11

STATISTICS
AND
PROBABILITY
Quarter 3 – Week 1
LAS 1.1 - Illustrates a random variable (discrete and
continuous).

LAS 1.2 - Distinguishes between a discrete and a continuous

random variable.

LAS 1.3 - Possible values of a random variable

LAS 1.4 - Probability distribution for a discrete random variable

and its properties

Development Team

Writer
HENNER JASON C. BREVA
T-I

Editor
REYNALDO C. CAÑEZO, JR.
MT-1, Subject Group Head, ABM/Math Group

Reviewer
DR. DIOLETA B. BORAIS
EPS 1, Mathematics
 Department of Education
Region V (Bicol)
Schools Division Office
TABACO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Tabaco City

Name of Student: ______________________________________________ Grade & Section: _____________

Learning Area: Statistics and Probability 11
Date: Week No. 1 (LAS 1.1)

RANDOM VARIABLE

Objective

At the end of this Learning Activity Sheet, the learner must be able to illustrate a random variable
(discrete and continuous).

Learning Activity

A random variable is a variable whose possible values are determined by chance. 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.
For example, a coin is tossed thrice. Let the variable X represent the number of heads that result from
this experiment.

1st toss 2nd toss 3rd toss Final Number of

Outcome Heads (X)

H HHH 3
H
T HHT 2
H
H HTH 2
T
T HTT 1

H THH 2
H
T THT 1
T
H TTH 1
T
T TTT 0
In the illustration above, random variable is represented by the uppercase X. This is an example of a
discrete random variable because the set of possible outcomes is countable.
 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 heights, weights, and temperatures.
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.

Practice Exercise

Classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.

1. The number of defective computers produced by a manufacturer
2. The weight of newborns each year in a hospital
3. The number of siblings in a family of a region
4. The amount of paint utilized in a building project
5. The number of dropouts in a school district for a period of 10 years
6. The speed of a car
7. The number of female athletes
8. The time needed to finish the test
9. The amount of sugar in a cup of coffee
10. The number of people who are playing LOTTO each day

Evaluation

1. How do you describe a discrete random variable?

2. How do you describe a continuous random variable?
3. Give 4 examples of discrete random variable.
4. Give 4 examples of continuous random variable.

References

[1] Jesus Mercado Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability, Phoenix Publishing House,
Inc., 2016.
[2[ Rene R. Belencina et. Al, Statistics and Probability, Rex Book Store
 Department of Education
Region V (Bicol)
Schools Division Office
TABACO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Tabaco City

Name of Student: ______________________________________________ Grade & Section: _____________

Learning Area: Statistics and Probability 11
Date: Week No. 1 (LAS 1.2)

RANDOM VARIABLE

Objective

At the end of this Learning Activity Sheet, the learner must be able to distinguish between a discrete
and a continuous random variable.

Learning Activity

A discrete random variable can only take a finite (countable) number of distinct values. These values
are exact and can be represented by nonnegative whole numbers.
The following are examples of discrete random variables.
1. Let X = number of students randomly selected to be interviewed by a researcher. This is a discrete
random variable because its possible values are 0, 1, or 2, and so on.
2. Let Y = number of left-handed teachers randomly selected in a faculty room. This is a discrete
random variable because its possible values are 0, 1, or 2, and so on.
3. Let Z = number of defective light bulbs among the randomly selected light bulbs. This is a discrete
random variable because the number of defective light bulbs, which Z can assume, are 0, 1, 2, and
so on.

A continuous random variable can assume an infinite number of values in an interval between two
specific values. This means they can assume values that can be represented not only by nonnegative whole
numbers but also by fractions and decimals. These values are often results of measurement.
The following are examples of continuous random variables.
1. Let Y = the weights in kilograms of randomly selected students. This is a continuous random
variable because its values can be between any two given weights. Also, weights are measured
using a weighing scale. The weight of a student for example can be 60.5 kg but due to limits of
measuring devices, the measurement is always an approximate. The weights of students can range
from 60 to 61 kg including all the decimal places that come between these two values.
2. Let X = the lengths in centimeters of randomly selected shoes of senior students. The lengths of
shoes of the students can be between any two given lengths. The values can be obtained by using
a measuring device, a ruler. Hence, the random variable Y is a continuous random variable.
3. Let Y = the heights of daisy plants in the backyard. This is a continuous random variable because
its possible values can be between any two given heights resulting from the use of a measuring
tool, a yardstick.

Practice Exercise

Determine if the random variable X or Y is discrete or continuous.

1. X = number of points scored in the last season by a randomly selected basketball player in the PBA
2. Y = the height in centimeter of a randomly selected student inside the library
3. X = number of birds in a nest
4. Y = the weights in kg of randomly selected dancers after taking up aerobics
5. Z = the hourly temperatures last Sunday
Evaluation

Classify the following random variables as discrete or continuous.

1. X = the number of mobile phones sold in one week in AB store
2. Y = the weights in pounds of newly born babies in a hospital nursery
3. X = the number of cars in a parking lot every noon
4. Y = the number of gifts received by a birthday celebrator
5. X = the length of time spent in playing video games in minutes
6. Y = the number of students enrolled in Grade 11 in your school
7. X = number of women randomly selected in a political rally
8. P = the number of points scored in a basketball game
9. Q = the number of employees in a call center who are Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates
10. P = the heights of varsity players in your school in meters

References

[1] Jesus Mercado Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability, Phoenix Publishing House,
Inc., 2016.
[2[ Rene R. Belencina et. Al, Statistics and Probability, Rex Book Store
 Department of Education
Region V (Bicol)
Schools Division Office
TABACO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Tabaco City

Name of Student: ______________________________________________ Grade & Section: _____________

Learning Area: Statistics and Probability 11
Date: Week No. 1 (LAS 1.3)

RANDOM VARIABLE

Objective
At the end of this Learning Activity Sheet, the learner must be able to find the possible values of a
random variable.

Learning Activity
Suppose three cellphones are tested at random. We want to find out the number of defective
cellphones that occur. Thus, to each outcome in the sample space we shall assign a value. These are 0, 1, 2,
or 3. If there is no defective cellphone, we assign the number 0; if there is one defective cellphone, we assign
the number 1; if there are two defective cellphones, we assign the number 2; and 3 if there are three defective
cellphones. The number of defective cellphones is a random variable. The possible values of this random
variable are 0, 1, 2, and 3.

Illustration:
Let D represent the defective cellphone and N represent the non-defective cellphone. The table below
shows the values of the random variable if we let X be the random variable representing the number of
defective cellphones.

Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable X

(number of defective cellphones)
NNN 0
NND 1
NDN 1
DNN 1
NDD 2
DND 2
DDN 2
DDD 3
So, the possible values of the random variable X are 0, 1, 2, and 3.

Note: The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment is called the sample space.
That is, S = {NNN, NND, NDN, DNN, NDD, DND, DDN, DDD}.

Practice Exercise
Suppose three coins are tossed. Let X be the random variable representing the number of tails that
occur. Find the possible values of the random variable X. Complete the table below. Use H to represent the
head and T to represent the tail.

Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable X

(number of tails)
Evaluation

Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an urn containing 5 red balls and 6 blue
balls. Let X be the random variable representing the number of blue balls. Find the possible values of the
random variable X. Use R to represent the red ball and B to represent the blue ball. Complete the table below.

Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable X

(number of blue balls)

References

[1] Jesus Mercado Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability, Phoenix Publishing House,
Inc., 2016.
[2[ Rene R. Belencina et. Al, Statistics and Probability, Rex Book Store
 Department of Education
Region V (Bicol)
Schools Division Office
TABACO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Tabaco City

Name of Student: ______________________________________________ Grade & Section: _____________

Learning Area: Statistics and Probability 11
Date: Week No. 1 (LAS 1.4)

RANDOM VARIABLE

Objective

At the end of this Learning Activity Sheet, the learner must be able to illustrate a probability distribution
for a discrete random variable and its properties.

Learning Activity

A listing of all possible values of a discrete random variable along with their corresponding probabilities
is called discrete probability distribution. The discrete probability distribution can be presented in tabular,
graphical or formula form.
The following properties must be satisfied before a distribution can be considered a discrete probability
distribution:
a. The probability of each value of s discrete random variable is between 0 and 1 inclusive.
0 ≤ P(x) ≤ 1
b. The sum of all the probabilities is 1.
∑ P( x) = 1
Example Consider the table below.

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

In the table, the random variable X assumes the values 0, 1, 2, and 3. The corresponding probabilities
of these values are 0.2, 0.3, 0.3, and 0.2, respectively. These corresponding probabilities are each less than 1
but greater than 0 and when added, the sum is 1. Therefore, the table illustrates a discrete probability
distribution.
∑ P( x) = 0.2 + 0.3 + 0.3 + 0.2
=1

Practice Exercise
Which of the following are discrete probability distributions? If it is not a discrete probability distribution,
identify the property or properties that are not satisfied.
1.
x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.10 0.20 0.25 0.40 0.05
2.
x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.05 0.25 0.33 0.28 0.08
3.
x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.08 0.25 0.34 0.31 0.04
4.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 1 3 1 1 3
10 10 5 4 10
5.
x 1 2 3 4 5
 P(x) 1 1 3 7 1
10 5 10 20 20

Evaluation
Which of the following are discrete probability distributions? If it is not a discrete probability distribution,
identify the property or properties that are not satisfied.
1.
x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.03 0.22 1.01 0.23 0.02
2.
x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.05 0.27 0.34 0.28 0.06
3.
x 2 3 4 5 6
P(x) 1 1 1 1 1
15 5 3 5 15
4.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 4 6 8 1 3
25 25 25 5 25
5.
x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 1 1 1 3 1
20 5 2 20 10

References

[1] Jesus Mercado Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability, Phoenix Publishing House,
Inc., 2016.
[2[ Rene R. Belencina et. Al, Statistics and Probability, Rex Book Store

---------- End of Week 1 ----------