Random Variable: Prepared By: Prof. Julie E. Avila Mr. Ronel R. Alday

Random Variable
Prepared by:
Prof. JULIE E. AVILA Head, Senior High School

Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY Instructor, SLSU – Laboratory School
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

slsu_labschool@slsu.edu.ph (042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Recall: Experiment
A probability experiment is a chance process that leads to well - defined
outcomes or results.
Examples:
• Tossing a coin
• Rolling a die
• Randomly picking five cards from an ordinary deck of 52 cards
• Randomly picking a student from a class of 20 students.

Recall: Sample Space
A sample space is the set of all possible outcomes of a probability experiment.
Example:
1. Tossing a coin
{Head, Tail}
2. Rolling a die
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

More examples of Sample Space
3. Rolling two dice simultaneously
(1, 1) (1, 2) (1, 3) (1, 4) (1, 5) (1, 6)
(2, 1) (2, 2) (2, 3) (2, 4) (2, 5) (2, 6)
(3, 1) (3, 2) (3, 3) (3, 4) (3, 5) (3, 6)
(4, 1) (4, 2) (4, 3) (4, 4) (4, 5) (4, 6)
(5, 1) (5, 2) (5, 3) (5, 4) (5, 5) (5, 6)
(6, 1) (6, 2) (6, 3) (6, 4) (6, 5) (6, 6)

More examples of Sample Space
4. Tossing two coins simultaneously.
{𝐻𝐻, 𝐻𝑇, 𝑇𝐻, 𝑇𝑇}
Where:
𝐻 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑
𝑇 = 𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑙

Definition: Random Variable
A random variable is a function that associates a real number with each element
in the sample space. It is a variable whose values are determined by chance.
Example:
EXPERIMENT EXAMPLE OF RANDOM VARIABLE
1. Tossing four coins at the same time. Number of heads obtained
2. Rolling two dice at the same time. Sum of outcomes
3. Randomly picking three cards from an ordinary Number of hearts obtained

deck of 52 cards.

Discrete vs. Continuous
• A random variable is a discrete random variable if its set of possible outcomes
is countable.
Example:
➢Number of defective chairs produced in a factory
• A random variable is a continuous random variable if it takes on values on a
continuous scale.
➢Height
➢Temperature
NOTE: This lesson will focus on discrete random variable.

Example 1
Suppose that four coins are tossed. Let 𝑋 be the random variable representing
the number of heads that occur. Find the values of the random variable 𝑋.

Solution
List all the elements of the sample space of an experiment. Since the
experiment is tossing four coins, we have:
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 𝐻𝑇𝐻𝐻 𝑇𝐻𝐻𝐻 𝑇𝑇𝐻𝐻
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝑇 𝐻𝑇𝐻𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐻𝑇 𝑇𝑇𝐻𝑇
𝐻𝐻𝑇𝐻 𝐻𝑇𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝐻𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝐻
𝐻𝐻𝑇𝑇 𝐻𝑇𝑇𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝑇𝑇 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇
Where: 𝐻 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑 & 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑙

Solution
Associate each element of the sample space to number of heads (the random
variable 𝑋)
Possible outcomes Value of the Random
Variable 𝑋
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 4
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝑇 3
𝐻𝐻𝑇𝐻 3
𝐻𝐻𝑇𝑇 2
𝐻𝑇𝐻𝐻 3
𝐻𝑇𝐻𝑇 2
𝐻𝑇𝑇𝐻 2
𝐻𝑇𝑇𝑇 1

Solution
… continued
Possible outcomes Value of the Random
Variable 𝑋
𝑇𝐻𝐻𝐻 3
𝑇𝐻𝐻𝑇 2
𝑇𝐻𝑇𝐻 2
𝑇𝐻𝑇𝑇 1
𝑇𝑇𝐻𝐻 2
𝑇𝑇𝐻𝑇 1
𝑇𝑇𝑇𝐻 1
𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 0
The possible values of 𝑋 are 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Example 2
A family has three children. Let 𝑋 represent the number of boys. Determine the
values of the random variable 𝑋.

Solution
The elements of the sample space are listed at the first column and the value of
the random variable 𝑋 (number of boys) is at the second column.
Elements of the Sample Value of the Random Variable
Space 𝑋
𝐵𝐵𝐵 3
𝐵𝐵𝐺 2
𝐵𝐺𝐵 2
𝐵𝐺𝐺 1
𝐺𝐵𝐵 2
𝐺𝐵𝐺 1
𝐺𝐺𝐵 1
𝐺𝐺𝐺 0

Solution
The possible values of 𝑋 are 0, 1, 2, and 3.

Example 3
A box contains five equally sized balls numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Suppose
that someone is to randomly draw two balls in succession (without
replacement) from the box. Let 𝑋 be the sum of the two numbers drawn.
Determine the values of the random variable 𝑋.

Solution
Since we are to draw two balls in succession without replacement, whatever
ball is taken from first draw CANNOT be taken again in the second draw. Thus,
the elements of the sample space are:
1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5
2,1 2,3 2,4 2,5
3,1 3,2 3,4 3,5
4,1 4,2 4,3 4,5
5,1 5,2 5,3 5,4

Solution
Thus, we have the value of the random variable 𝑋 (sum of two numbers) for each element of
the sample space:
Elements of the Sample Space Value of the Random Variable
𝑋
1,2 3
2,1 3
3,1 4
4,1 5
5,1 6
1,3 4
2,3 5
3,2 5
4,2 6
5,2 7
Solution
… continued
𝑋
1,4 5
2,4 6
3,4 7
4,3 7
5,3 8
1,5 6
2,5 7
3,5 8
4,5 9
5,4 9

Solution
The possible values of 𝑋 are 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Example 4
A box contains five equally sized balls numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Suppose
that someone is to randomly draw two balls in succession (with replacement)
from the box. Let 𝑋 be the absolute difference of the two numbers drawn.
Determine the values of the random variable 𝑋.
NOTE: The absolute difference of two numbers 𝑎 & 𝑏 is |𝑎 − 𝑏|. For instance,
the absolute difference of 3 & 5 is 3 − 5 = −2 = 2.

Solution
Since we are to draw two balls in succession with replacement, whatever ball is
taken from first draw MAY still be taken again in the second draw. Thus, the
elements of the sample space are:
1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5
2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5
3,1 3,2 3,3 3,4 3,5
4,1 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,5
5,1 5,2 5,3 5,4 5,5

Solution
Thus, we have the value of the random variable 𝑋 (absolute difference of two numbers) for
each element of the sample space:
𝑋
1,1 0
2,1 1
3,1 2
4,1 3
5,1 4
1,2 1
2,2 0
3,2 1
4,2 2
5,2 3
Solution
… continued.
𝑋
1,3 2
2,3 1
3,3 0
4,3 1
5,3 2
1,4 3
2,4 2
3,4 1
4,4 0
5,4 1

Solution
… continued.

𝑋
1,5 4
2,5 3
3,5 2
4,5 1
5,5 0
The possible values of 𝑋 are 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.


Random Variable: Prepared By: Prof. Julie E. Avila Mr. Ronel R. Alday

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Random Variable: Prepared By: Prof. Julie E. Avila Mr. Ronel R. Alday

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Random Variable

Prof. JULIE E. AVILA Head, Senior High School

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(2, 1) (2, 2) (2, 3) (2, 4) (2, 5) (2, 6)

(3, 1) (3, 2) (3, 3) (3, 4) (3, 5) (3, 6)

(4, 1) (4, 2) (4, 3) (4, 4) (4, 5) (4, 6)

(5, 1) (5, 2) (5, 3) (5, 4) (5, 5) (5, 6)

(6, 1) (6, 2) (6, 3) (6, 4) (6, 5) (6, 6)

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

1. Tossing four coins at the same time. Number of heads obtained

2. Rolling two dice at the same time. Sum of outcomes

3. Randomly picking three cards from an ordinary Number of hearts obtained

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

𝐻𝐻𝐻𝑇 𝐻𝑇𝐻𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐻𝑇 𝑇𝑇𝐻𝑇

𝐻𝐻𝑇𝐻 𝐻𝑇𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝐻𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝐻

𝐻𝐻𝑇𝑇 𝐻𝑇𝑇𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝑇𝑇 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇

Where: 𝐻 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑 & 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑙

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

The possible values of 𝑋 are 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

2,1 2,3 2,4 2,5

3,1 3,2 3,4 3,5

4,1 4,2 4,3 4,5

5,1 5,2 5,3 5,4

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5

3,1 3,2 3,3 3,4 3,5

4,1 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,5

5,1 5,2 5,3 5,4 5,5

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

Elements of the Sample Space Value of the Random Variable

The possible values of 𝑋 are 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

You might also like