Statistics and Probability COR 006 Reviewer
Subject Teacher: John Marc G. Vicente (0961-495-4760)
A. Random Variables
Definition
A random variable is a function that associates a real number to each element in the sample
space. It is a variable whose values are determined by chance.
Parameter is a numerical measure that describes a characteristic of a population.
Sampling Distribution is a list of possible values for a statistic and the probability associated
with each value.
EXAMPLE 2: Tossing Three Coins
Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number of tails that occur.
Find the values of the random variable.
Solution:
Value of the Random Variable Y
Possible Outcomes
(number of tails)
HHH 0
HHT 1
HTH 1
HTT 2
THH 1
THT 2
TTH 2
TTT 3
So the possible values of the random variable Y are 0, 1, 2, and 3.
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Definition
• A random variable is a discrete random variable if its set of possible outcomes is countable
(whole numbers). Mostly, discrete random variables represent count data, such as the
number of defective chairs produced in a factory.
• A random variable is a continuous random variable if it takes on values on a continuous
scale. Often, continuous random variables represent measured data such as weights, heights,
and temperature.
B. Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation of Random Variable
The steps in solving for the mean, variance and standard deviation of random variable.
Step 1: Construct the probability distribution for the random variable.
Step 2: Multiply the value of the random variable by its corresponding probability.
Step 3: Add the results obtained in Step 2. The total/sum will be the mean of the probability distribution
Step 4: Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
Step 5: Square the results obtained in Step 2.
Step 6: Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
Step 7: Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4. VARIANCE
Step 8: Get the square root of the result obtained in Step 5. STANDARD DEVIATION
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 X Probability P(X)
1
0
8
3
1
8
3
2
8
1
3
8
Solution:
You need to follow the given steps given to solve/compute for the variance and standard deviation
of the probability distribution above.
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Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Get the
Solve for Get 𝑋 − Square the product of Column 5
the mean. 𝜇. results in and Column 2.
Step 2.
Step 5: Get the sum
of column 6.
Step 6: Compute for the standard deviation (𝜎).
𝜎 2 = 0.75
√𝜎 2 = √0.75
𝝈 ≈ 𝟎. 𝟖𝟕
C. Review these problems
A coach has 5 players that will join track and field. The random variable that is being studied is X, the
number of players that will win. The probability function for this variable is shown in the table below.
X 1 2 3 4 5
P(X) 0.25 0.10 0.05 0.20 0.40
A. Find the probability that the majority of the players will win the play.
Solution: The key term is MAJORITY. Choose the majority number of players. Since the total number of
players is 5. The majority number is 3, 4 and 5. Get the sum of their probability.
𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟒𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟓
The probability that the majority of the players will win the play is 0.65
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NOTE: Study the difference between, “at most”, “at least” etc.
D. Other coverage
1. Review converting real score to z-score.
2. Review converting z-score to real score
3. Review finding the area under standard normal curve to the right (and left) of the given z-
score.
SECURE A COPY OF YOUR STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION TABLE. THIS IS IMPORTANT.
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