Name: Grade & Section: Score:

School: Teacher: Subject: Statistics & Probability

LAS Writer: JANRIE M. RAGUINE, MAT Content Editor: JOHANNAH Y. ACHURRA
Lesson Topic: Solving Problems Involving Mean And Variance Of Discrete Random Variable
(Q3 – Wk. 3, LAS 1)
Learning Targets: Solve problems involving mean and variance of a discrete random variable; and (M11/12SP–IIIb–2)
Interpret the mean and variance of a discrete random variable. (M11/12SP–IIIb–3)
Reference(s): Walpole, R. and Myers, R., 1993. Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists. 5th ed. New
York: Macmillan Publishing Company, pp.49-56.

SOLVING PROBLEMS INVOLVING MEAN AND VARIANCE OF DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE

To find the mean (𝜇) or the expected value E(X) of a discrete probability distribution, we use the following formula:
where:
𝜇 = E(X) 𝑋 – value of the random variable
= 𝑋1 . P(𝑋1 ) + 𝑋2 . P(𝑋2 ) + 𝑋3 . P(𝑋3 ) + … + 𝑋𝑛 . P(𝑋𝑛 ) P(𝑋) – probability of the random variable 𝑋
= ∑[𝑋. P(𝑋)]
𝜇 – mean of the probability distribution
To find the variance (𝜎 2 ) and the standard deviation (𝜎) of a discrete probability distribution, we use the following
formulas:
Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution Standard Deviation of a Discrete Probability
- the variance of a discrete probability Distribution
distribution is given by the formula: - the standard deviation of a discrete probability
𝜎 2 = ∑[(𝑋 − μ)2 . P(𝑋)] distribution is given by the formula:
where: 𝜎 = √ ∑[(𝑋 − μ)2 . P(𝑋)]
𝑋 – value of the random variable Steps in finding the Variance and Standard Deviation:
P(𝑋) – probability of the random variable 𝑋 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
𝜇 – mean of the probability distribution 2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4. The result is the value of the variance.
6. Get the square of the variance to get the standard deviation.
Example:
The random variable X, representing the number of nuts in a chocolate bar has the following probability
distribution. Compute the mean, variance and standard deviation and interpret the results.
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 1/10 2/10 3/10 3/10 1/10
Solution:
To find for the standard deviation,
Following the steps in finding the variance and standard deviation
square the variance. That is:
of a discrete probability distribution, the following table will be made.
𝑋 P(𝑋) 𝑋 . P(𝑋) 𝑋−𝜇 (𝑋 − 𝜇)2 (𝑋 − 𝜇)2 . P(𝑋) 𝜎 = √ ∑[(𝑋 − μ)2 . P(𝑋)]
0 1/10 0 −2.10 4.41 0.441 = √ 1.29
1 2/10 2/10 −1.10 1.21 0.242 𝜎 = 1.14
2 3/10 6/10 −0.10 0.01 0.003 This means that for every chocolate bar,
3 3/10 9/10 −0.90 0.81 0.243
the number of nuts is in average of 2.10. The
variance is 1.29 and the standard deviation is
4 1/10 4/10 −1.90 3.61 0.361
2
1.14. This means that the data points are very
𝜇 = 2.10 𝜎 = 1.29 spread out from the mean, and from each
other.
Activity:
Solve the following problems.
1. The number of cars sold per day at a local car dealership, along with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in
the succeeding table. Compute the mean, variance and the standard deviation of the probability distribution by
following the given steps. Interpret the results.
X 0 1 2 3 4
P(X) 1/10 2/10 3/10 2/10 2/10
2. The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding probabilities, is shown in the table. Find
the mean, variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution. Interpret the results.
X 19 20 21 22 23
P(X) 0.20 0.20 0.30 0.20 0.10