, and symbol ∑ represents the sum of all
products (𝑥𝑖 − 𝜇𝑥 )2 ● P(x)

Note: The standard deviation 𝛔 is the square root of the variance.

Example 2: In tossing a coin once, let X be a random variable that represents the
number of heads. Find the variance.
𝟏
Solution: The mean or the expected value of X is 𝟐.

X P(x) 𝒙− 𝝁 (𝒙 − 𝝁)2 (𝒙 − 𝝁)2 ● P(x)

0 1 0-2=−
1 𝟏 1 𝟏
(− 2)2 = 𝟒
1 1
●2=𝟖
𝟏
𝟐 4
2
1 1 1
1-2= 𝟐
𝟏 1 𝟏
(2)2 = 𝟒
1 1
●2=𝟖
𝟏
4
2
Add all the products in the 5th column to get the variance of x.

σ2 = ∑(𝒙 − 𝝁)𝟐 P(x)

1 1
σ2 = +
8 8

2 1
σ2 = 8 or 4 .

1
Thus, the variance of number of heads is .
4
1
Interpretation: It’s show that the variance of getting head in tossing coin once is 4.

Example 3: A family has three children. Let X be the random variable that
represents the number of girls. Find the mean and the variance.

First, find the possible value of x.

1st child 2nd child 3rd child Possible outcomes

GENERAL MATHEMATICS: Functions and their graphs |2

 B B (BBB)
Boy (B) G (BBG)

G B (BGB)
G (BGG)

Girl (G) B B (GBB)

G (GBG)

G B (GGB)
G (GGG)

Possible outcomes Possible values of a Random

Variable X
BBB 0
BBG 1
BGB 1
BGG 2
GBB 1
GBG 2
GGB 2
GGG 3
The possible values of X are 0, 1, 2 and 3.

Second, find the expected value of x.

X 0 1 2 3
P(x) 1 3 3 1
8 8 8 8
Add the last column x ● P(x) to get the expected value/mean of the random
variable X.
E(X) = μ = ∑x ● P(x)

μ = 0 ( 18 3
)+1( )+2( )+3( )
8
3
8
1
8

μ = 0 + 38 + 6
( )+( )
8
3
8

μ = 𝟏𝟐
𝟖
or
𝟑
𝟐

Third, find the variance of x.

𝟑
The mean or the expected value of X is 𝟐.

X P(x) 𝒙− 𝝁 (𝒙 − 𝝁)2 (𝒙 − 𝝁)2 ● P(x)

0 1
0-2=
3 𝟑 3 𝟗
(2)2 = 𝟒 9 1
● =
𝟗
8 𝟐 4 8 𝟑𝟐

1 3 3
1 - 2 = −𝟐
𝟏 1
(− 2)2 = 𝟒
𝟏 1
●
3
= 𝟑𝟐
𝟑
8 4 8
2 3
2-
3 𝟏
=𝟐
1
(2)2 = 𝟒
𝟏 1
●
3 𝟑
= 𝟑𝟐
8 2 4 8

GENERAL MATHEMATICS: Functions and their graphs |3

 3 1 3 𝟑
3- 2 = 𝟐
3 𝟗
(2)2 = 𝟒
9
●
1 𝟗
= 𝟑𝟐
8 4 8
Add all the products in the 5th column to get the variance of x.

σ2 = ∑(𝒙 − 𝝁)𝟐 P(x)

σ2 = 32 + 32 + 32 + 32
9 3 3 9

σ2 = 24 3
or 4 .
32

3
Thus, the variance of X is .
4

Interpretation: It shows that the mean and variance of the random variable which
3 3
represents the number of girls in a family of three children are 2 and 4 respectively.

Prepared by: Checked by:

LIEZEL C. MACTAL, LPT JOVIE P. PANAHON, LPT

STL, Mathematics Area

ABEGAIL Z. DE GUZMAN, LPT

DAYDELYN D. VILLARAMA, LPT

Subject Teacher, Gen. Math

GENERAL MATHEMATICS: Functions and their graphs |4