Lesson

Mean and Variance of Discrete Probability

4
Content Standard: Performance Standard:
The learner demonstrates understanding of key The learner is able to apply an appropriate random
concepts key concepts of random variables and variable for a given real life problem (such as
probability distribution. decision making and games of chance).
Learning Competencies:
• Illustrates the mean and variance of a discrete random variable.
• Calculates the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable.
• Interprets the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable.
• Solves problems involving mean and variance of probability distributions.

Explore

In your previous subject Basic Statistics, we have learned that the mean and standard
deviation are used to described a frequency distribution. In this lesson, we shall learn how to find the
mean and the variance as well as the standard deviations of a distribution. Before that, recall first how
to find the mean and standard deviation of a frequency distribution by doing the next activity.

∑ 𝑓𝑥
A. The mean (𝑥̅ ) of a distribution is obtained by using the formula → 𝑥̅ = , where 𝑥̅ is the mean, f
𝑁
is the frequency and N is the total frequency. Complete the table below and compute the mean by
using the formula given above.

Ages of Mathematics Teachers

X f fX
22 3
26 4
36 5
40 2
48 1

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Quarter 1 - Random Variables/ Probability Distribution Do not reproduce or disseminate without the owner’s consent.
 What is the value of N?

What is the value of ∑ 𝑓𝑥?

What is the value of the mean 𝑥̅ ?

B. The variance (𝜎 2 ) and the standard deviation (𝜎) of a frequency distribution are computed by using
𝑁 ∑ 𝑓𝑋 2 − (∑ 𝑓𝑋)2 𝑁 ∑ 𝑓𝑋 2 − (∑ 𝑓𝑋)2
the following formulas: 𝜎 2 = and 𝜎 = √ , where N is the total
𝑁(𝑁−1) 𝑁(𝑁−1)
frequency, f is the frequency and X is the score. Solve standard deviation of the given table below.

Ages of Mathematics Teachers

X f fX fX2
22 3
26 4
36 5
40 2
48 1

Discussion

Discrete Probability Distribution

Just like frequency distribution, the probability distribution can be described by computing its
mean and variance. This lesson will show us how to compute the mean and the variance of the discrete
probability distribution.

• The Mean of a Discrete Probability Distribution

The mean or the expected value of a probability distribution tells the value of a random variable
that is expected to be obtained if the experiment is done repeatedly. To find the mean 𝜇 or the
expected value E(x) of a discrete we use the following formula.

μ = ∑[X ∙ P(x)]

Where μ = mean x = value of the random variable P(x) = is the probability value of the random variable

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Quarter 1 - Random Variables/ Probability Distribution Do not reproduce or disseminate without the owner’s consent.
 Sample Problems

1. 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 and the variance of patients that a surgeon operates
on in a day.
Solution:
▪ Construct the probability distribution for the random variable X.

No. of Patients (X) 3 4 5 6 7

Probability P(X) 0.15 0.10 0.20 0.25 0.30

▪ Multiply the value of the random variable X to the corresponding probability and get the sum
of the values under the column 𝑋 · 𝑃(𝑋).

No. of Patients (X) Probability 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

▪ The average number of patients that a surgeon operates on in a day is 5.45

• The Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution

To find the variance and the standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution, use the
following formulas;

𝜎 2 = [∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2 𝜎 = √[∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2

Where μ = mean, x = value of the random variable, P(x) = is the probability value of the
random variable σ 2 = variance and σ = standard deviation.

Sample Problems
1. 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 and the variance of patients that a surgeon operates
on in a day.

Solution:
▪ Solve for the mean of the probability distribution.

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 No. of Patients (X) Probability 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

▪ The average number of patients that a surgeon operates on in a day is 5.45

▪ Using another table, square each value of the random variable and multiply by the
corresponding probability value [𝑋 2 · 𝑃(𝑋)].

No. of Patients (X) Probability P(X) X2 𝑋 2 · 𝑃(𝑋)

3 0.15 9 1.35
4 0.10 16 1.60
5 0.20 25 5.00
6 0.25 36 9.00
7 0.30 49 14.70
2
∑[ 𝑋 · 𝑃(𝑋)] = 31.65

▪ Subtract the square of the mean ( μ) from the results obtained in Step 2 (∑[ 𝑋 2 · 𝑃(𝑋)]) to get
the variance of the probability distribution.

𝜎 2 = [∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2 𝜎 = √[∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2

= 31.65 − 5.452 = √1.94
= 31.65 – 29.70 𝜎 = 1.39 → standard deviations
𝝈𝟐 = 1.94 → variance

Discussion

• Applied Problems Involving the Mean and Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution

The mean or expected value of a probability distribution tells the value of a random variable
that we expect to get if the experiment is done repeatedly. In other words, if the experiment or process
is repeated long enough, there is a like hood or chance that the average of the outcomes will begin to
approach the expected value or the mean value.
The standard deviation of a probability distribution indicates how far, on the average is an
observed value of a random variable X from its mean. The smaller the standard deviation, the more
likely that an observed value of the random variable will be close to its mean.

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 Sample Problems
1. The following data show the probability of the number of computers sold daily in a computer shop
during the past several months.

No. of
0 1 2 3 4 5
Computers (x)
Probability
0.10 0.20 0.45 0.15 0.05 0.05
P(x)

Questions:
a) What is the probability that on a given day …
• Fewer than three computers will be sold?
• At most, two computers will be sold?
• At least, four computers will be sold?
• Exactly three computers will be sold?
b) Find the mean of a probability distribution?
c) Find the variance of a probability distribution.
d) Find the Standard Deviation of the probability distribution.

Solution:
• To find the probability that fewer than three computers will be sold, use 𝑋 = 0,1, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2.

𝑃(𝑥 < 3) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃(1) + 𝑃(2)

= 0.10 + 0.20 + 0.45
𝑃(𝑥 < 3) = 0.75

• To find the probability that, at most, two computers will be sold, use 𝑋 = 0, 1, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2.

𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 2) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃(1) + 𝑃(2)

= 0.10 + 0.20 + 0.45
𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 2) = 0.75

• To find the probability that, at least, four computers will be sold, use 𝑋 = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 5.

𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 4) = 𝑃(4) + 𝑃(5)

= 0.05 + 0.05
𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 4) = 0.10

• To find the probability that exactly three computers will be sold, use 𝑋 = 3. → 𝑃(𝑋 = 3)
= 0.15

b) The mean of the probability distribution is computed as follows:

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 No. of Computers (X) Probability P(X) X ∙ P(x)
0 0.10 0.00
1 0.20 0.20
2 0.45 0.90
3 0.15 0.45
4 0.05 0.20
5 0.05 0.25

μ = ∑[X ∙ P(x)]
= 0.00 + 0.20 + 0.90 + 0.45 + 0.20 + 0.25
μ = 2.00 → mean of the probability distribution

c) The variance and standard deviation is computed as follows:

No. of Computers (X) Probability P(X) X2 𝑋 2 · 𝑃(𝑋)

0 0.10 0 0.00
1 0.20 1 0.20
2 0.45 4 1.80
3 0.15 9 1.35
4 0.05 16 0.80
5 0.05 25 1.25
2
∑[ 𝑋 · 𝑃(𝑋)] = 5.4

𝜎 2 = [∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2 𝜎 = √[∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2

= 5.4 – 2.002 = √1.40
= 5.4 – 4.00 𝜎 = 1.18 → standard deviations
𝝈𝟐 = 1.40 → variance

2. In a convenient store, the number of tellers (X) busy with customers at 12:00 noon varies from day to
day. Past records indicate that the probability distribution of X is as follows:

No. of Tellers (x) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Probability P(x) 0.0.29 0.049 0.078 0.155 0.212 0.262 0.215

Questions:
a) What is the probability that exactly four tellers are busy at 12:00 noon?
b) What is the probability that, at least two tellers are busy at 12:00 noon?
c) What is the probability that fewer than five tellers are busy at 12:00 noon? 4.
d) What is the probability that at least two, but tellers fewer than five are busy at 12:00
noon?
e) What is the mean of the probability distributions?
f) What is the variance of the probability distributions?

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Quarter 1 - Random Variables/ Probability Distribution Do not reproduce or disseminate without the owner’s consent.
 g) What is the standard deviation of the probability distribution?

Solutions:
a) What is the probability that exactly four tellers are busy at 12:00 noon? Use X = 4

𝑃(𝑋 = 4) = 0.212

b) What is the probability that, at least two tellers are busy at 12:00 noon? Use X = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2) = 𝑃(2) + 𝑃(3) + 𝑃(4) + 𝑃(5) + 𝑃(6)

= 0.078 + 0.155 + 0.212 + 0.262 + 0.215
𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2) = 0.922

c) What is the probability that fewer than five tellers are busy at 12:00 noon? 4. Use 0, 1, 2, 3, 4

𝑃(𝑋 < 5) = 𝑃(0) + 𝑃(1) + 𝑃(2) + 𝑃(3) + 𝑃(4)

= 0.029 + 0.049 + 0.078 + 0.155 + 0.212
𝑃(𝑋 < 5) = 0.523

d) What is the probability that at least two, but tellers fewer than five are busy at 12:00
noon? Use X = 2, 3, 4.

𝑃(2 ≤ 𝑋 < 5) = 𝑃(2) + 𝑃(3) + 𝑃(4)

= 0.78 + 0.155 + 0.212
𝑃(𝑋 < 5) = 0.445

e) What is the mean of the probability distributions?

No. of Tellers (X) Probability P(X) X ∙ P(x)

0 0.029 0.000
1 0.049 0.049
2 0.078 0.156
3 0.155 0.465
4 0.212 0.848
5 0.262 1.310
6 0.215 1.290

μ = ∑[X ∙ P(x)]
= 0.000 + 0.049 + 0.156 + 0.465 + 0.848 + 1.310 + 1.290
μ = 4.118 → mean of the probability distribution

The mean of the probability distribution is 4.118. This implies that in the long run, we expect
that the average number of tellers who are busy at 12:00 noon will be 4.118 or 4.

f) What is the variance and standard deviation of the probability distributions?

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 No. of Computers (X) Probability P(X) X2 𝑋 2 · 𝑃(𝑋)
0 0.029 0 0.000
1 0.049 1 0.049
2 0.078 4 0.312
3 0.155 9 1.395
4 0.212 16 3.392
5 0.262 25 6.550
6 0.215 36 7.740
∑[ 𝑋 2 · 𝑃(𝑋)] = 19.438

𝜎 2 = [∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2 𝜎 = √[∑ x 2 ∙ P(x)] − μ2

= 19.438 – 4.1182 = √2.48
= 19.438 – 16.958 𝜎 = 1.57 → standard deviations
𝝈𝟐 = 2.48 → variance

The standard deviation of the probability distribution is 1.57. this implies that on the
average, the number of computers sold is 1.18 units from units from the mean 4.118

Supplemental Content:
• STATISTICS: Mean and Variance of Random Variables in Filipino By: Numberbender
(www.youtube.com)

Reference(s):
• Statistics and Probability Module 2-3 – Lady Jane Calderon
• Statistics and Probability – Brilliant Creations Publishing Inc.,
• Statistics and Probability for Senior High School – Mutya K-12 Compliant
• Statistics and Probability – Rex Bookstore
• Statistics and Probability – VIBAL

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