LESSON 2: CONSTRUCTING PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS

Discrete probability distribution or probability mass function – consists of the values random variable can
assume and the corresponding probabilities of the values.

Properties of a Probability Distribution

1. The probability of each value of the random variable must be between or equal to 0 and 1. In
symbol, we write it as 0 ≤ 𝑃(𝑋) ≤ 1.
2. The sum of the probabilities of all values of the random variable must be equal to 1. In
symbol, we write it as Σ𝑃(𝑋) = 1.

Example 1: NUMBER OF TAILS

 Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number of tails that occur.
Find the probability of each of the values of the random variable Y.

Sample Space: {TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT, HTH, THH, HHH}

Possible Value of the Random Number of Probability P(Y)

Outcomes Variable Y Tails Y
(number of tails) 1
TTT 3 0 or 0.125
8
TTH 2
THT 2 3
1 or 0.375
HTT 2 8
HHT 1 3
2 or 0.375
HTH 1 8
THH 1 1
3 or 0.125
HHH 0 8

 The Histogram for the Probability Distribution of the Discrete Random Variable Y

0.5

0.4
Probability P(Y)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0 1 2 3

Number of Tails (Y)

Example number 2: NUMBER OF DEFECTIVE CELL PHONES

 Suppose three cell phones are tested at random. Let D represent the defective cell phone and let N
represent the non-defective cell phone. If we let X be the random variable for the number of defective
cell phones, construct the probability distribution of the random variable X. Construct the Histogram.

Sample Space: { }

Possible Value of the Random Number of defective Probability P(X)

Outcomes Variable X cell phones
(number of defective cell
phones)

Example 3: Determine whether the distribution represents a probability distribution. Explain your
anaswer.

X 0 2 4 6 8
1 1 1 1 1
P(X)
6 6 3 6 6
Explanation: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________.