Schools Division of Camarines Sur

San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET No.1

Illustrating and Distinguishing Random Variables (Discrete and Continuous)
Week 1
Name of Student:_______________________________________________________
Learning Area: STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY Grade Level:_______________
Section: ______________________________________ Date:____________________

I. Introductory Concept

Variables can be broadly classified as either quantitative or

qualitative, with the former further classified into discrete and continuous
types. It is a must for you to understand random variables in such a way that it
would be beneficial to the succeeding topics where probability is involved.
This activity sheet will help you understand how discrete and continuous
random variables differ from each other.

II. Learning Skills from the MELCs

After going through this activity sheet, you are expected to illustrate
a random variable (discrete and continuous) (M11/12SP-IIIa-1); and distinguish
between a discrete and continuous random variable. (M11/12SP-IIIa-2)

III. Activities

Suppose you and your friend were tasked

to flip a 5-Peso coin once and whoever wins will
do a certain task. You choose tail over a head.
As you can see from the figure at the right,
a tail and a head are random events to happen
once you flip a 5-Peso coin. The possible value
to substitute for a head is 0 (zero) since you did
not select it while 1 (one) for a tail because you
chose it. For these possible values or outcomes
to occur, a random variable (let say X) can be
your best representation.
Recall that a variable is a characteristic that can assume different
values. We use capital letters to denote or represent a variable. In this lesson,
this variable is called random variable since it is associated with probabilities.

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In other words, it is a variable which contains the outcomes of a chance
experiment.
If you will represent T for tail and H for the head in the previous task
and let X as your random variable representing the number of tails to occur
after flipping a 5-peso coin once, the table below will show you how to
illustrate this discrete random variable.
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable X(Number of tail)
H 0
T 1
Therefore, the two possible values for a random variable X are 0 and 1.
It is denoted as X= { 0, 1} with sample space of S= { H, T }.
On the other hand, there are instances that we cannot count values as
a whole but rather we take all considerations to some values in between
them, such as fractional or decimal values. In this case, a continuous random
variable is made. Observe the illustration given below showing the average
speed of a car in a day.
Speed of a car: 55.7 km/h  there exists a
valid value in
55 km/h (55.7) 56 km/h between
them

To further give you clear understanding on how to illustrate discrete

and continuous random variable, let’s analyze these examples:
 number of students
It illustrates an exact There are infinite
and countable in the campus number of possible
value, therefore it is  the weight or values, thus it illustrates
discrete random height of the students continuous random
variable. variable.

ACTIVITY 1: TRANSFER ME CORRECTLY!

Suppose two coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable

representing the number of heads (H) that occur. The sample space (S) is
provided for you to transfer each element on the possible outcomes column
correctly as to the given value of number of heads.
Sample Space: S= { HH, HT, TH, TT)
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y
(Number of heads)
1._______ 1
2._______ 2
3._______ 0
4._______ 1
5. Thus, the possible values for random
variable Y are ( ____, ____ and ____).

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 ACTIVITY 2: PLEASE COMPLETE ME!

Suppose three batteries are tested at random. We want to find out the
number of defective batteries that occur. Let D represent the defective
batteries and N represent the non-defective batteries. Find the values of the
random variable X for the number of defective batteries. Complete the table
and fill in the blanks for the conclusion in number 5.

Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable X

(Number of defective batteries)
DDD 3
DDN 1. ________
2._______ 2
NDD 2
DNN 3._________
NDN 1
4.______ 1
NNN 0
5. Therefore, the possible values for random
variable X are ( ____, ____,____ and ____).

You did great! Now, let us proceed to another interesting activity

wherein you will know how to distinguish discrete and continuous random
variables from each other. But before that, let us understand first how they
differ from each other.

Random Variable

TYPES

Discrete Random Variable Continuous Random Variable

-It is a random variable that only
takes on countable (finite) distinct
values such as 0,1,2,3…
Examples:
 Number of children in the
family
 Attendance for the day
-It is a random variable that takes
on infinite values by increasing
precision. For each two values,
there exists a valid value in
between them.
Examples:
 Height of trees
 Volume of tanks

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 ACTIVITY 3: WHERE DO I BELONG?

Classify the following random variables as DISCRETE or CONTINUOUS.

Write D for discrete random variable and C for continuous random variable.
Write your answer on the blank provided before each number.
_____1. The number of patients a doctor sees in one day
_____2. Number of times you check your watch during class
_____3. The speed of the car passes on a road every Friday night
_____4. The amount of paint utilized in painting your fence in a day
_____5. The weight of newborn rabbits each month

IV. Rubric for Scoring

ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 2 ACTIVITY 3

1 point for every Correct Answer

V. Answer Key

ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 2 ACTIVITY 3

1. HT or TH 1. 2 1. D
2. HH 2. DND 2. D
3. TT 3. 1 3. C
4. HT or TH 4. NND 4. C
5. Thus, the possible values 5. Therefore, the possible values 5. C
for random variable Y are for random variable X are ( 0,1, 2
( 0,1 and 2). and 3).

VI. References
Belecina, Rene R. et. al (2016). Statistics and Probability.(pp. 1-8)
Bluman. Elementary Statistics: A Step by Step Approach, 8th Edition (p.6)
https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+cartoon+teachers&rlz=1C
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DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

WRITER : PATERNO P. MAPULA, JR. – Bolo Norte HS
MANAGEMENT TEAM/ REVIEWERS: JHOMAR B. JARAVATA- Bula NHS
SONIA V. MORAL- Colacling NHS
Editor : JUMAR R. VELASCO- RSMOHS
Lay-out Artist : JHOMAR B. JARAVATA- Bula NHS
Illustrator : PATERNO P. MAPULA, JR. – Bolo Norte HS
Validators : DAVID V. ORTIOLA-Laganac HS
FROILAN R. DOBLON – San Fernando NHS
JOHN EMMANUEL R. IBE- Magarao NHS
ROGEL JOHN O. NAVAL-Sta. Cruz NHS