Presented by:

Manuel A. Macam
University of Santo Tomas
Senior High School

NOTE: STRICTLY FOR LECTURE PURPOSES ONLY

Random Variables
DEFINITION OF TERMS
VARIABLE – is the characteristic or property of the element
ELEMENT – is the source of relevant information or data,
i.e. an individual, an entity, population unit
RANDOM VARIABLE – is any function that assigns a numerical
value to each possible outcome. is the variable being measured
It to produce numerical observations associated with the random
outcomes of a chance experiment.
OBSERVATION – the numerical values associated with measuring
the variable
Some Examples
Types of Random Variables
1. Discrete Random Variables – the observed numerical value are
produced by counting and assumes whole number only.
2. Continuous Random Variables – the observed numerical value
are results of measuring and may take only any numbers
contained within any numerical intervals
Some Examples

DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLES CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLES

• Number of defective IPAD • Time needed to finish an

produced by Apple. examination

• Number of female athletes. • Amount of sugar in a cup of coffee

• Number of patient arrivals per hour • Weight of newborns each year in

at a certain hospital the Philippines.
Illustrative Example
Playing
No. of No. of Field
Points time per Height Weight
Players rebounds assists Goal
per game game (in m) (in lbs)
per game per game (%)
(in mins)

A 5 2 4 4.65 85 1.83 165

B 10 3 4 5.9 80.5 1.88 175
A table that shows the summary of
C 18 some5 data pertinent
6 6.7
to the 75.7
player 1.96 195
D 22 7 of a basketball
8 8 team68.4 2.06 210
E 20 4 10 7.5 50 1.93 205
F 11 3 15 6 45.3 1.83 160
G 4 2 18 5 38.9 1.80 158.2
Illustrative Example
Playing
No. of No. of Field
Points time per Height Weight
Players rebounds assists Goal
per game game (in m) (in lbs)
per game per game (%)
(in mins)

A 5 2 4 4.65 85 1.83 165

B 10 Elements
3 4 5.9 80.5 1.88 175
C 18 The players
5 represent
6 the
6.7elements
75.7 1.96 195
in the set data presented in the
D 22 7 8 8 68.4 2.06 210
given table
E 20 4 10 7.5 50 1.93 205
F 11 3 15 6 45.3 1.83 160
G 4 2 18 5 38.9 1.80 158.2
Illustrative Example
Playing
No. of No. of
Points time per Field
reboun assists Height Weight
Players per game Goal
ds per per (in m) (in lbs)
Random game
game game
(in (%)
mins)
Variables
A 5 2 4 4.65 85 1.83 165
All the
indicated B 10 3 4 5.9 80.5 1.88 175
elements are C 18 5 6 6.7 75.7 1.96 195
considered D 22 7 8 8 68.4 2.06 210
random
E 20 4 10 7.5 50 1.93 205
variables
F 11 3 15 6 45.3 1.83 160
G 4 2 18 5 38.9 1.80 158.2
Illustrative Example
Playing
No. of No. of Field
Points time per Height Weight
Players rebounds assists Goal
per game game (in m) (in lbs)
per game per game (%)
(in mins)
Discrete
A 5 2 4 4.65 85 1.83 165
Random
B 10 3 4 5.9 Variables
80.5 1.88 175
C 18 5 6 6.7 These are variables
75.7 1.96 195
expressed in whole
D 22 7 8 8 68.4 2.06 210
numbers
E 20 4 10 7.5 50 1.93 205
F 11 3 15 6 45.3 1.83 160
G 4 2 18 5 38.9 1.80 158.2
Illustrative Example
Playing
No. of No. of Field
Points time per Height Weight
Players rebounds assists Goal
per game game (in m) (in lbs)
per game per game (%)
Continuous (in mins)

A Random
5 2 4 4.65 85 1.83 165
Variables
B 10 3 4 5.9 80.5 1.88 175
These are variables
C 18
expressed with5 6 6.7 75.7 1.96 195
D decimal
22 7 8 8 68.4 2.06 210
E 20 4 10 7.5 50 1.93 205
F 11 3 15 6 45.3 1.83 160
G 4 2 18 5 38.9 1.80 158.2
Illustrative Example
To summarize,
DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLES CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLES

Observation for x is any point within

Observation for x is a whole number
the range

Points per game 4 x  22 Playing time per

4.65 x  8
game
Rebounds per
2 x  7 Field goal (%) 38.9 x  85
game
Assists per game 4 x  18 Height (in meters) 1.80 x  2.06

Weight (in lbs) 158.2 x  210

Illustrative Example
Experiment Element Random Variable

Sum of numbers from the

Rolling two dice Two dice numbered 1-6
two dice
Objects with different
Free falling objects Acceleration (m/s2)
weights

In rolling two dice, the sum of the numbers from two dice, such as 1
and 1, 4 and 2, or 6 and 5, the answer would be any whole number
from 2 to 12, or 2  x  12. The variable is then considered discrete.
For free falling objects, acceleration (distance travelled over the
square of time) may be any value greater than or equal to 0, or x  0.
The variable is considered continuous.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION - an organized tabulation of
assigned probabilities associated with the outcomes of a random
variable

DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION - distribution of

assigned probabilities associated with discrete random variable.

PROBABILITY MASS FUNCTION - an equation that defines the

relationship between an outcomes and it’s associated a probability.

PROBABILITY VALUE - the ratio of frequency of occurrences

relative to the total number of occurrences.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is a list
of the possible values of X together with their probabilities

f (x) = P[X = x]

The probability distribution always satisfies the conditions

f (x) ≥ 0 and  f (x) = 1

all x
Probability Distributions of
Discrete Random Variables
Illustrative Example
A coin is tossed three times. Let X be the number of heads to appear

X P(X) Coin
1/2 1/2
0 1/8 T H
1 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2
2 3/8 T H T H
3 1/8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2

T H T H T H T H
Illustrative Example
A coin is tossed three times. Let X be the number of heads to appear
X 0 1 2 3

P(X) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8

Illustrative Example
Let us take this experiment: Rolling a Die
When you roll a die, there are only 6 possible outcomes corresponding to the six
face of the die; the number 1 to 6. Suppose you roll a die 20 times, there are
twenty possible outcomes. Let us record the results of rolling a die twenty times.
POSSIBLE FACE OF THE DIE NUMBER OF TIMES THE FACE
AFTER EACH ROLL APPEARED [(x):n]
1 3
2 7
3 4
4 3
5 2
6 1
Illustrative Example
Guide questions:
1. What is the chance that when a die is rolled, the number 2 will appear?
The number 5?
2. How can we show graphically the probability of the occurrence of an event?
Recall:
The data to be obtained by rolling a die are whole numbers from 1 to 6. The
variable is considered discrete random variable.

Since the die is rolled 20 times, the total number of occurrence (N) in the
experiment is 20 observations [N = 20].
Illustrative Example
From the table the number of times the NUMBER OF
POSSIBLE PROBABILITY
possible outcome “2” has occurred is 7. FACE OF THE
TIMES THE
OF
FACE
The chance that a “2” will appear when a DIE AFTER
APPEARED
OCCURENCE
EACH ROLL
die is rolled is the quotient of dividing the [(x):n]

number of occurrences associated by the

1 3 3/20
values of f by the total number of
observations N. Thus we get 2/7. 2
2 77 7/20
7/20
3 4 4/20
This is also known as the probability of
4 3 3/20
occurrence. The probability mass function
for this random variable is given by 5 2 2/20
f 6 1 1/20
P( x) 
N Total 20 20/20 = 1
Illustrative Example
Where:
f is the number of times the face POSSIBLE NUMBER OF PROBABILITY
FACE OF THE TIMES THE OF
appears otherwise called frequency DIE AFTER FACE OCCURENCE
N is the total number of observation EACH ROLL APPEARED

Two (2) requirements for a probability

distribution: 1 3 3/20
1. The sum of the probabilities of all the 2 7 7/20
events in the sample space must be
equal to 1. 3 4 4/20
P(x) = 1 4 3 3/20
2. The probability of each event in the 5 2 2/20
sample space must be greater than or
equal to 0 but less than or equal to1. 6 1 1/20
0  P(x)  1 Total 20 20/20 = 1
Illustrative Example
Graphically, the distribution can be represented with a histogram.
1. Assign the probability values on the vertical grid
2. Assign the discrete random variable (x) on the horizontal grid
NO. OF f
OUTCOME (x) OCCURRENCES P(x)
(f) N

1 3 3/20 0.15
2 7 7/20 0.35
3 4 4/20 0.20
4 3 3/20 0.15
5 2 2/20 0.10
6 1 1/20 0.05
N = 20 ΣP(x) = 1.00
Illustrative Example
Graphically, the distribution can be represented with a histogram.
1. Assign the probability values on the vertical grid
2. Assign the discrete random variable (x) on the horizontal grid

OUTCOME
P(x)
(x)

1 0.15
2 0.35
3 0.20
4 0.15
5 0.10
6 0.05
Illustrative Example
A laboratory supervision NEEDLE STICK
type III hospital is INJURIES FRQUENCY (f) P(x)
investigating number of REPORTED

reported on-the-job related 0

to needle stick injuries over
1
a period of one month.
Based on the past records, 2
she had the following 3
records on the needle stick 4
injuries that were recorded
5
Illustrative Example
1. Complete the table.
NEEDLE STICK
2. What is the probability INJURIES FRQUENCY (f) P(x)
distribution of the REPORTED
discrete random variable 0 300 300 / 320
being considered?
1 10 10 / 320
3. How can we determine
the probability mass 2 3 3 / 320
function of the variable? 3 4 4/ 320
4. How can we usually
4 2 2 / 320
represent the distribution
with a graph? 5 1 1 / 320

P(x) = 320/320 = 1

Calaca et. al.

Illustrative Example
2. Construct a probability distribution for rolling a single die

OUTCOME (x) P(x)

1 1/6
2 1/6
3 1/6
4 1/6
5 1/6
6 1/6
P(x) = 6/6 = 1
Practice exercises
3. Use the following table to answer the questions.
Reason for dropping Frequency Percentage
a college course
Too difficult 53
Illness 40
Peer Influence 25
Teacher factor 16
Change in work schedule 23
Change of major 15
Family-related problems 10
Finance 9
Miscellaneous 6
No meaningful reason 3
Practice exercises
3. Use the following table to answer the questions.

1. What is the variable under study?

2. Is it a random variable?
2. How many people were in the study?
3. Complete the table.
4. From the information given, what is
the probability that a student will drop
a class because of illness? Money?
Change of major?
Practice exercises
3. Use the following table to answer the questions.
Reason for dropping Frequency Percentage
a college course
Too difficult 53 53/200 = 26.5%
Illness 40 40/200 = 20.0%
Peer Influence 25 25/200 = 12.5%
Teacher factor 16 16/200 = 8.0%
Change in work schedule 23 23/200 = 11.5%
Change of major 15 15/200 = 7.5%
Family-related problems 10 10/200 = 5.0%
Finance 9 9/200 = 4.5%
Miscellaneous 6 6/200 = 3.0%
No meaningful reason 3 3/200 = 1.5%
Practice exercises
4. A Grade 11 class has 45 students. The following records shows the
typical number of who were absent on a particular school day.

12/45 = 0.267 = 26.7 %

8/45 = 0.178 = 17.8 %

5/45 = 0.111 = 11.1 %

7/45 = 0.156 = 15.6 %

13/45 = 0.289 = 28.9 %

The TIGER BALLS:
Two balls are chosen randomly from an urn containing
8 white, 4 black, and 2 yellow balls. Suppose that we
win $2 for each black ball selected and we lose $1 for
each white ball selected. Let X denote our winnings.
What are the possible values of X, and what are the
probabilities associated with each value?
More Examples:
Two balls are chosen randomly The probability distribution
from an urn containing 8 white, is given by
4 black, and 2 yellow balls. X P(X)
Suppose that we win $2 for each
-2 0.308
black ball selected and we lose -1 0.176
$1 for each white ball selected. 0 0.011
Let X denote our winnings. +1 0.352
What are the possible values of +2 0.088
X, and what are the probabilities +4 0.066
associated with each value? P(x) = 1.000
SPINNING TIME
Let’s have an experiment on the
probability distribution of the
outcomes in spinning a spinner.

Refer to the link to go the

website
https://illuminations.nctm.org/
adjustablespinner/
for instructions.
SEATWORK
1. Distribution of Blood Types
Twenty-five army inductees were given a blood test to determine
their blood type. The data set is
A B B AB O
O O B AB B
B B O A O
A O O O AB
AB A O B A
Construct a probability distribution for the data. Express
probability in decimals (three decimal places).
Mean of Discrete
Random Variable
Probability Distribution
Mean

The expectation mean of a discrete distribution is the value

expected if trials of the distribution could continue indefinitely.
This is equal to each value multiplied by its discrete probability.
Probability Distribution
Mean
Illustrative Example
Mean
Rolling a die
Illustrative Example
Mean
x P(x) x  P(x)
Rolling a die
1 1/6 1/6
2 1/6 1/3
3 1/6 1/2
4 1/6 2/3
5 1/6 5/6
6 1/6 1
Mean = x  P(x) = 21/6 = 3.5
3.5
Illustrative Example
Mean
If three coins are tossed, find the mean of the number of heads that occur.
Illustrative Example
Mean
Tossing three coins

x P(x) x  P(x)

0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
2 3/8 3/4
3 1/8 3/8
Mean = x  P(x) = 12/8 = 1.5
1.5
Illustrative Example
Mean
Children in a Family
In a family with five children, find the mean of children who will be girls.
Illustrative Example
Mean
Children in a Family
Illustrative Example
Mean
Children in x P(x) x  P(x)
a Family
0 1/32 0
1 5/32 5/32

2 10/32 5/8

3 10/32 15/16

4 5/32 5/8

5 1/32 5/32

Mean = x  P(x) = 80/32 = 2.5

Variance &
standard Deviation
Probability Distribution
Variance and Standard Deviation

Alternative Formula:
Variance Standard Deviation
  ( x   )  P ( x)
2 2
  ( x   )  P ( x)
2
Illustrative Example
Variance and Standard Deviation
Rolling a die
x x2 P(x) xP(x) x2P(x)
1 1 1/6 1/6 1/6
2 4 1/6 1/3 2/3
3 9 1/6 1/2 3/2
4 16 1/6 2/3 8/3
5 25 1/6 5/6 25/6
6 36 1/6 1 6 2 = 2.92
= xP(x) = 3.5  x2P(x)= 15.17  = 1.71
Illustrative Example
Variance and Standard Deviation
Rolling a die
x P(x) x  P(x) x-m (x - m)2 (x - m)2p(x)

1 1/6 1/6 -2 1/2 6.25 1.042

2 1/6 1/3 -1 1/2 2.25 0.375
3 1/6 1/2 - 1/2 0.25 0.042
4 1/6 2/3 1/2 0.25 0.042
5 1/6 5/6 1 1/2 2.25 0.375
2 = 2.92
6 1/6 1 2 1/2 6.25 1.042
 = 1.71
 = 3.5
Individual Exercise:
1. Complete the following probability distribution if P(6) equals
two-thirds of P(4).
X 1 2 4 6 9
P(X) 0.23 0.18 0.345 0.23 0.015

2. Find  ,  2 and , and for the distribution.

X  3.485
 2  3.819
  1.954
cALCULATOR Exercise:
1. Find X ,  and  .2

X 3 5 10 8 12
P(X) 0.28 0.16 0.19 0.22 0.15

2. Find X ,  and  .2

X 24 31 18 7 36
P(X) 0.33 0.12 0.21 0.26 0.08