Lesson Objectives:

•Illustrate and calculate the mean

of a discrete random variable;
•Interpret the mean of a discrete
random variable; and
•Solve problems involving mean of
probability distributions.
• The mean of the random variable X with a discrete
probability distribution is a weighted average of the
possible values that the random variable can take.
• Steps in finding the Mean of a Discrete Random Variable
X.

1.Construct the probability distribution for the random

variable X representing the number spots that
would appear.
2.Multiply the value of the random variable X by the
corresponding probability.
3.Add the results obtained in step 2.
• Formula for the Mean of a Discrete RANDOM Variable X

µ = X1•P(X1) + X2 •P(X2) + X3 •P(X3) +…….. X •P(Xn)

µ = Σ X • P(X)
Given the values of the variables X and Y,
evaluate the following summations.
X1 = 4X2 = 2 X3 = 5 X4 = 4
Y1 = 2Y2 = 1 Y3 = 0 Y4 = 2
1. ΣX =
2. ΣY =
3. ΣXY =
4. Σ(X+Y) =
5. Σ4XY =
 Number of Spots
Consider rolling a die. What is the average
number of spots that would appear? The following
activity will help you answer this question.
Number of Spots Probability P(X) X•P(x)
X

1
2
3
4
5
6
ΣX•P(X) =
 GROUP ACTIVITY
SURGERY PATIENTS
The probabilities that a surgeon operates on 3,4,5,6, or 7
patients in any day are 0.15, 0.10, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30,
respectively. Find the average number of patients that a
surgeon operates on a day.
Number of Spots Probability P(X) X•P(x)
X

ΣX•P(X) =