Variance and

Standard Deviation of
Discrete Probability
Distribution
Chapter 1:
Lesson 6
Lesson Objective:
At the end of the
lesson, I CAN calculate
the variance (and
standard deviation) of a
discrete random variable.
 The variance is a measure of
how spread out of data set is. It is
calculated as the average squared
deviation of each number from the
mean of a data set.

Taking the square root of the variance

gives us the units used in the original
scale and this is the standard
deviation.
3
 Standard deviation is the
measure of spread, most commonly
used in statistical practice when the
mean is used to calculate the central
tendency.
- It measures the spread around
the mean.
- Can be greatly affected if the
mean gives a poor measure of
central tendency. 4
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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)
STEP 1: Find the
0 1ൗ mean of the
8
probability
1 3ൗ distribution using
8
3ൗ the formula
2 8
1ൗ 𝜇 = ෍ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋)
3 8 5
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.

(X) P(X) X•P(X)

1ൗ 𝜇 = ෍ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋)
0 8 0

1 3ൗ 3ൗ 3 6 3
8 8 𝜇 =0+ + +
2 3ൗ 6ൗ 8 8 8
8 8
1ൗ 3ൗ
12 3
3 8 8 𝜇= 𝑜𝑟
8 2 6
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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 1ൗ STEP 2: Subtract
8 the mean from
1 3ൗ
8 each value of
2 3ൗ the random
8 variable X.
3 1ൗ
8 7
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.

12 3 (X) P(X) X•P(X) X-µ

𝜇= 𝑜𝑟 1ൗ
8 2 0 8 0 − 12ൗ8

1 3ൗ 3ൗ − 4ൗ8
8 8
2 3ൗ 6ൗ 4ൗ
8 8 8
3 1ൗ 3ൗ 12ൗ
8 8 8 8
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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 1ൗ
8 STEP 3:
1 3ൗ Square the
8 results obtained
2 3ൗ
8 in STEP 2.
3 1ൗ
8 9
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.

(X) P(X) X•P(X) X-µ (𝑿 − µ)𝟐

0 1ൗ
8 0 − 3ൗ2 9ൗ
4
1 3ൗ 3ൗ − 1ൗ2 1ൗ
8 8 4
2 3ൗ 6ൗ 1ൗ 1ൗ
8 8 2 4
3 1ൗ 3ൗ 3ൗ 9ൗ
8 8 2 4 10
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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 1ൗ STEP 4:
8 Multiply the
1 3ൗ results obtained
8
2 3ൗ in STEP 3 by the
8 corresponding
3 1ൗ probability.
8 11
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.

(X) P(X) X•P(X) X-µ (𝑿 − µ)𝟐 (𝑿 − µ)𝟐 •P(X)

0 1ൗ 0 − 3ൗ2 9ൗ 9ൗ
8 4 32
1 3ൗ 3ൗ − 1ൗ2 1ൗ 3ൗ
8 8 4 32
2 3ൗ 6ൗ 1ൗ 1ൗ 3ൗ
8 8 2 4 32
3 1ൗ 3ൗ 3ൗ 9ൗ 9ൗ
8 8 2 4 32 12
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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 1ൗ STEP 5: Get the

8
sum of the results
1 3ൗ
8 obtained in Step 4.
3ൗ The result if the
2 8 values of the
3 1ൗ variance.
8 13
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.
𝟐
24 3
෍(𝑿 − µ) •P(X) = 𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑟 0.75
(X) P(X) X•P(X) X-µ (𝑿 − µ)𝟐 (𝑿 − µ)𝟐 •P(X) 32 4

2
24 3
0 1ൗ
8 0 − 3ൗ2 9ൗ
4
9ൗ
32 𝜎 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑟 0.75
32 4
1 3ൗ 3ൗ − 1ൗ2 1ൗ 3ൗ
8 8 4 32

2 3ൗ 6ൗ 1ൗ 1ൗ 3ൗ
8 8 2 4 32

3 1ൗ 3ൗ 3ൗ 9ൗ 9ൗ
8 8 2 4 32 14
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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)

1ൗ STEP 6: Get the

0 8 square root of the
1 3ൗ variance to get the
8 standard
2 3ൗ deviation.
8
3 1ൗ
8 15
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.
𝟐
24 2
෍(𝑿 − µ) •P(X) = 𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑟 0.75
(X) P(X) X•P(X) X-µ (𝑿 − µ)𝟐 (𝑿 − µ)𝟐 •P(X) 32 3

2
24 3
0 1ൗ
8 0 − 3ൗ2 9ൗ
4
9ൗ
32 𝜎 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑟 0.75
32 4
1 3ൗ 3ൗ − 1ൗ2 1ൗ 3ൗ
8 8 4 32 𝜎= 𝜎2 = ෍(𝑿 − µ)𝟐 •P(X)

2 3ൗ 6ൗ 1ൗ 1ൗ 3ൗ
8 8 2 4 32
3 3
1ൗ 3ൗ 3ൗ 9ൗ 9ൗ 𝜎= = 𝑜𝑟 0.87
3 8 8 2 4 32 4 2 16
 Formula for the Variance and Standard Deviation
of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

𝝈𝟐 = ෍(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

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

𝝈 = ෍(𝑿 − 𝝁)𝟐 ∙ 𝑷(𝑿)

where:
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
17
µ = mean of the probability distribution
 Alternative Way of Computing the Variance
and Standard Deviation

STEP 1: Find the STEP 2: Multiply

mean of the the square of the STEP 3: Get
probability value of the the sum of
distribution using random variable X the results
the formula by its obtained in
𝜇 = ෍ 𝑋 ∙ 𝑃(𝑋) corresponding
probability.
STEP 2.
18
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.
(X) P(X) X•P(X) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 •P(X)
24
෍ 𝑿𝟐 •P(X) = 𝑜𝑟 3
0 1ൗ
8 0 0 0 8

1 3ൗ 3ൗ 1 3ൗ
8 8 8

2 3ൗ 6ൗ 4 12ൗ
8 8 8

3 1ൗ 3ൗ 9 9ൗ
8 8 8
19
Alternative Way of Computing the Variance
and Standard Deviation

STEP 4: Subtract STEP 5: For the

the square of the standard
mean from the deviation, simply
results obtained get the square
in STEP 3 to get root of the
the variance. variance.
20
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.
(X) P(X) X•P(X) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 •P(X)
𝜎 2 = ෍ 𝑿𝟐 •P(X) -𝜇2
0 1ൗ 0 0 0
8
3 2
1 3ൗ 3ൗ 3ൗ 𝜎2 =3−( )
8 8 1 8 2
9 12 9
2 3ൗ
8
6ൗ
8 4 12ൗ
8 𝜎2 =3− = −
4 4 4

𝟐 𝟑
3 1ൗ
8
3ൗ
8 9 9ൗ
8 𝝈 = (same answer)
𝟒 21
Number of Heads in a Toss of Three Coins
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.
(X) P(X) X•P(X) 𝑿𝟐 𝑿𝟐 •P(X)
𝟑
𝝈=
0 1ൗ 0 0 0 𝟒
8

3ൗ 3ൗ 3ൗ
𝟑
1 8 8 1 8 𝝈= 𝒐𝒓 𝟎. 𝟖𝟕 (𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓)
𝟐
2 3ൗ 6ൗ 4 12ൗ
8 8 8

3 1ൗ 3ൗ 9 9ൗ
8 8 8
22
 Alternative Formula for the Variance and Standard
Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

𝝈𝟐 = ෍ 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷 𝑿 − 𝝁𝟐
The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is
given by the formula:

𝝈 = ෍ 𝑿𝟐 ∙ 𝑷 𝑿 − 𝝁𝟐
where:
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
23
µ = mean of the probability distribution
Let’s try more!
Number of Items Sold
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 Probability

X P(X)
19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10 25
COVID-19 Infected Persons in a Barangay
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.
Number of Persons
Probability P(X)
Infected X
0 1ൗ
5
1 3ൗ
10
2 1ൗ
10
3 1ൗ
10
4 1ൗ
5
5 1ൗ
10 26
 Thank
you!
See you
again! ☺