Mean,

Variance, and
Standard
Deviation of
a Discrete
Random
Variable

SHIELA MAE C. GATCHALIAN,LPT

Mean of a discrete random variable X

• It is also called the expected value of X.

• It is the weighted average of all the values that the random variable
would assume in the long run.
• The expected value is denoted by E (X).
• The expected value is the average of the outcomes that is likely to be
obtained if the trials are repeated over and over again.
The mean or expected value of a discrete random
variable X is computed using the following formula:

•  [xP (x)]
where X = discrete random variable
x = outcome or value of a random variable
P (x) = probability of the outcome x
Example:

A researcher surveyed the households in a small town. The random

variable X represents the number of college graduates in the
households. The probability distribution of X is shown below.

x 0 1 2

P(x) 0.25 0.50 0.25

Find the mean or expected value of X.
Solution:

x P(x) xP(x)
0 0.25 0
1 0.50 0.50
2 0.25 0.50
[xP (x)] = 1.00

The expected value is 1. So the average number of the college graduates in the household of the small
town is 1.
Example:

A random variable X has this probability distribution.

x 1 2 3 4

P(x) 0.10 0.20 0.45 0.25

Calculated the expected value.

Solution:
x P(x) xP(x)
1 0.10 0.10
2 0.20 0.40
33 0.45
0.45 1.35
1.35
44 0.25
0.25 1.00
1.00
[xP (x)] = 2.85

So, E (X) = 2.85.

Variance and Standard Deviation of a
Discrete Random Variable
•  The variance of a random variable X is denoted by
• It can likewise written as Var (X).
• The variance of a random variable is expected value of the square of
the difference between assumed value of a random variable and the
mean.
The variance of X is:

•  x - P(x)] or
[(
[( x - P(x)]
where:
x= outcome
= population mean
P(x) = probability of the outcome
The larger the value of the variance, the farther the values of X from the
mean.
Standard Deviation of a discrete random
variable X
•  It is written as
• It is the square root of the variance.
• The standard deviation is computed as:
=
Determine the variance and the standard deviation
of the following probability mass function.

x P(x)
1 0.15
2 0.25
3 0.30
4 0.15
5 0.10
6 0.05
Solution

Steps
1. Find the expected value.
2. Subtract the expected value from each outcome. Square each
difference.
3. Multiply each squared difference by the corresponding probability.
4. Sum up all the figures obtained in step 3.
x P(x) xP(x) x- (x - x - P(x)

1 0.15 0.15 1 – 2.95= -1.95 3.80 0.57

2 0.25 0.50 2 – 2.95=
3 0.30 0.90 3 – 2.95=
4 0.15 0.60 4 – 2.95=
5 0.10 0.50 5 – 2.95=
6 0.05 0.30 6 – 2.95=
[xP (x)]
= 2.95
•  (X) = [xP (x)] = 2.95
E

[( x - P(x)] =

==
Seatwork

Find the variance and standard deviation of this probability distribution.

(20 pts.)

x 0 1 2 3

P(x) 0.15 0.38 0.33 0.14