SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

11

STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

NAME: _________________________________________

GRADE AND SECTION: _________________________

DATE: _________________________________________

TEACHER: _______________________________________
 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Department of Education 11
REGION V
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NAGA CITY
CAMARINES SUR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 3

NAME: GRADE LEVEL/SECTION:
TOPIC: Random Variables and Probability DATE:
Distributions

INTRODUCTION
This Learning Activity Sheet was designed and written with you in mind. This will
guide you study the measure of the spread of random variables from the average value which
aims to help you interpret and solve the mean and variance of discrete random variables of
probability distribution.

LEARNING SKILLS FROM THE MELCs and OBJECTIVES

• Interprets the mean and the variance of discrete random variable. (M11/12SP-IIIb-3)
• Solves problems involving mean and variance of probability distributions.
(M11/12SP-IIIb-4)

At the end of this activity sheet, you are expected to:

1. Determine how to get the mean and variance of a discrete random
variable.
2. Interpret the mean and variance of random variables.
3. Show how to solve problems involving mean and variance of probability
distributions.

ACTIVITIES: LET US REVIEW

Tossing a Coin Activity
Make a distribution table of the number of heads in tosses of 3 fair coins.
Outcomes = {HHH = 3, HHT = 2, HTH = 2, THH = 2, HTT = 1, TTH = 1, THT = 1, TTT = 0}
Sample space = {0, 1, 2, 3}
Distribution Table of the number of heads in tosses of 3 fair coins
x = number of heads P(x)
0 1
8
1 3
8
2 3
8
3 1
8

RANDOM VARIABLES AND PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS 1

 ACTIVITIES: LET US STUDY

MEAN is the sum of the products formed from multiplying the possible values of X with their
corresponding probabilities. It is also known as the expected value of x. The symbol for the
mean is E(x) or µ.

Formula of the mean:

µ= Σ[x ∙ P(x)]
where: µ - the mean

x – value from the sample space

P(x) – the probability of x

VARIANCE is the measure of spread or dispersion, it measures the variation of the values of
a random variable from the mean. The symbol used for the variance is σ².

Formula of the Variance:

σ2= Σ[(x-μ)² • P(x)]

where: µ - the mean

x – value from the sample space

P(x) – the probability of x

Using the Tossing a Coin Activity, let us solve the mean and the variance.
Let us use this table to solve the mean and the variance of probability distribution.
x = no. of P(x) x · P(x) (𝒙 − µ)𝟐 (𝒙 − µ)𝟐 · 𝐏(𝐱)
heads
0 1
= 0.125 0 2.25 0.28125
8

1 3
= 0.375
3
= 0.375 0.25 0.09375
8 8

2 3
= 0.375
6
= 0.75 0.25 0.09375
8 8

3 1
= 0.125
3
= 0.375 2.25 0.28125
8 8

TOTAL: 𝟖 µ=
𝟏𝟐
= 𝟏. 𝟓 σ2 = 0.75
=𝟏 𝟖
𝟖
Applying its formula, we can get the following:
To get the Mean: µ = Σ[x ∙P(x)]
= [0(0.125)] + [1 (0.375)] + [2 (0.375)] + [3 (0.125)]
= 0 + 0.375 + 0.75 + 0.375
µ = 1.5
To get the Variance:
σ2 = Σ[(x-μ)²• P(x)]
=[(0 – 1.5)2 ∙ 0.125] + [(1 – 1.5)2 ∙ 0.375] + [(2 – 1.5)2 ∙ 0.375] + [(3 – 1.5)2 ∙ 0.125]
= 0.28125 + 0.09375 + 0.09375 + 0.28125
σ2 = 0.75

RANDOM VARIABLES AND PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS 2

 NOTE: When we get the square root of variance (√𝛔2 ), it is now called
Standard Deviation (σ).

ACTIVITIES: LET US PRACTICE

Students were asked to estimate the length (in inches) of a table. The errors in the estimated
value were recorded and tabulated as follows:

Error (x) 3 4 5 6 7
P(x) 0.25 0.1 0.3 0.15 0.2

1. Find the mean error of this probability distribution

Solution: µ = ∑[x ∙ P(x)]
= [3(0.25)] + [4(0.1)] + [5(0.3)] + [6(0.15)] + [7(0.2)]
µ = 4.95
2. Determine the variance and standard deviation
σ2 = Σ[(x-μ)²•P(x)]
= [(3-4.95)² (0.25)] + [(4-4.95)²(0.1)] + [(5-4.95)²(0.3)] + [(6-4.95)²(0.15)] + [(74.95)²(0.2)]
σ2= 2.05

*Standard Deviation: σ = √𝛔2

= √2.05

σ = 1.43

ACTIVITIES: LET US REMEMBER

Mean (µ) is the sum of the products formed from multiplying the possible values of X with
their corresponding probabilities.
Steps in Getting the Mean:
1. Make the table of probability distribution table (if not given).
2. Multiply each value of x from the sample space to the probability of x. x • P(x)
3. Get the summation or total of the product. Σ[x • P(x)]
Variance (σ2) is the measure of spread or variation of the values of a random variable
from the mean. The square root of variance (√𝛔2 ) is the Standard Deviation (σ).
Steps in Getting the Variance:
1. Subtract the mean to every x value from the sample space, then squared the
difference. (x-μ)².
2. Multiply the squared difference to the probability of x. (x-μ)² • P(x)]
3. Get the summation or total of the product to get the variance. Σ[(x-μ)² • P(x)]

ACTIVITIES: LET US PRACTICE MORE

The report of the weather bureau on the forecast of the number of typhoons entering the
country’s area of responsibility is manifested in the following probability distribution.

No. of typhoons per month Probability P(x)

0 0.15
1 0.35
2 0.30
3 0.10
4 0.10
1. What is the average number of typhoons entering the country per month? ________

RANDOM VARIABLES AND PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS 3

 2. What is the standard deviation? _________

ACTIVITIES: LEARNING TASKS

LEARNING TASK #1
I. Answer the question briefly. (5 points)

What are the steps in solving for the mean and variance of probability distribution?

________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

LEARNING TASK #2 & #3

II. Solve the problem. Show your solution. (5 points each)
A talk radio station has four telephone lines. If the host is unable to talk (i.e., during
a commercial) or is talking to a person, the other callers are placed on hold. When all
lines are in use, others who are trying to call in get a busy signal. The probability that 0,
1, 2, 3, or 4 people will get through is shown in the distribution. Find the mean and variance
for the distribution.

Number of 0 1 2 3 4
Telephone
Lines (X)
Probability 0.18 0.34 0.23 0.21 0.04
P(X)
Should the station have considered getting more phone lines installed? Interpret
based from the results. ________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

RUBRIC FOR SCORING

CRITERIA Scale
5 4 3 2 1
1. Knowledge
-Recall of mathematical facts is evident

2. Application
-Use of mathematical operation correctly

3. Evaluation
-Accurate and systematic

REFERENCES

Bluman, Allan G. Elementary Statistics: A Step-by-Step Approach, 9th Edition. McGraw-Hill

Companies, Inc. 2012

De Guzman, Danilo. Statistics and Probability. C and E Publishing, Inc. 2017

Prepared by: MAE ANN B. PRESENTACION February 2021

RANDOM VARIABLES AND PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS 4