CONCEPT OF

RANDOM
VARIABLES
Learning Objectives:
▹ Find possible values of a random variable
▹ Illustrate a probability distribution for a
discrete random variable and its properties 2
CONCEPT OF RANDOM VARIABLES
Probability Experiment (Random Experiment)
- experiment that generates a set of well-
defined outcomes.
Random Variables
- characteristics or measurement that take
on value as determined by chance 3

- desired result in a probability experiment

Sample Space
- all possible outcomes in probability
experiment
Example:
Complete the table.
Probability Experiment Sample Space
Tossing a coin {H,T}

Rolling a die {1,2,3,4,5,6}

Tossing a coin 3 times {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH,
consecutively TTT}
4
Rolling a die twice {(1,1),(1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (1,5), (1,6),
(2,1), (2,2), (2,3), (2,4), (2,5), (2,6),
(3,1),(3,2), (3,3), (3,4), (3,5), (3,6),
(4,1), (4,2), (4,3), (4,4), (4,5), (4,6),
(5,1),(5,2), (5,3), (5,4), (5,5), (5,6),
(6,1), (6,2), (6,3), (6,4), (6,5), (6,6)}
PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
Probability Distribution
A probability distribution refers to the arrangement
of the values of a random variable and
probabilities assigned to them.

Properties of a probability distribution:

▹ The total probability of all values should be 6

equal to 1.
▹ The probability of each value should be more
than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1.
Probability Distribution
Identify if each of the following is an appropriate probability
distribution or not.

Random variable, X 1 2 3 4 5
Probability, P(X) 0.22 0.45 0.13 0.10 0.10

Random variable, X 4 6 7 8 10
Probability, P(X) -0.22 0.45 0.30 0.12 -0.65 7

Random variable, X 4 6 9 10 13
Probability, P(X) 1.22 0.44 0.06 0.01 0.17

Random variable, X 2 4 6 8 10
Probability, P(X) 0.42 0.05 0.21 0.04 0.28

Random variable, X 0 1 2 3 4
Probability, P(X) 2/15 2/15 1/5 4/15 1/3
Probability Distribution
Example:
A store that sells candy recorded how many packs of
candy it sold per customer. This record was used to
create a probability distribution of the number of packs
of candy sold per customer.

8
Number of packs
0 1 2 3 4
sold per customer, X
Probability, P(X) 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1
 Probability Distribution
Example 1:
Create a probability distribution for the number of
heads in tossing a coin three times consecutively.
Number of heads, X 0 1 2 3
Probability, P(X)
9

Example 2:
The Dela Cruz family has four children. Construct a
probability distribution for the number of boys in their
family.
Number of boys, X 0 1 2 3 4
Probability, P(X)
 Probability Distribution
Example 1:
The number of heads in tossing a coin three times
consecutively
Number of heads, X 0 1 2 3
Probability, P(X) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
10

Example 2:
The number of boys in the Dela Cruz family.

Number of boys, X 0 1 2 3 4
Probability, P(X) 1/16 ¼ 3/8 ¼ 1/16
Probability Histogram
A histogram is a way of representing a
probability using vertical bars placed side by
side. The height of each bar represents the
probability assigned to the value of a random
variable.
11
Histogram
X P(X)
0.4
1 0.1
Probability, P(X)

0.3
2 0.2
3 0.35 0.2

4 0.25 0.1

5 0.1 0
1 2 3 4 5
Random variable, X
Probability Histogram
Example:
A store that sells candy recorded how many packs of candy it
sold per customer. This record was used to create a probability
distribution of the number of packs of candy sold per customer.
Number of packs
0 1 2 3 4
sold per customer, X
Probability, P(X) 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1 12

Histogram
0.5
0.4
Probability, P(X)

0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4
Number of packs sold per customer, X