Illustrating Mean and

Variance of
Discrete Random Variable
1. Is the
probability
of x lies
between 0 and 1?
2. What is the
sum of all
probabilities of
X?
3. Is there a negative
probability? Is it
possible to have a
negative
probability?
4. How will you illustrate
the average or mean of
the probabilities of
discrete
random variable?
5. Can you show a process
where you can illustrate the
variance and the standard
deviation of the probability?
If you roll a fair die
several times, what
will be the average
outcome? Imagine
rolling it 6000 times.
By similarity with information and relative
frequencies, we can characterize
the mean of a discrete random variable
by utilizing probabilities from its
dispersion, as follows.
1. The mean is considered as a measure of the
`central location' of a random variable. It is the
weighted average of the values that random
variable X can take, with weights provided by the
probability distribution.
2. The Expected Value or Mean Value of a
discrete random variable x is can be
computed by first multiplying each possible
x value by the probability of observing
that value and then adding the resulting
quantities. Symbolically,
Therefore, the mean
(𝝁𝒙) is the point where the see-saw
balance. In other words, it is the
center of weights of the
observation.
Analyzing the illustration above,
then the mean or expected value
is 11. If you
are wondering why this happens
you may also follow with these
processes:
1. Separate 8 elements on the
left side of the mean then get
the average of those a (3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) which is equal
to 6.5
2. Do the same on the
right side of mean (12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
and 19) which is equal to
15.5.
3. Get the average
value of the numbers
6.5, 11, and 15.5. It
will be equal to 11
also
Assume that the x-axis is an
unbounded see-saw in both directions,
and we put weights corresponds to
probability P(X) at each associated
value(x) of random variable X.
Therefore, the mean () is the point where
the see-saw balance. In other words, it is
the center of weights
of the observation.
In the off chance, that value of X close to its
mean are likely and values
further away from have small probability, at
that point, the distribution of X will
be firmly concentrated around . For this
situation, the spread of the distribution
of X is little. On the contrary, if the expected
value of X some distance from its mean
are likely, the spread of the distribution of X
will be sizeable.
The variance of a random
variable displays the variability
or the dispersions
of the random variables. It
shows the distance of a
random variable from its
mean.
Remember that if the
value of the variance is
small, then the values of
the random variable are
close to the mean.