Polangui General Comprehensive High School

Polangui, Albay

Lesson: COMPUTING THE VARIANCE OF A DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

Lesson Objectives:
1.) Illustrate and calculate the variance of a discrete random variable;
2.) Interpret the variance of a discrete random variable; and
3.) Solve problems involving variance of probability distributions

Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation of the Probability Distribution

The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula :

σ =∑ ( X−μ) ∙ P(X )
2 2

σ =∑ X ∙ P ( X ) −μ
2 2 2
Alternative formula:

The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula :

√
σ = ∑ ( X−μ) ∙ P(X )
2

Alternative formula: σ =√∑ X 2 ∙ P ( X ) −μ 2

where:
X = value of the random variable X
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
μ = mean of the probability distribution

In-class Activity 1

Number of Cars Sold

The number of cars sold per day at a local car dealership, along with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table. Compute the variance and the standard deviation of the
probability distribution by following the given steps.

Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(X)

0 1
10
1 2
10
2 3
10
3 2
10
4 2
10

Steps in Finding the Variance and Standard Deviation

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4.
Solution:
Steps Solution
1. Find the mean of the probability Number of Probability X ∙P (X)
distribution using the formula Cars Sold X P(X)
0 1 0
μ=∑ X ∙ P ( X ) 10
1 2 2
10 10
2 3 6
10 10
3 2 6
10 10
4 2 8
10 10
22
μ=∑ X ∙ P ( X ) = =2.2
10
2. Subtract the mean from each Number of Probability X ∙ P (X ) X −μ
value of the random variable X. Cars Sold X P(X)
0 1 0 0 – 2.2 = -2.2
10
1 2 2 1 – 2.2 = -1.2
10 10
2 3 6 2 – 2.2 = -0.2
10 10
3 2 6 3 – 2.2 = 0.8
10 10
4 2 8 4 – 2.2 = 1.8
10 10
3. Square the results obtained in Number Probability X ∙ P (X ) X −μ ( X −μ)
2

Step 2. of Cars P(X)

Sold X
0 1 0 -2.2 4.84
10
1 2 2 -1.2 1.44
10 10
2 3 6 -0.2 0.04
10 10
3 2 6 0.8 0.64
10 10
4 2 8 1.8 3.24
10 10
4. Multiply the results obtained in Numbe Probability X ∙ P (X ) X −μ ( X −μ)2 ( X −μ)2 ∙ P (X )
Step 3 by the corresponding r of P(X)
probability. Cars
Sold X
0 1 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484
10
1 2 2 -1.2 1.44 0.288
10 10
2 3 6 -0.2 0.04 0.012
10 10
3 2 6 0.8 0.64 0.128
10 10
4 2 8 1.8 3.24 0.648
10 10
5. Get the sum of the results σ =∑ ( X−μ) ∙ P(X ) = 1.56
2 2

obtained in Step 4. The result is

the value of the variance. So, the
formula for the variance is :
 σ =∑ ( X−μ) ∙ P(X ).
2 2

6. Get the square root of the The variance of the probability distribution is 1.56.
variance to get the standard The standard deviation is σ =√ 1.56=1.25 .
deviation.
In-class Activity 2
Number of Heads

When three coins are tossed, the probability distribution for the random variable X representing
the number of heads that occur is given below. Compute the variance and standard deviation of the
probability distribution.

Number of Heads X Probability P(X)

0 1
8
1 3
8
2 3
8
3 1
8

Alternative Procedure in Finding the Variance and Standard Deviation

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Multiply the square of the value of the random variable X by its corresponding probability.
3. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 2.
4. Subtract the mean from the results obtained in Step 3.

Solution:
Steps Solution
1. Find the mean of the probability Number of Probability X ∙P (X)
distribution using the formula Heads X P(X)
0 1 0
μ=∑ X ∙ P ( X ) 8
1 3 3
8 8
2 3 6
8 8
3 1 3
8 8
12
μ=∑ X ∙ P ( X ) = =1.5
8
2. Multiply the square of the Number of Probability X ∙ P (X ) X 2 ∙ P (X )
value of the random Heads X P(X)
variable X by its 0 1 0 2 1
corresponding probability. 0 ∙ =0
8 8
1 3 3 2 3 3
1∙ =
8 8 8 8
2 3 6 2 3 12
2∙ =
8 8 8 8
3 1 3 2 1 9
3 ∙ =
8 8 8 8
3. Get the sum of the results 24
obtained in Step 2. ∑ X 2 ∙ P ( X )= 8 =3
4. Subtract the mean from the The variance is given by
results obtained in Step 3 to get σ =∑ X ∙ P ( X ) −μ
2 2 2

the variance. So, the formula for = 3 – (1.5)2

the variance of a probability
= 0.75
distribution is given by
 σ =∑ X ∙ P ( X ) −μ
2 2 2

The standard deviation is σ =√ 0.75=0.87

The standard deviation is the
square root of the variance. Thus,
σ= √∑ X 2
∙ P ( X ) −μ 2

The variance is 0.75 and the standard deviation is 0.87.

Exercises!

A. Complete the table below and find the variance and the standard deviation of the following
probability distributions.
1.
X P(X) X ∙P (X ) X2 ∙ P (X )
1 1
7
6 2
7
11 1
7
16 1
7
21 2
7

2.

X P(X) X ∙P (X ) X2 ∙ P (X )
3 0.15
6 0.35
8 0.40
10 0.10

B. Solve the following problems.

1. The number of items sold per day at a retail store, with its corresponding probabilities, is
shown in the table. Find the variance and standard deviation of the probability
distribution.
Number of Items Sold X Probability P(X)
19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10

2.Find the variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution of the random
10 1
variable X, which can take only the values 1,2, and 3 given that P(1)= , P(2) =
33 33
12
and P(3) = .
33

-end-
mdsbalin’16-‘17