6-1

Discrete Probability Distributions

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 6-2

Terminology
Random Variable
…is a numerical value determined by
the outcome of an experiment.

Probability Distribution
…is the listing of all possible outcomes
of an experiment
and the corresponding probability.

Example
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 6-3
Tree Diagrams

This is a useful device to show all the possible outcomes

of the experiment
and their corresponding probabilities

Considering the random experiment of flipping a coin thrice.

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 6-4

In a random experiment in which

a coin is tossed three times:

Let x be the number of Heads

Let H represent the outcome of a Head

Let T represent the outcome of Tails

Determine the probability distribution

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 Third
6-5
Tree Diagrams Flip

Origin First Second H HHH

Flip Flip
HHT
T
H H HTH
H
T T HTT
H H THH

T T THT
T
H TTH
TTT
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T
 Listing the possibilities 6-6

Heads Heads Heads Heads Heads Tails

Heads Tails Heads Tails Heads Heads

Heads Tails Tails Tails Heads Tails

Tails Tails Heads Tails Tails Tails

… the possible values of x

(number of heads) are 0,1,2,3.
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 Types of Probability Distributions 6-7

Discrete Continuous

Under this distribution Under this distribution

the random variable the random variable
has a has an
countable number infinite number
of possible outcomes of possible outcomes

Examples
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 Types of Probability Distributions 6-8

Discrete Continuous
Students in a class Examples
Distance driven by an
executive to get to work
Number of children The length of time of a
in a family particular phone call
Mortgage Loan The length of
Number of Mortgages time of an
approved in a month afternoon nap!
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 6-9
Distinguishing features
of a
Discrete Distribution:
The sum of the probabilities of the various
outcomes is 1.00
The probability of a particular outcome
is between 0 and 1.00
The outcomes are mutually exclusive

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 6 - 10

Consider a Probability Distribution

random
experiment in # of
x P(x)
which a coin is Outcomes
tossed three times. 0 1 1/8
Determine the 1 3 3/8
probability
distribution. 2 3 3/8
What is the
3 1 1/8
probability of
tossing 2 heads in 8 8/8 = 1
3 flips?
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 Mean of a Discrete 6 - 11

Probability Distribution

reports the central location of the data

is denoted by the Greek symbol µ, mu
is the long-run average value of
the random variable
also referred to as its expected value, E(X),
in a probability distribution

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 Mean of a Discrete 6 - 12

Probability Distribution

Formula µ = Σ[xP( x))]

x P(x) xP(x)
Flip a coin three times 0 1/8 0

Let x be the 1 3/8 3/8

number of heads 2 3/8 6/8
3 1/8 3/8
8/8 = 1 12/8=1.5
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 Variance of a Discrete 6 - 13

Probability Distribution

…measures the amount of spread

(variation) of a distribution.

…denoted by the Greek

2
letter σ (sigma squared).

…the standard deviation is

the square root of σ 2

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 Variance of a Discrete 6 - 14

Probability Distribution
Flip a coin three times.
Let x be the number of heads
2
Formula σ = Σ [( x − µ) P((x)
2
x)]
x P(x) xP(x) X-µ (X-µ ) 2
(X- µ )2P(x)
0 1/8 0 - 1.5 2.25 .28125
1 3/8 3/8 - 0.5 0.25 .09375
2 3/8 6/8 0.5 0.25 .09375
3 1/8 3/8 1.5 2.25 .28125
8/8 = 1 µ =1.5 0.75
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 6 - 15

Dan Desch, owner # of Painted

of College Painters, Houses x Weeks P(x)
studied his records
10 5 5/20 = 0.25
for the past
20 weeks 11 6 6/20 = 0.30
and reported the
following 12 7 7/20 = 0.35
number of houses
painted per week: 13 2 2/20 = 0.10
20 20/20 = 1.0
Determine the Probability distribution and its mean and variance.

Computing the µ
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 Computing the µ 6 - 16

Formula µ = Σ[xP( x))]

# of Painted
Houses P(x) xP(x)
10 5/20 = 0.25 2.5
11 6/20 = 0.30 3.3
12 7/20 = 0.35 4.2

13 2/20 = 0.10 1.3

20/20 = 1.0 11.3
2
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Computing the σ
 2
Computing the σ 6 - 17

2
Formula σ = Σ [((xx −− µ) P((x)
2
x)]
x P(x) xP(x) (x - µ )2 (x - µ )2 P(x)
10 0.25 2.5 1.69 2
(10-11.3) .4225
11 0.30 3.3 0.09 .0270
12 0.35 4.2 0.49 .1715
13 0.10 1.3 2.89 .2890
1.0 11.3 0.91

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