Chapter 5: Probability Distribution KSSM Form 5 Additional Mathematics

Chapter 5: Probability Distribution

5.1 Random Variable
A. Discrete random variable
- A random variable that has finite and countable values is known as discrete random variable.
Eg:
� = {�: � = 0, 1, 3}

B. Continous random variable

- Continous random variable is a variable that can take any infinite value in a certain range.
Eg:
In a class, heaviest 75kg and lightest 45kg. If X represents the mass of any student of the class, X can
take any value from 45kg to 75 kg, such as 60 kg. Thus, X = {x:x is the mass of a student in kg, 45 ≤ x ≤ 75}
and hence, X is a continous random variable.

C. Probability distribution for discrete random variable

- The probabilities in the probability distribution of a discrete random variable X is a list of each
possible value of X together with the probability that X takes that value in one trial of the experiment.
Eg:
A fair coin is tossed twice. Let X represent the number of heads obtained.
a) Construct a probability distribution table of X.
b) Plot a graph to represent the probability distribution of X.

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Chapter 5: Probability Distribution KSSM Form 5 Additional Mathematics

1. X represents the number of female children in a family which has two children.
a) Construct a probability distribution table of X.
b) Plot a graph to represent the probability distribution of X.

5.2 Binomial Distribution

Binomial Distribution and Determining Probability of an Event for Binomial Distribution
- A trial with only two outcomes, i.e either ‘success’ or ‘failure’ is known as Bernoulli trial.
- If a Bernoulli trial is repeated many times, the experiment is known as binomial experiment.
- Let X be a discrete random variable that represents the number of successes in a binomial
experiment, then X is said to follow a binomial distribution (with number of trials = n and probability
of success = p ) and it is denoted by

�~�(�, �)

Probability of an event for binomial distribution

- The probability of obtaining r successes in a binomial distribution is given by

�(� = �) = nCr �� ��−�

Such that
P = Probability
X = Binomial discrete random variable
r = Number of successes (r = 0, 1, 2, …, n)
n = Number of trials
p = Probability of success (0 < p < 1)
q = Probability of failure (q = 1 - p)

- The binomial distribution can only be used for problems with a probability p that is unchanged.

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Chapter 5: Probability Distribution KSSM Form 5 Additional Mathematics

Eg:
Yvette has carried out 3 trials in an archery practice. The probability that Yvette strikes the target is
0.6. If X represents the number of times she strikes the target,
a) state the elements of the binomial discrete random variable X.
b) calculate the probability of each of the element of X.
c) plot a graph to represent binomial probability distribution of X.

Eg:
1
In a certain district, the probability that it rains in any day is . Find the probability that in a certain
4
week.
a) there is no rain at all,
b) at least 2 days it rains.

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Chapter 5: Probability Distribution KSSM Form 5 Additional Mathematics

2. Three fair coins (with the surface ‘tail’ and ‘head’) are tossed simultaneously. If X represents the
number of times of obtaining a ‘tail’,
a) state the elements of the binomial discrete random variable X,
b) calculate the probability of each of the elements of X.
c) plot a graph to represent the binomial probability distribution of X.

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3. The probability of the birth of a baby boy in a certain country is . In a family of four children, find
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the probability that there are
a) exactly 2 males,
b) at least one male.

4. 20% of the students fail Additional Mathematics in the SPM trial examination in a certain school. A
sample of 10 Form 5 students is chosen at random. Find the probability that
a) no students fail,
b) not more than 2 students fail,
c) at least 2 students fail.

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Chapter 5: Probability Distribution KSSM Form 5 Additional Mathematics

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5. In a bowling game, the probability of Mimi scoring a strike is . If she made 8 throws, find the
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probability that she scored a strike
a) not more than 2 students fail,
b) at least 2 times.

Determining Mean, Variance annd Standard Deviation for a Binomial Distribution

- If X is a binomial random variable such that X~B(n, p), then

Mean of X = ��
Variance of X = ���
Standard deviation of X = ���

Eg:
1
A company has 15 workers. The probability that a worker takes leaves on any day is
5
. On a certain day,
calculate
a) the probability that no worker takes leave,
b) the mean and standard deviation of the number of workers who take leaves.

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Chapter 5: Probability Distribution KSSM Form 5 Additional Mathematics

6. Past records show that 70% of the candidates passed the motorcycle riding tests at a certain driving
school. Find
a) the probability that at least 1 candidate passed the motorcycle riding tests in a sample of 5
participants chosen at random.
b) the mean and standard deviation of the number of candidates who passed the motorcycle riding test
if 100 of them took the test.

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7. X is a binomial discrete random variable with a mean of 2 and a standard deviation of . If X~B(n, p),
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find the value of p and of n.

8. The outcome of an experiment is a binomial discrete random variable (X) with a mean of 40 and a
variance of 24. If X~B(n, p), find the value of p and of n.