Lesson 2

Mean of a
Discrete Random
Variable
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly calculate the mean of a discrete random

variable;

● correctly interpret the mean of a discrete random

variable; and

● accurately apply the concept of the mean of a

discrete random variable in real-life situations.
 Essential Questions

● What is the difference between the mean of a raw data to

the mean of a probability distribution?

● How does the interpretation of the mean affect our

understanding of the probability distribution?
 Warm Up!

Before we learn about the mean of a discrete random

variable, let us review about the basic concepts on central
measures of tendency through a game.

(Click the link below to access the game)

“Mean, Median and Mode Game.” Kids Math Games.

Retrieved 01 July 2019 from
http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/numbers/meanmedia
nmode.html
 Guide Questions

● How well did you answer the practice questions?

● What is the difference between mean, median and mode?

● How do you calculate for the mean?

 Learn about It!

1 Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

Let 𝑋 be a discrete random variable. The expected value of 𝑋, also referred to as
the mean of 𝑋, is
𝜇 = 𝐸 𝑋 = ෍[𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋)]

To compute for the mean of a discrete random variable,

follow these steps:
1. Construct the probability distribution
2. Determine the value of 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋)
3. Add all the values of 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋) to determine Σ[𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃 𝑋 ]
Learn about It!

2 Properties of the Mean of a Discrete Random

Variable
Let 𝑋 and 𝑌 be random variables and let 𝑎 and 𝑏 be constants. The following
properties hold:
1. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝜇 = 0
2. 𝐸 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏 = 𝑎𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑏
3. 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝐸(𝑌)
4. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝐸(𝑌)
5. 𝐸 𝑋𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 ⋅ 𝐸 𝑌 , provided that 𝑋 and 𝑌 are independent of each other.
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable 𝑋

with the following probability distribution.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
3 1
8
2 3
8
1 3
8
0 1
8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
1. Construct the column for 1
𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋). 3
8
2 3
8
1 3
8
0 1
8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
2. Multiply the value of 𝑋 by its 1 3
corresponding probability 3
8 8
value 𝑃(𝑋). 3 6
2
8 8
1 3 3
8 8
0 1 0
8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 2:
3. Find the mean or the expected value of the probability
distribution by getting the sum of the values under the
column 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋)
𝜇 =𝐸 𝑋 =෍ 𝑋⋅𝑃 𝑋

3 6 3
= + + +0
8 8 8
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the mean of the discrete random variable X

with the following probability distribution.
Solution 2:
12
=
8
3
=
2
= 1.5
Therefore, the mean or the expected value of the probability
distribution is 𝟏. 𝟓.
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
𝑿 𝑷(𝑿)
1 0.09
2 0.16
3 0.17
4 0.28
5 0.25
6 0.05
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
1. Construct the column for 1 0.09
𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋). 2 0.16
3 0.17
4 0.28
5 0.25
6 0.05
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 1: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
2. Multiply the value of 𝑋 by its 1 0.09 0.09
corresponding probability value 2 0.16 0.32
𝑃(𝑋). 3 0.17 0.51
4 0.28 1.12
5 0.25 1.25
6 0.05 0.3
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 2: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
3. Find the mean or the 1 0.09 0.09
expected value of the 2 0.16 0.32
probability distribution by 3 0.17 0.51
getting the sum of the values 4 0.28 1.12
under the column 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃(𝑋).
5 0.25 1.25
6 0.05 0.3
TOTAL 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗
 Try It!

Example 2: Find the mean or the expected value of the

probability distribution shown below.
Solution 2: 𝑿 𝑷(𝑿) 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷(𝑿)
Thus, 𝐸 𝑋 = Σ 𝑋 ⋅ 𝑃 𝑋 = 3.59. 1 0.09 0.09
The mean or the expected 2 0.16 0.32
value of the probability 3 0.17 0.51
distribution is 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗. 4 0.28 1.12
5 0.25 1.25
6 0.05 0.3
TOTAL 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

1. Given the probability distribution of a random variable 𝑋

below, compute for the expected value.
𝑿 1 2 3 4
1 1 2 3
𝑷(𝑿)
5 10 5 10
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

2. Construct a probability distribution for the random

variable 𝑋 that refers to the number of heads in tossing a
coin three times. Find the mean of the random variable 𝑋.
 Let’s Practice!
Group Practice: To be done in groups of two to five
The data shown on the
right is the number of
laptops sold per day during
the past six months and its
corresponding probability.
Compute for the expected
value of the laptop sales
and interpret its value.
Number of Probability
Laptops 𝑳 𝑷(𝑳)
0 0.10
1 0.20
2 0.45
3 0.15
4 0.05
5 0.05
Key Points

1 Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

Let 𝑋 be a discrete random variable. The expected value of 𝑋, also referred to as
the mean of 𝑋, is
𝜇 = 𝐸 𝑋 = ෍[𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋)]
Key Points

2 Properties of the Mean of a Discrete Random

Variable
Let 𝑋 and 𝑌 be random variables and let 𝑎 and 𝑏 be constants. The following
properties hold:
1. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝜇 = 0
2. 𝐸 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏 = 𝑎𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑏
3. 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 + 𝐸(𝑌)
4. 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 − 𝐸(𝑌)
5. 𝐸 𝑋𝑌 = 𝐸 𝑋 ⋅ 𝐸 𝑌 , provided that 𝑋 and 𝑌 are independent of each other.
 Synthesis

● How do you determine the mean of a discrete random

variable?

● Why is it important to determine the expected value of a

discrete random variable?

● What do we mean when a data is dispersed?