LESSON 4 Mean, Variance, and Standard Deviation of a Discrete

Random Variable
Name: _______________________________ Date: ________________
Grade & Section: ___________________ Week: One
First Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
LEARNING OUTCOME(S): At the end of the lesson, the learner is able to:
a. Illustrate the mean, variance, and standard deviation of a discrete random variable; and
b. Calculate the mean, variance, and standard deviation of a discrete random variable.

The mean of a discrete random variable X is also called the expected value of X. It is the
weighted average of all the values that the random variable X would assume in the long run. The
discrete random variable X assumes vales or outcomes in every trial of an experiment with their
corresponding probabilities. The expected value of X is the average of the outcomes that is likely
to be obtained if the trials are repeated over and over again. The expected value of X is denoted
by E(X).
The mean or expected value of a discrete random variable X is computed using the
following formula:

E(X) = ∑ [ xP(x) ¿ ] ¿

Where X = discrete random variable

x = outcome or value of the random variable
P(x) = probability of the outcome x

Example 1 | A researcher surveyed the households in a small town. The random variable X
represents the number of college graduates in the households. The probability
distribution of X is shown below:

x 0 1 2
P(x) 0.25 0.50 0.25

Find the mean or expected value of X.

x P(x) xP(x)
0 0.25 0
1 0.50 0.50
2 0.25 0.50
∑ [ xP( x)¿ ]¿= 1.00
E(X) = ∑ [ xP( x) ¿ ]¿
= 1.00
The expected value is 1. So, the average number of college graduates in the
household of the small town is one.
Example 2 | A random variable X has this probability distribution:

x 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.10 0.20 0.45 0.25
Calculate the expected values.
Solution:

x P(x) xP(x)
1 0.10 0.10
2 0.20 0.40
3 0.45 1.35
4 0.25 1.00
∑ [ xP(x) ¿ ] ¿= 2.85
So, E(X) = 2.85
Example 3 | A security guard recorded the number of people entering the bank every hour
during one working day. The random variable X represents the number of people
who entered the bank. The probability distribution of X is shown below.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1
What is the expected number of people who enters the bank every hour?
Solution:

x P(x) xP(x)
0 0 0
1 0.1 0.1
2 0.2 0.4
3 0.4 1.2
4 0.2 0.8
5 0.1 0.5
∑ [ xP( x)¿ ]¿= 3.0
So, E(X) =3.0
Therefore, the average number of people entering the bank every hour during that
working day is three.
Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Random Variable
The variance of a random variable X is denoted σ 2. It can likewise be written as Var (X).
The variance of a random variable is the expected value of the square of the difference between
that assumed value of random variable and the mean. The variance of X is:

Var (X) = ∑ [( x−μ) ¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿

or σ 2= ∑ [( x−μ) ¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿
 where:
x = outcome
μ= population mean
P(x) = probability of the outcome
The larger the value of the variance, the farther are the values of X from the mean. The
variance is tricky to interpret since it uses the square of the unit of measure of X. So, it is easier
to interpret the value of the standard deviation because it uses the same unit of measure of X.
The standard deviation of a discrete random variable X is written as σ . It is the square
root of the variance. The standard deviation is computed as:

σ = √ ∑ [( x−μ)¿ ¿ 2 P(x)]¿

Example 4 | Determine the variance and the standard deviation of the following probability
mass function.
x P(x)
1 0.15
2 0.25
3 0.30
4 0.15
5 0.10
6 0.05
Solution |
Steps
1. Find the expected value.
2. Subtract the expected value from each outcome. Square each difference.
3. Multiply each difference by the corresponding probability.
4. Sum up all the figures obtained in Step 3.
x P(x) xP(x) x-μ ( x−μ)2 ( x−μ)2 P( x )
1 0.15 0.15 1-2.95= -1.95 3.8025 0.570375
2 0.25 0.50 2-2.95= -0.95 0.9025 0.225625
3 0.30 0.90 3-2.95= 0.05 0.0025 0.000750
4 0.15 0.60 4-2.95= 1.05 1.1025 0.165375
5 0.10 0.50 5-2.95= 2.05 4.2025 0.420250
6 0.05 0.30 6-2.95= 3.05 9.3025 0.4651125
∑ [ xP( x)¿ ]=2.95 ¿ ∑ [( x−μ)¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿ = 1.8475

Expected value Standard Deviation:

μ = ∑ [ xP(x) ¿ ] ¿ σ = √ ∑ [( x−μ)¿ ¿ 2 P(x)]¿
= 2.95
= √ 1.8475
Variance: = 1.359227 or 1.36
2
σ = ∑ [( x−μ) ¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿
= 1.8475 or 1.85
Example 5 | Determine the variance and the standard deviation of the following probability
mass function:

x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1

Solution:

x P(x) xP(x) x-μ ( x−μ)2 ( x−μ)2 P(x )

0 0.1 0 0 -2.1= -2.1 4.41 0.441

1 0.2 0.2 1 -2.1= -1.1 1.21 0.242
2 0.3 0.6 2 -2.1= -0.1 0.01 0.003
3 0.3 0.9 3 -2.1= 0.9 0.81 0.243
4 0.1 0.4 4 -2.1= 1.9 3.61 0.361
∑ [ xP( x)¿ ]=2.1 ¿ ∑ [( x−μ)¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿ = 1.29

Expected value Standard Deviation:

E (X) = ∑ [ xP( x) ¿ ]¿ σ = √ ∑ [( x−μ)¿ ¿ 2 P(x)]¿
= 2.1
= √ 1.29
Variance: = 1.14
2
σ = ∑ [( x−μ) ¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿
= 1.29
Alternative Method:
The variance of a discrete random variable can also be determined by subtracting the
square of its mean from the summation of the products of the squares of the outcomes and their
corresponding probabilities.
Hence, the following formula:
2
σ 2 =∑ [ x P ( x ) ] - ¿
Using Example 5,
x P(x) xP(x) x2 x 2 P(x)
0 0.1 0 0 0
1 0.2 0.2 1 0.2
2 0.3 0.6 4 1.2
3 0.3 0.9 9 2.7
4 0.1 0.4 16 1.6
2
∑ [ xP( x)¿ ]=2.1 ¿ ∑ [ x P ( x ) ] = 5.7
Variance:
2
σ 2 =∑ [ x P ( x ) ] - ¿
= 5.7 – (2.1)2
= 5.7 – 4.41
= 1.29
Standard Deviation
σ = √ 1.29 = 1.14
 Example 6 | A discrete random variable X has this probability distribution.

x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.12 0.25 0.18 0.35 0.10

Find the variance and the standard deviation of X.

Solution |

x P(x) xP(x) x-μ ( x−μ)2 ( x−μ)2 P(x )

0 0.12 0 0-2.06= -2.06 4.2436 0.509232

1 0.25 0.25 1-2.06= -1.06 1.1236 0.2809
2 0.18 0.36 2-2.06= -0.06 0.0036 0.000648
3 0.35 1.05 3-2.06= 0.94 0.8836 0.30926
4 0.10 0.40 4-2.06= 1.94 3.7636 0.37636
∑ [ xP(x)¿ ]=2.06 ¿ ∑ [( x−μ)¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿ = 1.4764
Standard Deviation:
Expected value
σ = √ ∑ [( x−μ)¿ ¿ 2 P(x)]¿
μ = ∑ [ xP(x) ¿ ] ¿
= √ 1.4764
= 2.06
= 1.2151 or 1.22
Variance:
σ 2= ∑ [( x−μ) ¿ ¿ 2 P( x)]¿
= 1.4764 or 1.48
Using the Alternative Method

x P(x) xP(x) x2 x 2 P(x)

0 0.12 0 0 0
1 0.25 0.25 1 0.25
2 0.18 0.36 4 0.72
3 0.35 1.05 9 3.15
4 0.10 0.40 16 1.60
2
∑ [ xP(x)¿ ]=2.06 ¿ ∑ [ x P ( x ) ] = 5.72
Expected value
μ = ∑ [ xP(x) ¿ ] ¿
= 2.06

Variance:
2
σ 2 =∑ [ x P ( x ) ] - ¿
= 5.72 – (2.06)2
= 5.72 – 4.2436
= 1.4764 or 1.48
Standard Deviation
σ = √ 1.4764 = 1.22
MODULE 1: LESSON 4
Name: _________________ Year & Section: _______________

Subject: ________________ Date: _______________________

A. DIRECTION: Find the expected value or the mean of each probability mass function
below. Show your solution.

1.

x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 0.15 0.32 0.37 0.16

2.

x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 0.17 0.33 0.36 0.14

3.

x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 0.20 0.30 0.32 0.18
B. DIRECTION: Find the mean, variance and standard deviation of each of the
following probability distribution. Show your table. Use the long method and alternative
method.

1.

x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.09 0.19 0.39 0.22 0.11
2.

x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.10 0.41 0.19 0.15 0.110 0.05
 LESSON 5 Applied Problems Involving the Mean and the
Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution
Name: _______________________________ Date: ________________
Grade & Section: ___________________ Week: One
First Semester S.Y. 2020-2021

LEARNING OUTCOME(S): At the end of the lesson, the learner is able to:
a. Interpret the mean and the variance of a discrete random variable; and
b. Solve problems involving mean and variance of probability distributions.
The mean or expected value of a probability distribution tells the value of a random
variable that we expect to get if the experiment is done repeatedly. In other words, if the
experiment or process is repeated long enough, there is likelihood or chance that the average of
the outcomes will begin to approach the expected value or the mean value.
The standard deviation of a probability distribution indicates how far, on the average, is
an observed value of a random variable X from its mean. The smaller the standard deviation, the
more likely that an observed value of the random variable will be close to its mean
Use the concepts to solve the problems involving the mean and the variance of
probability distribution as in the examples that follow
Example 1:
The following data show the probability distribution of the number of computers sold
daily in a computer shop during the past several months.

Number of Computers X Probability P(X)

0 0.10
1 0.20
2 0.45
3 0.15
4 0.05
5 0.05

Questions
1. What is the probability that on a given day ---
a. Fewer than three computers will be sold?
b. At most, two computers will be sold?
c. At least, four computers will be sold?
d. Exactly three computers will be sold?
Solution
1. To find the probabilities –
a. To find the probability that fewer than three computers will be sold, use
X = 0,1, and 2.
P(X <3) = P(0) + P(1)+ P(2)
= 0.10 + 0.20 + 0.45
= 0.75
 b. To find the probability that , at most, two computers will be sold, use X=0,1, and 2.

P (X ≤2) = P(0) + P(1)+ P(2)

= 0.10 + 0.20 + 0.45
= 0.75
c. To find the probability that, at least, four computers will be sold, use X=4 and 5

P(X ≥4) = P(4) + P(5)

= 0.05 +0.05
= 0.10
d. To find the probability that exactly three computers will be sold, use X=3
P(X=3) = 0.15

2. The mean of the probability distribution is computed as follows:

X P(X) X.P(X)
0 0.10 0.00
1 0.20 0.20
2 0.45 0.90
3 0.15 0.45
4 0.05 0.20
5 0.05 0.25

μ = ∑ [ xP(x) ¿ ] ¿
= 0.00 + 0.20 + 0.90 + 0.45 + 0.20 + 0.25
= 2.00
The mean of the probability distribution is 2. This implies that in the long run, we
expect that the average number of computers that will be sold on a given day will be
two.
3. The standard deviation is computed as follows:

X P(X) X2 X 2 . P(X)
0 0.10 0 0.00
1 0.20 1 0.20
2 0.45 4 1.80
3 0.15 9 1.35
4 0.05 16 0.80
5 0.05 25 1.25

Variance:
2
σ 2 =∑ [ x P ( x ) ] - ¿
= 5.40 – (2.)2
= 5.40 – 4
= 1.40
Standard Deviation
σ = √ 1.40 = 1.18
MODULE 1: LESSON 5
Name: _________________ Year & Section: _______________

Subject: ________________ Date: _______________________

A. DIRECTION: Find the following.

In a convenient store, the number of tellers (X) busy with customers at 12:00 noon varies
from day to day. Past records indicate that the probability distribution of X is as follows:
Number of Tellers X Probability P(X)
0 0.029
1 0.049
2 0.078
3 0.155
4 0.212
5 0.262
6 0.215

Questions
1. What is the probability that exactly four tellers are busy at 12:00 noon?
2. What is the probability that, at least, two tellers are busy at 12:00 noon?
3. What is the probability that fewer than five tellers are busy at 12:00 noon?
4. What is the probability that at least two, but fewer than fives tellers are busy at 12:00
noon?
5. What is the mean of the probability distributions?
6. What is the standard deviation of the probability distributions?

Sources: Next Century Mathematics (Statistics and Probability)

Jesus P. Mercado, Fernando B. Briones
Conceptual Math and Beyond General Mathematics
Jose M. Ocampo, Jr., Ph.D
Wilmer G. Marquez, M.A.

Prepared and Compiled by:

GINREY E. DACER
Teacher

Checked by:

ROMALYN V. CABABAT
School Principal

Approved by:
LEA S. LONTOC, Ed. D.
School President/ Director