Discrete

Probability
Distributio
n
DISCRETE Probability
DISTRIBUTION
A discrete probability
distribution or a probability
mass function consists of the
values a random variable can
assume and the
corresponding probabilities of
the values.
Illustrative Example: Finding the
probability corresponding to a given
random variable

Number of Tails
Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be
the random variable representing the
number of tails that occur. Find the
probability of each of the values of the
random variable Y.
Step 1:
Determine the sample space. Let H
represent head and T represent
tail.

The sample space for this

experiment is:
S = {TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT, HTH,
THH, HHH}
Step 2:
Count the
number of tails
in each outcome
in the sample
space and
assign this
number to this
outcome.
Step 3:
There are four possible values of the random
variable Y representing the number of tails. These
are 0, 1, 2, and 3. Assign probability values P(Y) to
each value of the random variable.

The Probability Distribution or the

Probability Mass Function of Discrete
Random Variable Y
• 1. What is the probability of getting two tails when
you toss 3 coins?   P(Y=2)=
• 2. What is the probability of getting three tails
when you toss 3 coins?   P(Y=3)=
• 3. What is the probability of getting less than two
tails when you toss 3 coins? 
P(Y<2)=

• 4. What is the probability of getting at least one

tail when you toss 3 coins?
 P(Y≥1)=
Example 2
Number of Defective Cell Phones

Suppose three cell phones are tested at

random. Let D represent the defective cell
phone and let N represent the non-
defective cell phone. If we let X be the
random variable for the number of
defective cell phones, construct the
probability distribution of the random
variable X.
Step 1:
Determine the sample space. Let D
represent the defective cell phone and
N represent the non-defective cell
phone.

The sample space for this experiment

is:
S = {NNN, NND, NDN, DNN, NDD, DND,
DDN, DDD}
Try this!
Exercise
Determine whether the distribution represents a
probability distribution. Explain your answer.

P(1)=0.24 , P(2)=0.32 , P(0.15), P(4)=0.29