THE MEAN OF A

DISCRETE
PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
 Objectives:

Illustrate and Calculate the mean of a discrete random

variable;

Interpret the mean of a discrete random variable;

Solve problems involving mean of probability distributions.

Let’s Recall

What is Discrete Probability

Distribution?
 Review:
ENTRY CARD
A. Given the values of the variables X and Y, Evaluate the following summations.
=4 =1
=2
1. ∑X -------------------------------- 12
2. ∑Y -------------------------------- 5
3. ∑XY ------------------------------- 12
4. ∑(X + Y) -------------------------- 17
5. ∑4XY ------------------------------ 48

B. The following are the scores of 40 students in a test. Compute the mean score.
Score Number of Students
1.
45.8 42 8

50 12

53 9

38 7

46 4
 MEAN
The mean is represented by M or x, is used to
describe a set of data as to what point the
item values or scores tend to cluster or
concentrate.
 In – class Activity 1. “!”
Consider rolling a die. What is the average number of spots that
would appear?
Do the following activity to answer the question.

Step 1. Construct the probability distribution for the random

variable X representing the number of spots that would appear.
Step 2. Multiply the value of the random variable X by the
corresponding proability.
Step 3. Add the results obtained in Step 2.

Follow – up Question: What does the mean of probability distribution tell us?
How do you interpret the mean of probability distribution?
THE MEAN OF DISCRETE A PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
The mean of a random variable with a discrete probability is

μ = P() + P() + P() + …, + P() or

μ = ∑ X P (X)

Where:

, , , ……… , are the values of the random variable X ; and

P(), P() , P() , ……. P() are the corresponding probabilities.
 How to calculate the mean of discrete probability distribution???
Follow the steps.   
Step 1. Construct the probability distribution for the random
variable X representing the values of the given random
variable that would appear.

Step 2. Multiply the value of the random variable X by the

corresponding probability.

Step 3. Add the results obtained in step 2.

To interpret the mean discrete probability distribution, it will depend on

the situation given and results of the computed average.
EXAMPLES: Complete the table below and find the mean of the following probability distribution.

X P(X) X P(X) Y P(Y) Y P(Y)

1 1/7 1/7 1 3/10 3/10
6 1/7 6/7 2 1/10 1/5
μ = 11 μ = 2.9
11 3/7 33/7 3 2/10 3/5
16 1/7 16/7 4 2/10 4/5
21 1/7 3 5 2/10 1

Z P(Z) Z P(Z)
3 0.15 0.45
6 0.35 2.1
8 0.40 3.2
10 0.10 1

μ = 6.75
Solve problems involving mean of probability distributions.
Examples:

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution of the random variable X, which can take only the values 1,
2, 3, given that P(1) = 10/33, P(2) = 1/3, and P(3) = 12/33.

X P(X) X P(X)
1 10/33 10/33
μ = 2.06
2 1/3 2/3
3 12/33 12/11

2. Find the mean probability distribution of the random variable Z, which can take only the values 3, 5, and
7, given that P(3) = 7/30, P(5) = 1/3, P(7) = 13/30.
Z P(Z) Z P(Z)
3 7/30 7/10
μ = 5.4
5 1/3 5/3
7 13/30 91/30
 In – class Activity 2. “!”

1. Using the steps in computing the mean discrete random

variable, answer the given situation.

The probabilities that a costumer will buy 1, 2, 3, 4,

or 5 items in a grocery store are 3/10, 1/10, 1/10,
2/10, and 3/10 respectively. What is the average
number of items that a costumer will buy?
What does the mean of a probability distribution tell
us? How do you interpret the mean of a probability
distribution?
Quiz!
•Complete the table below and find the mean of the following
probability distribution.
A B

Z P(Z) X · P(Z) X P(X) X · P(X)

1 1/7   1 3/10  
6 1/7   2 1/10  
11 3/7   3 2/10  
16 1/7   4 2/10  
21 1/7   5 2/10  

•What does the mean of a probability distribution tell us? How do

you interpret the mean of a probability distribution?
Look back and Reflect! Write your answer in a one whole yellow paper.

1. What are the steps in computing the mean of a probability distribution of a random variable?
Write your answer on your own words 

2. What does the mean of a probability distribution tell us? How do you interpret the mean of a
probability distribution?

3. Why is that the values of a discrete random variable expressed in whole numbers but the mean
of its probability distribution are most of the time expressed in decimal numbers?
THE VARIANCE OF A
DISCRETE
PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
 Objectives:

Illustrate and Calculate the variance of a discrete random variable;

Interpret the variance of a discrete random variable;

Solve problems involving variance of probability distributions.

Review
1. The probabilities of a machine manufacturing 0, 1, 2, 3 ,4, or 5
defective parts in one day are 0.75, 0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01, and 0.005,
respectively. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
Motivation!
What is variance and standard deviation?
Variance and standard deviation describe the
amount of spread, dispersion, or variability of the
items in a distribution.
In – class Activity 1!
The number of cars sold per day at a local car leadership, along with its
corresponding probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table. Follow the
steps given and answer the following questions.

Number of Cars Probability Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
Sold X P(X) Step 2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random
variable X.
0 1/10
1 2/10 Step 3. Square the results obtained in step 2.

2 3/10 Step 4. Multiply the results obtained in step 3 by the

3 2/10 corresponding probability.

4 2/10 Step 5. Get the sum of the results obtained in step 4.

Example:
The number of cars sold per day at a local car leadership. Along with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table. Compute the variance and the standard
deviation of the probability by following the given steps.

Probability Distribution of Cars sold per day

Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(X)

0 1/10
1 2/10
2 3/10
3 2/10
4 2/10
 Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
Number of Cars Probability X P(X)
Sold X P(X)
0 1/10 0
1 2/10 2/10
2 3/10 6/10
3 2/10 6/10
4 2/10 8/10 μ = 2.2

2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.

Number of Probability X P(X) X-μ
Cars Sold X P(X)

0 1/10 0 0 – 2.2 = -2.2

1 2/10 2/10 1 – 2.2 = - 1.2
2 3/10 3/10 2 – 2.2 = -0.2
3 2/10 6/10 3 – 2.2 = 0.8
4 2/10 8/10 4 – 2.2 = 1.8
1 μ = 2.2
Step 3. Square the results obtained in step 2 or square the difference of (X – μ)
Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(X) X P(X) X-μ

0 1/10 0 -2.2 4.84

1 2/10 2/10 - 1.2 1.44
2 3/10 3/10 -0.2 0.04
3 2/10 6/10 0.8 0.64
4 2/10 8/10 1.8 3.24
1 μ = 2.2
Step 4. Multiply the results obtained in step 3 by the corresponding probability.
Number of Cars Probability P(X) X P(X) X-μ P(X)
Sold X
0 1/10 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484
1 2/10 2/10 - 1.2 1.44 0. 288
2 3/10 3/10 -0.2 0.04 0. 012
3 2/10 6/10 0.8 0.64 0.128
4 2/10 8/10 1.8 3.24 0.648
1 μ = 2.2
 Step 5. Get the sum of the results obtained in step 4 or the get the sum of
P(X)
Number of Cars Probability P(X) X P(X) X-μ P(X)
Sold X
0 1/10 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484
1 2/10 2/10 - 1.2 1.44 0. 288
2 3/10 3/10 -0.2 0.04 0. 012
3 2/10 6/10 0.8 0.64 0.128
4 2/10 8/10 1.8 3.24 0.648
1 μ = 2.2 = 1.56

The variance of the probability is 1.56

Get the square root of the variance to get the

standard deviation.

= 1.25
Remember!
What is variance and standard deviation?
Variance and standard deviation describe the
amount of spread, dispersion, or variability of the
items in a distribution.
 THE VARIANCE OF DISCRETE A
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:

Where:
X = Value of the random variable
P(X) = Probability of the random variable
= mean of the probability
 Steps to calculate the variance of a discrete probability
distribution

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.

2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.

3. Square the results obtained in step 2.

4. Multiply the results obtained in step 3 by the corresponding probability.

5. Get the sum of the results obtained in step 4.

When three coins are tossed, the probability distribution for the random variable X representing the number of
heads that occur is given below. Compute the variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution.

Number of Heads X Probability P(X)

0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8

Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.

Number of Heads X Probability P(X) X P(X)
0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
3 1/8 3/8
μ = 1.5
 2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
Number of Heads X Probability X P(X) X-μ
P(X)
0 1/8 0 0 – 1.5 = -1.5
1 3/8 3/8 1 – 1.5 = -0.5
2 3/8 6/8 2 – 1.5 = 0.5
3 1/8 3/8 3 – 1.5 = 1.5

μ = 1.5
Step 3. Square the results obtained in step 2 or square the difference of (X – μ)
Number of Probabilit X P(X) X-μ
Heads X y P(X)
0 1/8 0 -1.5 2.25
1 3/8 3/8 -0.5 0.25
2 3/8 6/8 0.5 0.25
3 1/8 3/8 1.5 2.25
Step 4. Multiply the results obtained in step 3 by the corresponding probability.
Number of Probability X P(X) X-μ P(X)
Heads X P(X)
0 1/8 0 -1.5 2.25 0.28125
1 3/8 3/8 -0.5 0.25 0.09375
2 3/8 6/8 0.5 0.25 0. 09375
3 1/8 3/8 1.5 2.25 0.28125
1 μ = 1.5 = 0.75

The variance of the probability is 0.75

Get the square root of the variance to get the
standard deviation.

= 0.866025403
QUIZ!!!

The number of inquires received per day by the office of Administration in a

certain university is shown below. Find the variance and standard deviation.
Number of Inquiries X Probability P(X)
22 0.08
23 0.19
24 0.36
25 0.25
26 0.07
27 0.05
Look back and Reflect! Write your answer in a one whole yellow paper.

1. What are the steps in computing the variance and standards deviation of probability
distribution of a random variable? Write your answer on your own words 

2. Find alternative formulas in finding variance and standard deviation in discrete probability
distribution.

3. What does the variance and standard deviation of a probability distribution tell us? How do
you interpret the variance and standard deviation of a probability distribution?