Lesson

Mean of the Discrete

1 Random Variable
Covid-19 is continuously spreading around the world, that is why reports
regarding average infected people per country is being updated every day. For this
kind of report, experts used Statistics and Probability to show reliable analysis in
their data. In this lesson, you will learn how to compute the average or mean of a
discrete probability distribution as well as the variance and standard deviation of a
discrete random variable.

What’s In

Let’s find out if you are ready to learn this new lesson. Do the following, write your
answer in your answer sheet.

A. Given the values of the variables X and Y, evaluate the following summations.

X1 = 5, Y1 = 3 X3 = 3, Y3 = 1

X2 = 4, Y2 = 2 X4 = 2, Y4 = 0

(1) ∑ 𝑋 (3) ∑(𝑋 + 𝑌) (5) ∑ 4𝑋𝑌

(2) ∑ 𝑋𝑌 (4) ∑ 𝑌

B. Construct a probability distribution of W representing the square of the number

when a die is rolled once. Copy the table in your answer sheet then write your
answer.

W
P(w)
 What’s New

Consider the outcomes of a coin tossed as a random event. The probability of

1 1
getting tail is or 50%, and the probability of getting head is or 50% also, but
2 2
it is hard to predict the outcome that will occur. In this lesson, you will learn how
to determine the likeliness of the happening of an event.

Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

The Mean µ of a discrete random variable is the central value or
average of its corresponding probability mass function. It is also called
as the Expected Value. It is computed using the formula:

µ = ∑ 𝑋𝑃(𝑥)

Where x is the outcome and p(x) is the probability of the outcome.

 What is It

Examples:

1. Determine the mean or Expected Value of random variable below.

X 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 1 1 1 1 1
5 5 5 5 5

Solution:
µ = ∑ ⟮𝑥𝑃(𝑥)⟯
1 1 1
=∑ ⟮0( 1 ) + 1( 1 ) + 2( ) + 3( ) + 4( ) ⟯
5 5 5 5 5
1 2 3 4
= ∑ ⟮0 + + + + ⟯
5 5 5 5
10
= or 2
5
Therefore, mean is 2 for the above random variable.
2. Find the mean of the random variable Y representing the number of red color
chocolates per 160-gram pack of colored chocolate packages that has the following
probability distribution.
Y 4 5 6 7
P(y) 0.10 0.37 0.33 0.20

Solution
µ = ∑ ⟮𝑋𝑃(𝑥)⟯
= ∑ ⟮4(0.10) + 5(0.37) + 6(0.33) + 7(0.20)⟯
= ∑ ⟮0.40 + 1.85 + 1.98 + 1.40⟯
= 5.63
So, the mean of the probability distribution is 5.63. This implies that the average
number of red chocolates per 160-gram is 5.63.
3. The probabilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 items in a grocery
3 1 1 2 3
store are , , , , and , respectively. What is the average number of items
10 10 10 10 10
that a customer will buy?
To solve the above problem, we will follow 3 steps below.

STEPS IN FINDING THE MEAN

Step 1: Construct the probability distribution for the random variable X
representing the number of items that the customer will buy.

Step 2: Multiply the value of the random variable X by the corresponding

probability.

Step 3: Add the results obtained in Step 2. Results obtained is the mean of the
probability distribution.

Solution:

Steps Solution
1. Construct the probability Number of Items Probability
distribution for the random variable X X P(x)
representing the number of items that 1 3
the customer will buy. 10
2 1
10
3 1
10
4 2
10
5 3
10
2. Multiply the value of the random Number of Probability X  P(x)
variable X by the corresponding Items X P(x)
probability. 1 3 3
10 10
2 1 2
10 10
3 1 3
10 10
4 2 8
10 10
5 3 15
10 10
 3. Add the results obtained in Step 2. Number of Probability X  P(x)
Results obtained is the mean (µ) of Items X P(x)
the probability distribution. 1 3 3
10 10
2 1 2
10 10
3 1 3
10 10
4 2 8
10 10
5 3 15
10 10
TOTAL 31
= 3.1
10
Using the formula:
𝟑𝟏
µ = ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = = 𝟑. 𝟏
𝟏𝟎

So, the mean of the probability distribution is 3.1. This implies that the average
number of items that the customer will buy is 3.1.

Lesson Variance and Standard

2 Deviation of the Discrete
Random Variable
The variance and standard deviation describe the amount of spread, dispersion, or
variability of the items in a distribution. How can we describe the spread or
dispersion in a probability distribution? In this lesson, you will learn how to compute
the variance and standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution.

Now, let us find out how can we find the variance and standard deviation of a
discrete probability distribution.
 What’s New

Variance and Standard Deviation of a Random Variable

The variance and standard deviation are two values that describe
how scattered or spread out the scores are from the mean value of
the random variable. The variance, denoted as σ2, is determined
using the formula:
σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)
The standard deviation σ is the square root of the variance, thus,
σ = ඥ∑(𝑥 − µ)²𝑝(𝑥)

σ2 - variance σ – standard deviation

µ - mean p(x) – probability of the outcome

What is It

Let’s try!

Let’s have examples:

1. The number of cars sold per day at a local car dealership, along with its
corresponding probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table. Compute the
variance and the standard deviation of the probability distribution by following the
given steps. Write your answer in your answer sheets.

Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(x)

0 10%
1 20%
2 30%
3 20%
4 20%
In solving the problem, let’s follow the steps below.

STEPS IN FINDING THE VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the result obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4. Results obtained is the value of
the variance of probability distribution.
Now let’s solve the problem.
STEPS SOLUTION
1. Find the mean of the probability Number of Probability X P(x)
Car Sold P(x)
distribution using the formula: X
µ = ∑ 𝑋𝑃(𝑥) 0 0.1 0
1 0.2 0.2
2 0.3 0.6
3 0.2 0.6
4 0.2 0.8
TOTAL 2.2
µ = ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = 𝟐. 𝟐
2. Subtract the mean from each X P(x) X · P(x) X-µ
value of the random variable X. 0 0.1 0 0 – 2.2
= -2.2
1 0.2 0.2 1 – 2.2
= -1.2
2 0.3 0.6 2 – 2.2
= - 0.2
3 0.2 0.6 3 – 2.2
= 0.8
4 0.2 0.8 4 – 2.2
= 1.8
3. Square the results obtained in X P(x) X · P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2
Step 2. 0 0.1 0 -2.2 4.84
1 0.2 0.2 -1.2 1.44
2 0.3 0.6 -0.2 0.04
3 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.64
4 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.24
 4. Multiply the results obtained in X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
Step 3 by the corresponding
0 0.1 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484
probability. 1 0.2 0.2 -1.2 1.44 0.288
2 0.3 0.6 -0.2 0.04 0.012
3 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.64 0.128
4 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.24 0.648

5. Get the sum of the results X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 4. The result is
0 0.1 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484
the value of the variance. So, the 1 0.2 0.2 -1.2 1.44 0.288
2 0.3 0.6 -0.2 0.04 0.012
formula is:
3 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.64 0.128
4 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.24 0.648
σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x) TOTAL 1.56
2= 2
σ ∑(𝒙 − µ) p(x) = 1.56

To Solve for Standard Deviation:

Get the square root of the variance

σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)

= 1.56

σ = √1.56

= 1.25

So, the variance of the number of cars sold per day is 1.56 and the standard
deviation is 1.25.

2. When three coins are tossed once, 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.

Solution:

Follow the steps in finding variance and standard deviation of the probability
distribution.
 STEPS SOLUTION
1. Find the mean of the probability Number of Probability X · P(x)
Heads P(x)
distribution using the formula X
µ = ∑ 𝑋𝑃(𝑥) 0 1 0
8
1 3 3
8 8
2 3 3
8 8
3 1 1
8 8
TOTAL 12 = 1.5
8
𝟏𝟐
µ = ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = = 𝟏. 𝟓
𝟖

2. Subtract the mean from each X P(x) X · P(x) X-µ

value of the random variable X. 0 1 0 0 – 1.5
= -1.5
8
1 3 3 1 – 1.5
= -0.5
8 8
2 3 6 2 – 1.5
= 0.5
8 8
3 1 3 3 – 1.5
= 1.5
8 8
3. Square the results obtained in X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2
0 1 0 -1.5 2.25
Step 2.
8
1 3 3 -0.5 0.25
8 8
2 3 6 0.5 0.25
8 8
3 1 3 1.5 2.25
8 8
 4. Multiply the results obtained in X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
Step 3 by the corresponding
probability. 0 1 0 -1.5 2.25 2.25/8 =
0.28
8
1 3 3 -0.5 0.25 0.75/8 =
0.09
8 8
2 3 6 0.5 0.25 0.75/8 =
0.09
8 8
3 1 3 1.5 2.25 2.25/8 =
0.28
8 8
5. Get the sum of the results X P(x) X·P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 4. The result is
the value of the variance (σ2). The 0 1 0 -1.5 2.25 0.28

formula is: 8
1 3 3 -0.5 0.25 0.09

σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x) 8 8
2 3 6 0.5 0.25 0.09
8 8
3 1 3 1.5 2.25 0.28
8 8
TOTAL 0.74

σ2 = ∑(𝒙 − µ)2p(x) = 0.74

To solve for Standard Deviation

σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)

= 0.74

σ = √0.74

= 0.86

The mean in tossing 3 coins with probability of Head will show up is 0.86 and
the variance is 0.74, then the standard deviation is 0.86.
 What’s More

A. Determine the mean or expected value of each Random Variable. Write your
answer in your answer sheets.

1. s 3 4 12 20
P(s) 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.2

t 5 10 20
2. P(t) 50% 12% 38%

w 1/12 1/6 1/3 1/2

3.
P(w) 1/2 1/10 1/5 1/5

4. Find the mean of the probability distribution of the random variable X, which
10 1
can take only the values 1, 2, and 3, given that P(1) = , P(2) = , and P(3) = 12.
33 3 33

5. The probabilities of a machine manufacturing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 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.

B. Determine the Variance and Standard Deviation of each random variable. Write
your answer in your answer sheets.
1. x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 1 1 1 1 1
5 5 5 5 5

2. z 2 4 6 8
P(z) 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.1

m 1 3 5 7
3. P(m) 40% 25% 15% 20%
4. The random variable X, representing the number of nuts in a chocolate bar has
the following probability distribution. Compute the variance and standard
deviation.

X 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 1 3 3 2 1
10 10 10 10 10

5. The number of items sold per day in a sari-sari store, with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the table below. Find the variance and standard deviation
of the probability distribution.

Number of Items Sold Probability

X P(x)
19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10

What I Can Do

Make a study about how many sheets of paper you consumed weekly in
answering your Self Learning Modules. Record the quantity (total number of sheets)
per subject, then construct a probability distribution. Compute the mean, variance,
and the standard deviation of the probability distribution you made. Interpret the
result, then find out how many weeks you will consume 50 sheets of pad paper.