MEAN

and
VARIANCE
 MEAN
center of a random variable’s probability
distribution

Formula:
 VARIANCE
measure of how much the probability
distribution is spread out around the mean

Formula:
 Find the mean and variance.
X 1 2 3 4
1. P(X) 0.15 0.23 0.27 0.35

2. Five balls numbered 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are placed in

a bag. After the balls are mixed one is selected, its
number is noted and then it is replaced. If this
experiment is repeated many times, find the mean
and variance of the probability distribution.
1.

Rewrite the given in columns then add a column for

X• P(X), X2 and X2•P(X)

X P(X) X•P(X) X2 X2•P(X)

1 0.15
2 0.23
3 0.27
4 0.35
Multiply X by P(X), write the product in X• P(X) column
then get the sum.

o.15
o.46
o.81
1.4
Σ[X• P(X)] = 2.82
µ = 2.82
The sum of X• P(X) is equal to the mean (µ).
Based on the result, the center of the
probability distribution is between 2 and 3.
To compute for the variance, get the square of X to fill out
X2 column.

1
4
9
16
Next, multiply P(X) by X2 to fill out X2•P(X) column, then add.

0.15
0.92
2.43
5.6
Σ[X2• P(X)] = 9.1
 Lastly, substitute the computed values to the formula:

𝝈 = 𝜮 [ 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷 ( 𝒙 ) ] −𝝁
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

𝟐 𝟐
𝝈 =𝟗 . 𝟏 − (𝟐 . 𝟖𝟐)

𝟐
𝝈 =𝟏 . 𝟏𝟓
Based on the result, the probability distribution is
spread out by 1.15 around the mean of 2.82.
2. Five balls numbered 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are placed in a bag. After
the balls are mixed one is selected, its number is noted and then
it is replaced. If this experiment is repeated many times, find the
mean and variance of the probability distribution.

From the given, the values of X = 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8.

The sample space (denominator) is 5 since we
have 5 outcomes (0, 2, 4,6 and 8)
The probability distribution is therefore given by:
X 0 2 4 6 8
P(X) 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5

Since the outcomes are all equally likely to occur.

 Convert the decimals to fraction.

1/5 = 0.2

The probability distribution becomes:

X 0 2 4 6 8
P(X) 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Rewrite the given in columns then add a column for
X• P(X), X2 and X2•P(X)
X P(X) X•P(X) X2 X2•P(X)
0 0.2
2 0.2
4 0.2
6 0.2
8 0.2
Multiply X by P(X), write the product in X• P(X) column then get the sum.

0
o.4
o.8
1.2
1.6
Σ[X• P(X)] = 4
µ=4
The sum of X• P(X) is equal to the mean (µ).
Based on the result, the center of the
probability distribution is 4.
To compute for the variance, get the square of X to fill out
X2 column.

0
4
16
36
64
Next, multiply P(X) by X2 to fill out X2•P(X) column, then add.

0
0.8
3.2
7.2
12.8
Σ[X2• P(X)] = 24
 Lastly, substitute the computed values to the formula:

𝝈 = 𝜮 [ 𝑿 ⋅ 𝑷 ( 𝒙 ) ] −𝝁
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

𝟐 𝟐
𝝈 =𝟐𝟒 −(𝟒 )

𝟐
𝝈 =𝟖
Based on the result, the probability distribution is
spread out by 8 around the mean of 4.
End