PUSAT PENGAJIAN

PRA-UNIVERSITI

UNIMAS
PRT1034 PREPARATORY MATHEMATICS
SEMESTER 1 SESSION 2024-2025
LU8 PROBABILTY DISTRIBUTION
 INDICES, SURDS & LOGARITHMS

8.1 Random Variables

8.2 Probability Distribution for Discrete Random Variables
8.3 Binomial Distribution
8.4 Normal Distribution
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit, students should be able to:

✓ Understand the concept of random variables

✓ Distinguish between discrete and continuous random variables

✓ Find the mean, variance, and standard deviation for a probability distribution

✓ Find the Binomial Distribution, 𝐵(𝑛, 𝑝)

✓ Find the mean and variance of Binomial Distribution

✓ Use the Binomial Distribution to solve related problem

 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit, students should be able to:

✓ Understand the Normal Distribution, 𝑁 (𝜇, 𝜎 2 )

✓ Standardise the normal random variable

✓ Determine the mean and variance of Normal Distribution problems

 8.1
Random Variables
Random Variables

What is random
variable???

A random variable, X , is a quantity whose values depend on a random

outcome from a random experiment.
Random Variables
Let the random variable, X, is the number on the top surface of a dice when it is
thrown once. The possible values for X will thus be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

▪ There are two types of random variables:

❑ Discrete random variable

❑ Continuous random variable

• A tree diagram can be used to show all the possible outcomes of a discrete random
variable.
Types of Random Variables
Discrete Random Variable Continuous Random Variable
Random variables that have countable Random variables that are not integers
numbers of values, usually taking but take values that lie in an interval.
values like zero and positive integers

The variable can be counted The variable cannot be counted

If X represents a discrete random If Y represents a continuous random

variable, hence the possible outcomes can variable, hence the possible outcomes can
be written in set notation: be written in set notation:
𝑋 = {𝑥: 𝑥 = 0, 1, 2, 3, … } 𝑌 = {𝑦: 𝑎 < 𝑦 ≤ 𝑏},
where a and b are constants.
 Example 1
Consider a coin is tossed 2 times and all the possible outcomes are recorded.

The random variable, X, represents the number of heads obtained in the two
tosses. List all the possible outcomes of X in the form of set notation.

Answer: All possible Random

H outcomes variable, X
H
T HH 2
HT 1
RECAP
H TH 1
T
Sample space is a set of
all possible outcomes of
T TT 0
an experiment.

𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒, 𝑆 = {𝐻𝐻, 𝐻𝑇, 𝑇𝐻, 𝑇𝑇}

In set notation, the possible outcomes is represented as 𝑋 = {𝑥: 𝑥 = 0, 1, 2}

Example 2
There are 3 green pen and 4 blue pen in a box. A pen is taken out at random from the
box and it is returned to the box before the next pen is drawn out of the box again. The
process is repeated twice. The random variable, X, represents the number of
times a green pen is taken out from the box . List all the possible outcomes of X in
the form of set notation.

Answer:
What if the process is repeated three times?

Answer:
Example 3
Determine whether the event is a discrete random variable or a continuous random
variable. Give your reasons. Hence, represent the random variable in set notation.

a) A fair dice is thrown three times, given X is a random variable which represents the
number of times to get the number 4.

Answer:
b) 𝑋 is a random variable which represents the time taken by a pupil to wait for his
bus at a bus stop. The range of time taken by the pupil is between 5 to 55 minutes.

Answer:
Exercise 1
Determine whether the event is a discrete random variable or a continuous random
variable. Give your reasons. Hence, represent the random variable in set notation.

a) The random variable, 𝑋, represents the heights of Asasi Pengkomputeran students

that are more than 150 cm

b) The random variable, 𝑋, represents the number of times getting the number ’5’ when
a dices is tossed 10 times

Answer:
 8.2
Probability Distribution for Discrete
Random Variables
(tree diagram, prob. table, prob graph)
Probability

What is
probability???

Probability is the measurement of possible occurrence of an event

expressed either in the form of fractions or percentages
Probability of an event
(Recap on prior knowledge)
▪ The probability of an event A occurring is defined as:

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐴 𝑛(𝐴)

𝑃 𝐴 = =
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑆 𝑛(𝑆)

▪ Probability of an event A occurring is from 0 to 1, that is,

0≤𝑃 𝐴 ≤1

▪ If the event A’ is the compliment of the event A, then

𝑃 𝐴′ = 1 − 𝑃 𝐴
Example 4 (Recap)
Consider a coin is tossed 3 times. The random variable, X, represents the number
of heads obtained in the three tosses. What is the probability of getting exactly 2
heads?

Answer:
𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒, 𝑆 = {𝐻𝐻𝐻, 𝐻𝐻𝑇, 𝐻𝑇𝐻, 𝐻𝑇𝑇, 𝑇𝐻𝐻, 𝑇𝐻𝑇, 𝑇𝑇𝐻, 𝑇𝑇𝑇}
H
𝑛(𝑆) = 8 Probability of getting 2 heads; H
T
H
𝑛(𝐴) H
𝑃 𝐴 = T
Let A be the event of getting 2 𝑛(𝑆) T
head. 3 H
𝑃 𝐴 = H
𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐴 = {𝐻𝐻𝑇, 𝐻𝑇𝐻, 𝑇𝐻𝐻} 8 T
T
𝑛(𝐴) = 3 H
T
T
Probability Distribution for Discrete
Random Variables
▪ Let X be a discrete random variable. If we list all possible values of X together with
the corresponding probabilities, then we have a probability distribution of X.

DEFINITION
If 𝑋 is a discrete random variable with the values 𝑟1 , 𝑟2 , 𝑟3 , … , 𝑟𝑛 and their respective
probabilities are 𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑟1 , 𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑟2 , 𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑟3 , … , 𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑟𝑛 , then

෍ 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟𝑖 ) = 1 , thus, each 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟𝑖 ) ≥ 0.

𝑖=1
Probability Distribution for Discrete
Random Variables
▪ In general, if 𝑋 represents the discrete random variable, then 𝑃(𝑋) represents the
probability that 𝑋 happens. 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟) represents the probability for a specific 𝑟 to
occur.

▪ The value of each probability 𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑟 is between 0 and 1, that is

0≤𝑃 𝑋=𝑟 ≤1

▪ The sum of probability of all possible outcomes is 1

෍ 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟𝑖 ) = 1
𝑖=1

▪ A probability distribution can be presented in the form of a table and graph.

Example 5
A dice is tossed twice. X represents the number of times of getting the number 2.

a) Draw a tree diagram to show all the possible outcomes.

b) List all the possible values of X.

c) List the probability distribution for all the possible values of X in a table.

d) Hence, draw a graph for the probability distribution.

Answer:
Example 6
A fair coin is tossed 3 times continuously. X represents the number of times a head
appears.

a) Draw a tree diagram to show all the possible outcomes. Hence, list all the
possible values of X.

b) Tabulate the probability distribution of X.

c) Show the probability distribution of X on a graph.

Exercise 2
70% of Asasi Pengkomputeran students achieved a grade A in the final semester
examination for PRT1034. Two pupils were chosen at random from that class.

If X represents the number of students who did not get a grade A,

a) Tabulate the probability distribution of X.

b) Show the probability distribution of X on a graph.

Example 7
X is a random discrete variable with the following probability distribution
𝑿=𝒓 0 1 2 3
𝑷(𝑿 = 𝒓) 0.24 0.31 0.28 0.17

Find
a) 𝑃 𝑋>1 c) 𝑃 𝑋 ≥ 1
b) 𝑃 0<𝑋<3 d) 𝑃 𝑋 ≤ 2
Answer:
Exercise 3
X is a random discrete variable with the following probability distribution

𝑿=𝒓 2 4 6 8
𝑷(𝑿 = 𝒓) 0.14 0.21 𝑝 0.27

Find
a) The value of 𝑝
b) 𝑃 𝑋 ≤ 6
c) 𝑃 2 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 6
d) 𝑃 𝑋 > 4

Ans:
a) 𝑝 = 0.38 b) 0.73 c) 0.73 d) 0.65
 8.3
Binomial Distribution
Bernoulli Trial
Consider the following situations:

When a fair coin is tossed once, the outcome is either a head or a tail.

If the outcome of getting a head is regarded as a ‘success’, then the outcome of getting a
tail will be regarded as a ‘failure’.

An experiment that produces only two possible outcomes that is success

and failure is known as a Bernoulli trial.

When the Bernoulli trial is repeated 𝑛 times independently, the experiment is called a
Binomial Experiment.
Binomial Distribution
▪ If the probability of ‘success’ is given by 𝒑, then the probability of ‘failure’ is
given by 𝒒 = (𝟏 – 𝒑) where 𝟎 < 𝒑 < 𝟏.

▪ If 𝑿 is the discrete random variable that shows the number of success in the
Binomial experiment, then X is said to have a Binomial distribution with the
notation X ~ B(n, p)

For X ~ B(n, p), the probability of getting r success from n trials is given by

𝒏
𝑷 𝑿=𝒓 = 𝑪𝒓 𝒑𝒓 𝒒𝒏−𝒓 , 𝒓 = 𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐, … . , 𝒏

where 𝒏 is the number of trials, 𝒑 is 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 of ‘success’ and

𝒒 = 𝟏 – 𝒑 is the probability of ‘failure’.
Example 8
A fair dice is tossed 3 times. If X represents the number of times the number ‘6’
appears, find

a) the probability of success, p , for each toss.

b) the probability distribution of X.

Answer:
Example 9
Draw a graph for the following binomial distribution:
𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑟 = 4 𝐶𝑛 𝑝𝑟 𝑞4−𝑟 , 𝑟 = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, where 𝑝 = 1/4

Answer:
Exercise 4
The random variable, X has the binomial distribution 𝑋~𝐵(5,0.25). Find the following
probabilities:

a) 𝑃 𝑋=2

b) 𝑃 𝑋≤3

c) 𝑃 𝑋>4

d) 𝑃 𝑋≥3

Answer:
a) 0.2637 b) 0.9844 c) 0.00097 d) 0.1035
Example 11
Miss Aishah found that 90% of the students who took Preparatory Mathematics passed
in the mid-semester examination. If 30 students are chosen at random, find the
probability that not more than 2 students failed the Additional Mathematics.
Answer:
Exercise 5
A fair coin is tossed 5 times continuously. What is the probability of getting

a) 2 heads in the 5 tosses?

b) less than 2 heads? Answer:

c) more than 2 heads? 5 3 3
a) b) c)
16 16 16
Answer:
Mean, Variance and Standard
Deviation of a Binomial Distribution
For a binomial distribution, if 𝑋 is a random variable expressed by 𝑋~𝐵(𝑛, 𝑝),

then the expected value or mean, the variance and the standard deviation can be found
as below;
Expected value or Mean, 𝝁 = 𝒏𝒑

Variance, 𝝈𝟐 = 𝒏𝒑𝒒

Standard Deviation, 𝝈 = 𝒏𝒑𝒒

Example 12
The random variable, X has the binomial distribution 𝑋~𝐵(6,0.2). Find

a) the mean

b) the variance

c) standard deviation

Answer:
Example 13
There are 6000 families in a district. It is found that two out of three families have a
computer at home. Find the mean and the standard deviation for the number of
families having a computer at home.

Answer:
Exercise 6
The random variable, X has the binomial distribution 𝑋~𝐵(9, 1/6). Find

a) the mean

b) the variance

c) standard deviation

Answer:
a) 1.5 b) 1.25 c) 1.118
Exercise 7
2% of the electric components made by manufacturing factory are defective. If a sample
of 20 electric components are chosen, find the number of components expected to be
defective and calculate the standard deviation.

Answer:
𝜇 = 0.4, 𝜎 = 0.6261
 8.4
Normal Distribution
Normal Distribution
▪ A normal distribution is a probability function of a continuous random variable.

▪ A random variable , X, which has a normal distribution is a continuous random

variable in two parameter, that are mean, 𝝁, and the standard deviation, 𝝈.

▪ 𝜇 and 𝜎 are called the parameters of the normal distribution

▪ A normal distribution can be written in the form 𝑿~𝑵(𝝁, 𝝈𝟐 )

▪ If a random variable has a binomial distribution B(𝑛, 𝑝) and when 𝑛 is large (𝑛 > 30),
the random variable, X, will follow a normal distribution.
Characteristic of Normal Distribution
Function Graph
The graph function for a normal distribution has the
following characteristic:

▪ The normal curve is bell-shaped and is

symmetrical about a vertical line, 𝑋 = 𝜇, where 𝜇
is the mean.

▪ The two ends of the curve do not touch the 𝑥-axis.

▪ The total area under the normal curve is 1 unit 2 .

The area under the graph for X from a to b represents the probability of X
occurring for the value of X from a to b and is written as:
𝑃(𝑎 < 𝑋 < 𝑏) = 𝑃(𝑎 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 𝑏)
Example 14
The diagram on the right shows a normal distribution function graph which is
symmetrical at 𝑋 = 35.

(a) State the mean value, 𝜇.

(b) Express the shaded region in probability notation.

(c) If the probability of the shaded region is 0.64, find 𝑃(𝑋 < 28).
Exercise 8
The diagram shows a normal distribution graph of a continuous random variable, X.

42 52 62

(a) State the mean value, 𝜇.

(b) If 𝑃 𝑋 < 42 = 0.2176, find

i. 𝑃 𝑋 > 62

ii. 𝑃 52 < 𝑋 < 62

Answer:
iii. 𝑃 𝑋 > 42 (a) 52 (b) i. 0.2176 ii. 0.2824 iii. 0.7824
Standard Normal Distribution
▪ The diagram on the right shows four curves with normal distributions.

Can all these

distributions be
standardised so that
we can compare them?
 Standard Normal Distribution
▪ A standard normal distribution is defined as a normal distribution whose mean
and standard deviation are 0 and 1, respectively.

▪ All normal distributions, 𝑋~𝑁(𝜇, 𝜎 2 ), can be converted to standard normal

distributions by using the following formula:

𝑿−𝝁
𝒁 = , 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒁 ~ 𝑵(𝟎, 𝟏)
𝝈
where
𝑍 = continuous random variable called the z−score for the standard normal distribution
𝑋 = continuous random variable of the original normal distribution
𝜇 = mean of the original normal distribution
𝜎 = standard deviation of the original normal distribution
Example 16
A continuous random variable X is normally distributed with a mean of 30 and a
standard deviation of 8. Find the z-score for 𝑋 = 42.

Answer:
Example 17
The heights of buildings in Kampung Pekan are normally distributed with a mean of
23 𝑚 and a variance of 25 𝑚2 . Find the height of the building if the standard score is
0.213.

Answer:
Exercise 9
A continuous random variable X is normally distributed with a mean of 10 and a
standard deviation of 3. Find the z-score for eqach of the following

a) 𝑋 = 12

b) 𝑋 = 8.5

Answer: a) 0.66667 b) −0.5

 Probability for a
Standard Normal Distribution
▪ If 𝑃(𝑎 < 𝑋 < 𝑏) for the normal distribution, then for a standard normal distribution,
we have

𝑎−𝜇 𝑋−𝜇 𝑏−𝜇 𝑎−𝜇 𝑏−𝜇

𝑃 𝑎 <𝑋 <𝑏 =𝑃 < < =𝑃 <𝑍<
𝜎 𝜎 𝜎 𝜎 𝜎

▪ The diagram below shows the relation between the normal distribution graph and the
standard normal distribution graph.

Standardised
 Standard Normal Distribution
Table
▪ The probability of z-score for a standard normal distribution, such as 𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧) can be
determined by using the standard normal distribution table.

▪ The diagram below shows a part of the standard normal distribution table.

These values give the

probabilities of the standard
normal distribution, that is,
𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧)

Value of z

𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧)

𝑧
 Standard Normal Distribution
Table
▪ Note that for each value of 𝑍 = 𝑧 , it gives 𝑷(𝒁 > 𝒛) = 𝑷(𝒁 < −𝒛) because the
standard normal distribution is symmetrical at 𝑍 = 0.

𝑃(𝑍 > −𝑧) 𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧)

−𝑧 𝑧

𝑷(𝒁 > 𝒛) = 𝑷(𝒁 < −𝒛)

Example 18
Given Z is the standard normal distribution variable. Find the value of each of the
following.

a) 𝑃(𝑍 ≥ 0.2)

b) 𝑃(𝑍 < −0.6)

Exercise 10
Given Z is the standard normal distribution variable. Find the value of each of the
following.

a) 𝑃(𝑍 > −1.3)

b) 𝑃(−0.3 ≤ 𝑍 ≤ 0.3)

c) 𝑃(1 < 𝑍 ≤ 0.2)

Example 19
If 𝑋~𝑁(75,100), find the following probabilities:

a) 𝑃(𝑋 < 60)

b) 𝑃(𝑋 > 80)

Example 20
If 𝑋~𝑁(50,100), find the following probabilities:

a) 𝑃(25 < 𝑋 < 70)

b) 𝑃(30 < 𝑋 < 40)

Exercise 11
If 𝑋~𝑁(200,36), find the following probabilities:

a) 𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 190)

b) 𝑃 𝑋 < 215

c) 𝑃 185 ≤ 𝑋 < 214

d) 𝑃 197 < 𝑋 < 200

Ans:
a) 0.9525 b) 0.9938 c) 0.9839 d) 0.1915
 Working Backwards with the
Standard Normal Table
Finding the value of z when given the probability

Step 1: Draw the bell curve to find the position and determine whether the value is on
the right or left of the curve

Step 2: Find the equivalent probability on the right hand tail to obtain
𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧) = 𝑐 where 𝑐 ≤ 0.5

Step 3: Look inside the body of the table for a proportion close to the probability

Step 4: From the standard normal table, obtain the value of z and second decimal of z
Example 20
Find the z –score of each of the following.

a) 𝑃 𝑍 > 𝑧 = 0.3594

b) 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧) = 0.7257

c) 𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧) = 0.9382

Example 20
If 𝑋~𝑁(60,9), find 𝑘 if

a) 𝑃 (𝑋 < 𝑘) = 0.40

b) 𝑃 (𝑋 > 𝑘) = 0.35

c) 𝑃 (𝑋 < 𝑘) = 0.75

d) 𝑃 (𝑋 > 𝑘 = 0.95
Exercise 12
If 𝑋~𝑁(100,36), the value of 𝑘 in each of the following

a) 𝑃 (𝑋 > 𝑘) = 0.78

b) 𝑃 (𝑋 > 𝑘) = 0.225

c) 𝑃 (85 < 𝑋 < 𝑘) = 0.68

Ans:
a) 95.38 b) 104.5 c) 102.88
Example 21
(Finding the values of 𝝁 and 𝝈)
The masses of durian in basket have a normal distribution with mean 𝜇 and standard
deviation 𝜎. 6% of the durian have masses exceeding 1531g and 15% of the durian have
masses less than 1479g.

Find the value of 𝜇 and 𝜎. (Express the values to nearest integer)

TERIMA
KASIH