Discrete Probability

Distributions

1
Discrete Probability Distribution
Uniform Distribution
Binomial Distribution
Negative Binomial Distribution
Geometric Distribution
Multinomial Distribution
Hypergeometric Distribution
Multivariate Hypergeometric Distribution
Poisson Distribution

2
Uniform Distribution
The simplest of all discrete probability distributions is one where the
random variable assumes each of its values with an equal probability

1
𝑓 𝑥; 𝑎, 𝑏 =
𝑏−𝑎+1
Where 𝑥 = 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , 𝑥3

Mean and Variance

σ𝑘
𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖 σ𝑘
𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖 −μ
2
μ= σ2 =
𝑘 𝑘

3
Sample Problem
Mang Kepweng Chicken Farm can produce eggs at a rate of 120 to 230
eggs a day. What is the probability of being able to give out 180 eggs
to the market at the same day?

4
Binomial Experiment
An experiment often consists of repeated trials, each with two possible
outcomes that may be labeled success or failure, is called a Bernoulli
Process

Properties of a Bernoulli Process (Binomial Experiment):

Consists of n repeated trials
Each trial results in an outcome that may be classified as a success or failure
The probability of success (𝑝) remains constant from trial to trial
Repeated trials are independent

5
Binomial Distribution
The number X of successes in n Bernoulli trials is called a binomial
random variable. The probability distribution of this discrete random
variable is called the binomial distribution.

𝑏 𝑥; 𝑛, 𝑝 = 𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑞 𝑛−𝑥
𝑛 𝐶𝑥 𝑝
Where:
𝑛 − 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠
𝑝 − 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑞 − 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙
Mean and Variance
μ = 𝑛𝑝 σ2 = 𝑛𝑝𝑞

6
Sample Problem
John plans to toss a die until he observes two even numbers. What is
the chance of having 2 even numbers after tossing the die 5 times.

Answer:
𝑃 𝑋 = 2 = 𝑏 2; 5,0.5

7
Binomial Distribution
Binomial Sum
The binomial sum is the same as getting the probability of multiple events (at
most, or at least).
𝑟

𝑃 𝑋 ≤ 𝑟 = 𝐵 𝑟; 𝑛, 𝑝 = ෍ 𝑏(𝑥; 𝑛, 𝑝)
𝑥

8
Sample Problem
The probability that a dog escapes from its cage is 0.6. If 12 dogs are
inside the cage, what is the probability that at least 8 dogs escape?

Answer:
𝑃 𝑋 ≥ 8 = 1 − 𝑃 𝑋 < 8 = 1 − 𝐵 8; 12,0.6

9
Negative Binomial Experiment
Similar to binomial distribution where the Bernoulli trials are repeated
until a fixed number of successes occurs.

Gives the probability that the kth success occurs on the xth trial.

10
Negative Binomial Distribution
The number X of trials to produce k successes in a negative binomial
experiment is called a negative binomial random variable, and its
probability distribution is called the negative binomial distribution.

𝑏 ∗ 𝑥; 𝑘, 𝑝 = 𝑥−1 𝐶𝑘−1 𝑝
𝑘 𝑞 𝑥−𝑘

Where:
𝑥 = 𝑘, 𝑘 + 1, 𝑘 + 2
Mean and Variance
𝑘𝑝 𝑘𝑝
μ= σ2 =
𝑞 𝑞2

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Negative Binomial Distribution
Geometric Distribution
A special case of negative binomial where 𝑘 = 1
The distribution for the number of trials required for a single success (1st
success on the xth trial).

𝑔 𝑥, 𝑝 = 𝑝𝑞 𝑥−1

Where: 𝑥 = 1, 2, 3

13
Multinomial Distribution
If there are more than 2 possible outcomes, the binomial experiment
becomes a multinomial experiment.

𝑛!
𝑓 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑘 ; 𝑝1 , 𝑝2 , … , 𝑝𝑘 = (𝑝1 )𝑥1 (𝑝2 )𝑥2 … (𝑝𝑘 )𝑥𝑘
𝑥1 ! 𝑥2 ! … 𝑥𝑘 !

Where:
1 = σ𝑘𝑖=1 𝑝𝑖 𝑛 = σ𝑘𝑖=1 𝑥1

15
Sample Problem
In a certain town, 40% of the eligible voters prefer candidate A, 10%
prefer candidate B, and the remaining 50% have no preference. What
is the probability that 4 will prefer candidate A, 1 will prefer candidate
B, and the remaining 5 will have no preference?

Answer:
𝑓 4,1,5; 0.4,0.1,0.5

16
Hypergeometric Experiment
Similar to binomial distribution, it is a distribution that does not
require independence and is based on the sampling done without
replacement.

Properties of a hypergeometric distribution:

A random sample of size 𝑛 is selected from a lot/population of 𝑁 items
𝑘 of the 𝑁 items may be classified as success and 𝑁 − 𝑘 are classified as
failures.

18
Hypergeometric Distribution
The probability of selecting 𝑥 successes from the 𝑋 items labeled
successes and 𝑛 − 𝑥 failures from the 𝑁 − 𝑘 items labeled failures
when a random sample of size 𝑛 is selected from 𝑁 items.

𝑘 𝐶𝑥 𝑁−𝑘 𝐶𝑛−𝑥
ℎ 𝑥; 𝑁, 𝑛, 𝑘 =
𝑁 𝐶𝑛

Mean and Variance

𝑘
𝑛𝑘 𝑛𝑘(𝑁−𝑛)(1− )
μ= = 𝑛𝑝 σ2 = 𝑁
𝑁 𝑁(𝑁−1)

19
Sample Problem
In a ball bin there are exactly 5 basketballs and 3 volleyballs. You are
tasked to pull out 4 random balls. What are the odds of pulling all 3
volleyballs?

Answer:
ℎ 3; 8,4,3

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Hypergeometric Distribution
Multivariate Hypergeometric Distribution
If N items can be partitioned into the A cells, 𝐴1, 𝐴2, … 𝐴𝑘 with a1, a2, …, ak
𝑘

Hypergeometric elements, respectively, then the probability distribution of

the random variables 𝑋1, 𝑋2, … , 𝑋𝑘 representing the number of elements
selected from 𝐴1, 𝐴2, … 𝐴𝑘 in a random sample of size 𝑛, is
𝑘

𝑎1 𝐶𝑥1 𝑎2 𝐶𝑥2 … 𝑎𝑘 𝐶𝑥𝑘

𝑓 𝑥1, 𝑥2, … , 𝑥𝑘; 𝑎1, 𝑎2, … , 𝑎𝑘; 𝑁, 𝑛 =
𝑁 𝐶𝑛

21
Sample Problem
18 individuals are playing “The Boat is Sinking”. The group contains 9
kids, 6 teens, and 3 adults. What is the probability that a random group
of 9 will contain 5 kids, 3 teens and 1 adult?

22
Poisson Experiment
Experiments yielding numerical values of a random variable X, the
number of outcomes occurring during a given time interval or in a
specified region, are called Poisson experiments.

23
Poisson Distribution
The number X of outcomes occurring during a Poisson experiment is
called a Poisson random variable, and its probability distribution is
called the Poisson distribution.

𝑒 −μ μ𝑥
𝑝 𝑥; μ =
𝑥!
Where:
μ − 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

24
Sample Problem
The average number of shoes sold by sole academy is 15 shoes per
day. What is the probability that exactly 20 shoes will be sold
tomorrow?

Answer:
𝑝 20; 15

25
Poisson Distribution
Poisson Sum
Same as Binomial Sum but for Poisson Distribution.

𝑃 𝑋 ≤ 𝑟 = 𝑃 𝑟; μ = ෍ 𝑝(𝑟; μ)
𝑥=0

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