PACIFIC SOUTHBAY COLLEGE, INC.

PurokCarmenville, Brgy. Calumpang General Santos City

HUMSS
(Humanities and Social Sciences)

MODULE 5-6
2ND SEMESTER S.Y. 2021-2022

NAME: _______________________________________________
GRADE & SECTION: 11-Tesla
SUBJECT: Probability and Statistics
SUBJECT TEACHER: Aron Adarson Bago
 PACIFIC SOUTHBAY COLLEGE, INC
Purok Carmenville, Calumpang, General Santos City
HUMSS 11-Tesla
MODULE NO. 5-6
1st Term, 2nd Semester, SY 2020-2021

Descriptive Title : STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

Course Credit : 4 units
Class Schedule : Monday-Friday (Online and Modular)
Room : Google Classroom
Instructor : ARON ADARSON J. BAGO
Contact Details : arkaye1220@gmail.com

WEEK 5-6. Random Variables and Probability Distribution

Learning Objectives
1. To illustrate random variables.
2. To classify random variables as discrete or continuous.
3. To find the possible values of a random variable.
4. To illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its properties.
5. To compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable.
6. To construct probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its
corresponding histogram.

Discussion
Probability and statistics, the branches of mathematics concerned with the laws
governing random events, including the collection, analysis, interpretation, and display of
numerical data. Probability has its origin in the study of gambling and insurance in the 17th
century, and it is now an indispensable tool of both social and natural sciences. Statistics may
be said to have its origin in census counts taken thousands of years ago; as a distinct
scientific discipline, however, it was developed in the early 19th century as the study of
populations, economies, and moral actions and later in that century as the mathematical tool for
analyzing such numbers. 
You have learned in your previous lessons in mathematics that an experiment is any
activity which can be done repeatedly under similar conditions. The set of all possible outcomes
of an experiment is called sample space. You have also learned how to systematically list the
possible outcomes of a given experiment.
To find out if you are ready to learn this new lesson, do the following activity.
ENTRY CARD
List the sample space of the following experiments.
Experiment Sample Space
1. Tossing three coins
2. Rolling a die and tossing a coin
simultaneously
3. Drawing a spade from a deck of cards
4. Getting a defective item when two items
are randomly selected from a box of two
defective and three non – defective items.
5. Drawing a card greater than 7 from a deck
of cards.

Definition: A random variable is a function that associates a real number to each element in
the sample space. It is a variable whose values are determined by chance.

Example 1. Tossing Three Coins

Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing numbers of
tails that turn up. Find the values of the random variable Y.
Solution:

Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample space.
The sample space for this experiment is
Let H represent head and T
S = { TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HTH, THH, HHH}
represent tail.

Number of the
Possible Outcomes Random Variable Y
(Number of Tails)
TTT 3
2. Count the number of tails in
TTH 2
each outcome in the sample
THT 2
space and assign this number to
the outcome HTT 2
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
HHH 0
 So, the possible values of the random variable Y are 0, 1, 2, and 3.

Example 2. Drawing Balls from an Urn

Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an urn containing 5 red
balls and 6 blue balls. Let Z be the random variable representing the number of blue balls. Find
the values of the random variable Z

Solution:

Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample
space. Let B represent the The sample space for this experiment is
blue ball and R represent S = { RR, RB, BR, BB}
the red ball.
Number of the Random Variable
Possible
Y
2. Count the number of blue Outcomes
(Number of Tails)
balls in each outcome in the
RR 0
sample space and assign
this number to the outcome. RB 1
BR 1
BB 2

So, the possible values of the random variable Z are 0, 1, and 2.

The random variables in the preceding activities are called discrete random variables
because the set of possible outcomes is countable. Random variables Y and Z are discrete
random variables.

Suppose an experiment is conducted to determine the distance that a certain type of car
will travel using 10 liters of gasoline over a prescribed test course. If distance is a random
variable, then we have an infinite number of distances that cannot be equated to the number of
whole numbers. This is an example of a continuous random variable.

Definition: A random variable is a discrete random variable if its set of possible outcomes is
countable. Mostly, discrete random variables represent count data, such as the 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. Often, continuous random variables represent measured data, such as
height, weights, and temperatures.
Constructing Probability Distributions
In your previous study of mathematics, you have learned how to find the probability of an
event. In this lesson, you will learn how to construct a probability distribution of a discrete
random variable. Your knowledge of getting the probability of an event is very important in
understanding the present lesson. To find out if you are ready to learn this new lesson, do the
following activities.
ENTRY CARD
A. Find the probability of the following events.
Event (E) Probability P(E)
1. Getting an even number in a single roll of a die.
2. Getting a sum of 6 when two dice are rolled.
3. Getting an ace when card is drawn from a deck of
cards.
4. The probability that all children are boys if a
couple has three children.
5. Getting an odd number and a tail when a die is
rolled and a coin is tossed simultaneously.
6. Getting a sum of 11 when two dice are rolled.

B. For the given values of x, evaluate P(x).

4x 2 x−3
X P ( x) = P ( x) =
x +5 x +5
0
1
3
5
Decision making is an important aspect in business, education, insurance, and other real
– life situations. Many decisions are made by assigning probabilities to all possible outcomes
pertaining to the situation and then evaluating the results.
For instance, an insurance company might be able to assign possibilities to the number
of vehicles a family owns. This information will help the company in making decisions regarding
future financial situations. This situation requires the use of random variables and probability
distribution.
Example 3. Number of Tails
Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable representing the number
of tails that turn up. Find the probability of each of the values of the random variable Y.
Solution:
 Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample space. Let H The sample space for this experiment is:
represent head and T represent tail. S= {TTT, TTH, THT, HHT, HTH, THH, HHH}
2. Count the number of tails in each Number of the
Possible
outcome in the sample space and Random Variable Y
Outcomes
assign this number to the outcome. (Number of Tails)
TTT 3
TTH 2
THT 2
HTT 2
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
HHH 0

3. There are four possible values of the Number of Tails Y Probability P(Y)
random variable Y representing the 1
number of tails. These are 0, 1, 2, and 0
8
3. Assign probability values P(Y) to 3
each value of the random variable. 1
8
 There are 8 possible
3
outcomes and no tail occurs 2
once, so the probability that
8
we shall assign to the random 1
3
1 8
variable 0 is .
8
 There are 8 possible outcones
and 1 tail occurs three times,
so the probability that we shall
assign to the random variable
3
1 is .
8
 There are 8 possible
outcomes and 2 tails occur
three times, so the probability
that we shall s=assign to the
3
random variable 2 is .
8
 there are 8 possible outcomes
and 3 tails occur once, so the
probability that we shall assign
1
to the random variable is .
8
Table 1.1 Probability Distribution or Probability Mass Function of Discrete random Variable Y

Number of Tails Y 0 1 2 3

1 3 3 1
Probability P(Y)
8 8 8 8

Definition: A discrete probability distribution or a probability mass function consists of the values a
random variable can assume and the corresponding probabilities of the values.

Example 4. Number of Blue Balls

Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an urn containing 5 red
balls and 6 blue balls. Let Z be the random variable representing the number of blue balls.
Construct the probability distribution of the random variable Z.

Solution:

Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample space.
The sample space for this experiment is
Let B represent the blue ball
S = { RR, RB, BR, BB}
and R represent the red ball.
Number of the Random
Possible
Variable Y
2. Count the number of blue balls Outcomes
(Number of Tails)
in each outcome in the sample
RR 0
space and assign this number
to the outcome. RB 1
BR 1
BB 2
3. There are three possible values
of the random variable Z Number of Blue Balls
Probability P(Z)
representing the number of blue Z
balls. These are 0, 1, and 2.
Assign probability values P(Z) to
each value of the random 0 ¼
variable.

 There are 4 possible 1 ½

outcomes and no blue
 ball occurs once, so the
probability that we shall
assign to the random
1
variable 0 is .
4
 There are 4 possible
outcomes and 1 blue ball
occurs two times, so the
probability that we shall
assign to the random 2 ¼
2 1
variable 1 is ∨ .
4 2
 There are 4 possible
outcomes and 2 blue
balls occur once, so the
probability that we shall
assign to the random
1
variable 2 is .
4

Table 1.2 Probability Distribution or Probability Mass Function of Discrete random Variable Y

Number of Blue
0 1 2
Balls (Z)
1 1 1
Probability P(Z)
4 2 4

Can you make a histogram for this probability distribution? Remember that a histogram
is a bar graph. To construct a histogram for a probability distribution, follow these steps:
Step 1. Plot the values of the random variable along the horizontal axis.
Step 2. Plot the probabilities along the vertical axis.
 Figure 1.1 Histogram for the Probability Distribution of the Discrete Random Variable Z

0.6

0.5

0.4
Probability P(Z)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 Number of Bue1Balls (Z) 2
Number of Blue Balls (Z)

Example 5. Number of Defective Cell Phones

Suppose three cell phones are tested at random. Let D represent the defective cell
phone and let N represent the non – defective cell phone. If we let X be the random variable for
the number of defective cell phones, construct the probability distribution of the random variable
x.
Solution:

Steps Solution
1. Determine the sample space.
The sample space for this experiment is
Let D represent the defective
S = { NNN, NND, NDN, DNN, NDD, DND, DDN,
cell phone and N represent the
DDD}
non – defective cell phone.
Number of the Random
Variable X
Possible Outcomes
(Number of Defective
Cell Phones)
2. Count the number of defective NNN 0
cell phones in each outcome in NND 1
the sample space and assign NDN 1
this number to the outcome. DNN 1
NDD 2
DND 2
DDN 2
DDD 3
3. There are four possible values Number of Defective
of the random variable X Probability P(X)
Cell Phones X
representing the number of
defective cell phones. These
 are 0, 1, 2, 3. Assign probability
value P(X) to each value of the
random variable.
 There are 8 possible
outcomes and no
defective cell phone
occurs once, so the
probability that we shall
assign to the random
variable 0 is 1/8.
 There are 8 possible
outcomes and 1
defective cell phones 1
0
occurs three times, so 8
the probability that we 3
shall assign to the 1
8
random variable 1 is
1/8.
3
2
 There are 8 possible 8
outcomes and 2 1
3
defective cell phones 8
occur three times, so
the probability that we
shall assign to the
random variable 2 is
3/8.
 There are 8 possible
outcomes and 3
defective cell phones
occur once, so the
probability that we shall
assign to the random
variable is 1/8.

Table 1.3 Probability Distribution or Probability Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable X

Number of Tails Y 0 1 2 3

1 3 3 1
Probability P(Y)
8 8 8 8

Figure 1.2 The Histogram for the Probability Distribution of the Discrete Random Variable X
 0.4

0.35

0.3
Probability P(X)

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
Number of Bue Balls (Z)
1 2 3 4
Number of Defective Cell Phones (X)
Number of Blue Balls (Z)

Properties of a Probability Distribution

1. The probability of each value of the random variable must be between or equal to 0 and 1.
In symbol, we write it as 0 ≤ P ( X ) ≤ 1.
2. The sum of the probabilities of all values of the random variable must be equal to 1. In
symbol, we write it as ∑ P ( X )=1.
Learning Exercise / Activities
I. Classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.
a. The number of defective computers produced by a manufacturer
b. The weight of newborns each year in a hospital
c. The number of siblings in a family of a region
d. The speed of a car
e. The amount of sugar in a cup of coffee
II. Determine whether the given values can serve as the values of a probability
distribution of the random variable X that can take on only the values 1, 2, and 3.
Explain your answer.
a. P(1) = 0.08, P(2) = 0.12, P(3) = 1.03
b. P(1) = 10/33, P(2) = 01/3, P(3) = 12/33
c. P(1) = 0.42, P(2) = 0.31, P(3) = 0.37
d. P(1) = 9/14, P(2) = 4/14, P(3) = 1/14

III. Construct the probability distribution for the random variables described in each of
the following situations. Draw the corresponding histogram for each probability
distribution.

a. Four coins are tossed. Let Z be the random variable representing the number of
heads that turn up. Find the values of the random variable Z.
Value of the Random
P(Z)
Variable (Z)

Value of the Random

Probability P(X)
Variable X