Name: Zarah Leeann P.

Zafra Date: March 22, 2024

READING ACTIVITY 1

The probability distribution of a discrete random variable refers to the set of probabilities
associated with each possible value that the random variable can take. It describes the
likelihood of each outcome occurring in a discrete probability space.
The probability distribution can be represented using a probability mass function (PMF),
which assigns a probability to each possible value of the random variable. The PMF satisfies
two properties: it must be non-negative for all values, and the sum of the probabilities must
equal 1.
The probability distribution provides valuable information about the likelihood of different
outcomes and is used in various statistical calculations, such as calculating expected values,
variances, and probabilities of specific events.
It is important to note that the probability distribution varies depending on the specific
discrete random variable being considered. Different types of discrete random variables, such
as binomial, Poisson, or geometric, have their own specific probability distributions.
 Probability Mass Function (PMF): The probability mass function is a function that
assigns probabilities to each possible value of the random variable. It provides the
probability of observing a specific value of the random variable. The PMF is denoted
as P(X = x), where X represents the random variable and x represents a specific value.
 Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF): The cumulative distribution function gives
the probability that the random variable takes on a value less than or equal to a given
value. It is denoted as F(x) = P(X ≤ x). The CDF can be obtained by summing up the
probabilities from the PMF up to a specific value.
 Expected Value: The expected value, also known as the mean or average, of a discrete
random variable is a measure of central tendency. It represents the weighted average
of all possible values of the random variable, where the weights are given by their
respective probabilities. The expected value is denoted as E(X) or μ.
 Variance: The variance of a discrete random variable measures the spread or
variability of its distribution. It quantifies how much the values of the random variable
deviate from their expected value. The variance is denoted as Var(X) or σ^2.
 Probability Distribution Functions: Different types of discrete random variables have
their own probability distribution functions. Some common examples include the
binomial distribution, Poisson distribution, geometric distribution, and
hypergeometric distribution. These distributions have specific formulas for their
PMFs and CDFs.