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Math 11 SP LAS 7 02 18 2021
Math 11 SP LAS 7 02 18 2021
Activity Sheets
Quarter 3 – MELC 7
Calculating the Mean and the
Variance of a Discrete Random
Variable
11
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The Statistics and Probability for Senior High School will help you
facilitate the teaching-learning activities specified in each Most Essential
Learning Competency (MELC) with minimal or no face-to-face encounter
between you and learner. This will be made available to the learners with the
references/links to ease the independent learning.
Based on the above situation, what does average mean? Does it mean
that every day a person consumes exactly 325.5 grams of milled rice? How is
the rice consumption by different persons vary from each other? This gives
rise to a new concept in probability and statistics. This is the mean and the
variability is the variance in probability and statistics.
Let’s take a look at the following examples on how to find the mean
and variance of the probability distribution.
Example 1: Your friend Joe likes to roll a die. As usual, the probability of
getting a1 is the same as the other number in the die. In the previous
activity, we have illustrated the mean for the experiment. Now, let us
follow the steps in finding the mean of a discrete random variable.
Steps Solution
1. Construct the probability
distribution for the Number X Probability P(X)
random variable X 1
representing the number 1
6
that would appear. 1
2
6
1
3
6
1
4
6
1
5
6
1
6
6
2. Multiply the value of the
random variable X by the Probability
corresponding probability Number X X ∙ P(X)
P(X)
P(X). 1 1
1
6 6
1 2
2
6 6
1 3
3
6 6
1 4
4
6 6
1 5
5
6 6
1 6
6
6 6
3. Add the results obtained 1 2 3 4 5 6 21
+ + + + + = = 3.5
in Step 2. (third column) 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
∑ X ∙ P(X ) = 3.5
Example 2: USWAG Community Kitchen
Solution:
Steps Solution
1. Construct the probability
distribution for the Number of Probability
random variable X Food Packs X P(X)
representing the number 40 0.26
that would appear. 45 0.24
50 0.18
55 0.22
60 0.10
2. Multiply the value of the
random variable X by the Number
corresponding probability Probability
of Food X ∙ P(X)
P(X). P(X)
Packs X
40 0.26 10.40
45 0.24 10.80
50 0.18 9.00
55 0.22 12.10
60 0.10 6.00
3. Add the results obtained 10.40 +10.80 + 9.00 + 12.10 + 6.00 =
in Step 2. (third column) 48.30
∑ X ∙ P( X ) = 48.30
From the above examples, we come up with the formula for the mean
of the probability distribution.
μ = X 1 ∙ P ( X 1) + X 2 ∙ P ( X 2 ) + X 3 ∙ P ( X 3 ) +. . . ,+ X n ∙ P ( X n ) or
μ = ∑ X ∙ P( X )
The number of persons infected per day in a barangay, along with its
corresponding probabilities is shown in the table below. Compute the variance
and the standard deviation of the probability distribution.
Solution:
Steps Solution
1. Find the mean of the Number
probability distribution using of
Probability
the formula μ=∑ X ∙ P( X) . Persons X ∙ P(X)
P(X)
Infected
X
1
0 0
5
3 3
1
10 10
1 2
2
10 10
1 3
3
10 10
1 4
4
5 5
1 5
5
10 10
21
μ=∑ X ∙ P( X) = = 2.1
10
2. Subtract the mean from each X μ X-μ
value of the random variable 0 2.1 0 – 2.1 = - 2.1
X. 1 2.1 1 – 2.1 = - 1.1
2 2.1 2 – 2.1 = - 0.1
3 2.1 3 – 2.1 = 0.9
4 2.1 4 – 2.1 = 1.9
5 2.1 5 - 2.1 = 2.9
where:
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
μ = mean of the probability distribution
The variance and standard deviation can be obtained also using an
alternative formula.
Using the same data in the previous example, we will find the variance
and standard deviation using the alternative formula.
Steps Solution
1. Find the mean of the probability Number Probability
distribution using the formula of P(X)
X ∙ P(X)
μ=∑ X ∙ P( X) . Persons
Infected X
1
0 0
5
3 3
1
10 10
1 2
2
10 10
1 3
3
10 10
1 4
4
5 5
1 5
5
10 10
21
μ=∑ X ∙ P( X) = = 2.1
10
2. Multiply the square of the value X P(X) X 2 ∙ P(X)
of the random variable X by its 1
corresponding probability. 0 0
5
3 3
1
10 10
1 4
2
10 10
1 9
3
10 10
1 32
4
5 10
1 25
5
10 10
3. Get the sum of the results 2
X ∙ P(X)
obtained in Step 2. 0
3
10
4
10
9
10
32
10
25
10
73
∑ X 2 ∙ P( X ) = 10 = 7.3
4. Subtract the square of the mean The variance is σ 2=∑ X 2 ∙ P( X ) - μ2
from the results obtained in = 7.3 - (2.1)2
Step 3 to get the variance. So, = 7.3– 4.41
the formula for the variance of = 2.89
the probability distribution is
σ 2=∑ X 2 ∙ P( X ) - μ2. The standard deviation is σ =√ 2.89 = 1.70.
The standard deviation is the
square root of the variance.
Thus,
σ = √ ∑ X 2 ∙ P( X )−μ2.
Alferez, M.S. &Duro, M.A. (2006). MSA Statistics and Probability. MSA
Publishing House. Reprinted 2016.
Belecina, R. R.et.al. (2016). Statistics and Probability. First Edition. Rex Book
Store, Inc.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/edu/power-pouvoir/ch12/5214891-eng.htm
Guide Questions:
Exercise 3. Complete the table below and find the mean, variance and
standard deviation of the probability distribution.
X P(X) X ∙ P(X) 2
X ∙ P(X)
1 0.15
3 0.26
5 0.10
7 0.25
9 0.24
Guide Questions: