Lesson 1

Random Variables and

Probability Distribution

Prepared by:
Ms. Mary Guia Villaspin, LPT
Objectives
• Recall the different key concepts in statistics.
• Illustrate random variable (discrete and continuous).
• Distinguishes between a discrete and a continuous random variable.
• Finds the possible values of a random variable.
• Illustrates a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its
properties.
• Constructs the probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its
corresponding histogram.
• Computes probabilities corresponding to a given random variable.

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution
Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution
Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution
 Module 1
Inclusive Dates: January 23 – 27, 2023

Course Code: STATPR

Course Title: STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY
Course Description: The students must know how to find the mean and variance of a random variable, to
apply sampling techniques and distributions, to estimate population mean and
proportion, to perform hypothesis testing on population mean and proportion, and to
perform correlation and regression analyses on real-life problems.
Course Unit: 1
Content Standard: The learners demonstrate an understanding of key concepts of random variables and
probability distributions.
Performance Standard: The learners is able to apply an appropriate random variable for a given real-life
problem (such as in decision making and games of chance).
DepEd Most Essential Learning Competencies: 1. Distinguishes between a discrete and a continuous random variable.
2. Illustrate a probability distribution for a discrete random variable and its properties.
3. Constructs the probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its
histogram.

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

Introduction to Statistics and Probability
Statistics

descriptive inferential

Four essential processes in Statistics

collection of data

organization & presentation of data

analysis of data
interpretation of data

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

 Variable values or characteristics

Data body of information

according to nature
according to arrangement

quantitative qualitative
ungrouped grouped

according to source

discrete continuous

primary secondary

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

Discrete and Continuous Random Variable

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

 Random variable – function that associates a real number to each element in the sample space.
Random variables
elements
discrete continuous

countable measurable

discrete random variables continuous random variables

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇
𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝑽𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

 Example 1: Number of Heads
Liza wants to determine what are the possible outcomes when
she toss three coins once and count how many heads occur on her
experiment. She let 𝑋 be the random variable representing the number
of heads that occur.
Experiment – any activity which can be done repeatedly
𝑯 − 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅
Sample Space – set of all possible outcomes of an experiment
𝑻 − 𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

1. Determine the sample space
3rd coin
𝑯 − 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 2nd coin H HHH
𝑻 − 𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍 1st coin H T HHT 𝑯𝑯𝑯, 𝑯𝑯𝑻, 𝑯𝑻𝑯, 𝑯𝑻𝑻,

H
𝑺=
𝑻𝑯𝑯, 𝑻𝑯𝑻, 𝑻𝑻𝑯, 𝑻𝑻𝑻
H HTH
T T HTT 𝑿𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒

H THH 𝑋 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠

H
𝑛 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

T THT
T
3
H TTH 2 = 8 outcomes

T T TTT
Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution
2. Count the number heads in each outcome

Random Variable X
Possible Outcomes
(number of heads)
HHH 3
The possible values of
HHT 2
HTT 1 the random variable X
HTH 2 are 0, 1, 2, and 3.
THH 2
THT 1
TTH 1
TTT 0
Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution
 Probability Distribution of Discrete Random Variables

Probability means the chance that something will happen or simply means “possibility”.

𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝑷 𝒙 =
𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔

Example: getting an even number in a single toss of a die

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

𝟑 𝟏
𝑷 𝒙 = =
𝟔 𝟐

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

 Example 1.1: Number of Heads
Liza wants to determine what are the possible outcomes when she toss
three coins once and count how many heads occur on her experiment. She let 𝑋
be the random variable representing the number of heads that occur. Find the
probability of each of the values of the random variable X.

Steps in solving the probability of an experiment:

1. Determine the sample space
2. Find the values of a random variable
3. Assign probability values to each value of the random variable.

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

Possible Random Variable X
Number of Probability
Outcomes (number of heads)
Heads (X) P(X)
HHH 3
HHT 2 1
0
HTT 1 𝑷 𝒙 =
𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 8
𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔
HTH 2 1
3
8 outcomes 8
THH 2
3
THT 1 2
8
TTH 1
1
TTT 0 3 ෍𝑃 𝑋 = 𝟏
8

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

 To construct a discrete probability distribution or a probability mass
function make a two-row table consists of assumed values of random
variable and its corresponding probability.

Table 2. The Probability Distribution or the Probability Mass Function of

Discrete Random Variable X

Number of Heads (X) 0 1 2 3

1 3 3 1
Probability P(X)
8 8 8 8

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

 Example 2: Number of Yellow Balls
Two balls are Possible Outcomes Random Variable Z
(number of yellow balls)
drawn in succession without 2nd drawn
YY 2
YB 1
replacement from an urn 1st drawn
Y BY 1
containing 5 blue balls and Y B BB 0
6 yellow balls. Let Z be the
random variable Number of Yellow balls (Z) Probability P(Z)
representing the number of
1
0
yellow balls. Construct the Y 4
probability distribution of B
B 1 1
the random variable Z. 2

1
2
4

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

 Table 4. The Probability Distribution or the Table 4.1. The Probability Distribution
Probability Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable Z or the Probability Mass Function of
Discrete Random Variable Z
Number of Yellow balls (Z) 0 1 2
0.6
1 1 1
Probability P(Z) 0.5
4 2 4
0.4

Probability p(Z)
0.3

How to construct histogram? 0.2

•Plot the values of the random variable along the 0.1

horizontal axis. 0
0 1 2
Number of Yellow Balls (Z)
•Plot the probabilities along the vertical axis.

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution

Written Work 1 January 23, 2023

Write your answer in a whole sheet of paper (intermediate). Each of the problem is
worth 5 points.

A. Suppose three cell phones are tested at random. Let D represent the defective cell phone
and let N represent the non-defective cell phone. If we let X be the random variable for the
number of defective cellphones, construct the probability distribution of discrete random
variable X.

B. Construct a probability distribution for the data and draw a histogram of the
distribution.

1. The possibilities that a surgeon operates 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 patients in any one day are 0.15,
0.20, 0.25, 0.20 and 0.20, respectively.
1 1 1 1 1 1
2. The possibilities that a bias die will fall as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 are , , , , , and
2 6 12 12 12 12
respectively.

Lesson 1: Random Variables and Probability Distribution