FINDING POSSIBLE

VALUES OF RANDOM
VARIABLES
PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
By: Rufa Mae F. Taladtad
STEPS IN FINDING POSSIBLE VALUES
OF RANDOM VARIABLE

1. Determine 2. Count the number of each

the sample outcome of the variable in
the sample space and assign
space. number to the outcome.
(refers to all possible
(let us dig deeper about these steps for
outcomes)
you to understand more)
 Tossing three coins
Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y
be the random variable representing the
number of tails that occur. Find the
values of the random variable Y.
1. Determine the S = {TTT, TTH, THT, HTT, HHT, HTH,
sample space. THH, HHH}
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y

2. Count the TTT 3

number of tails in TTH 2
each outcome in THT 2
the sample space HTT 2
and assign this HHT 1
number to this HTH 1
outcome. THH 1
HHH 0
The possible values of
the random variable Y
are 0, 1, 2, and 3.
 Drawing of balls from a box
Two balls are drawn in succession without
replacement from a box containing 5 red balls
and 6 yellow balls. Let Z be the random
variable representing the number of yellow
balls. Find the values of the random variable Z.
1. Determine the S = {RR, RY, YR, YY}
sample space.
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y

2. Count the RR 0
number of yellow
balls in each RY 1
outcome in the
sample space and YR 1
assign this number
to this outcome. YY 2
The possible values of
the random variable Z
are 0, 1, and 2.
 Defective Cellphone
Suppose three cellphones are tested at
random. Let X be the random variable
representing the number of defective
cellphones that occur. Find the values of the
random variable X.
1. Determine the S = {DDD, DDN, DND, NDD, NDN, NND,
DNN, DDD}
sample space.
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y

2. Count the DDD 3

number of DDN 2
defective DND 2
cellphones in each NDD 2
outcome in the NDN 1
sample space and NND 1
assign this number DNN 1
to this outcome. NNN 0
 The possible values of
the random variable X
are 0, 1, 2 and 3.
 Tossing two coins
Suppose two coins are tossed. Let Z be the
random variable representing the number of
heads that occur. Find the values of the
random variable Z.
1. Determine the S = {HH, HT, TH, TT}
sample space.
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y

2. Count the HH 2
number of heads
in each outcome HT 1
in the sample
space and assign TH 1
this number to
this outcome. TT 0
The possible values of
the random variable Z
are 0, 1, and 2.
 Drawing two balls
In a box, there are two balls – one white and one
yellow. Two balls are picked one at a time with
replacement. Let X be the random variable
representing the number of white balls. Find the
values of the random variable X.
1. Determine the S = {WW, WY, YW, YY}
sample space.
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y

2. Count the WW 2
number of white
balls in each WY 1
outcome in the
sample space and YW 1
assign this
number to this YY 0
outcome.
 The possible values of
the random variable X
are 0, 1, and 2.