Chapter 5

Probability Distributions
Probability Distributions
 A random variable is a variable whose values are
determined by chance.

 Classify as discrete and continuous

 A discrete probability distribution consists of the

values a random variable can assume and the
corresponding probabilities of the values.
Example: Tossing a Coin S={T, H}

X= number of heads
X= 0 , 1
P(x=0) = P(T) =

P(x=1) = P(H)=

X 0 1
P(X)
Discrete Probability Distribution
Two Requirements For a Probability
Distribution
1. The Sum of the probabilities of all the
events in the sample space must be
equal 1

Σ P (X) = 1

2. The probability of each event in the

sample space must be between or equal
to 0 and 1.

0 ≤ P (X) ≤ 1.
:Example Determine whether each distribution is
a probability distribution
X 0 5 10 15 20
P(X)
√

X 0 2 4 6
P(X) -1 1.5 0.3 0.2 ×

X 1 2 3 4
P(X) √
X 2 3 7
P(X) 0.5 0.3 0.4
×
Example: Tossing Coins
Represent graphically the probability distribution for the sample space for
tossing three coins.
.
S={TTT , TTH , THT , HTT , HHT , HTH , THH , HHH}
X= number of heads
X= 0 , 1, 2 , 3

P(x=0) = P({TTT}) =

P(x=1) = P({TTH ,THT,HTT}) =

P(x=2) = P({HHT,HTH,THH}) =

P(x=3) = P(HHH) =
 Probability Distribution Table

Number of heads (X) 0 1 2 3

Probability P(X)

0 1 2 3
 Mean, Variance, Standard Deviation, and
Expectation

MeanThe mean of a random variable with a discrete

probability distribution .

µ = X1 . P(X1) + X2 . P(X2) + X3 . P(X3)+ … + Xn . P(Xn)

µ = ∑ X . P(X)
Where X1, X2 , X3 ,…, Xn are the outcomes and P(X1), P(X2),
P(X3), …, P(Xn) are the corresponding probabilities.
 Variance and Standard Deviation
The formula for the variance of a probability distribution is

:Variance

:Standard Deviation
 Example: Children in Family
In a family with two children ,find the mean of the number
of children who will be girls.
X 0 1 2
:Solution
P(X)

1 2 1
µ= ∑X . P(X)= 0.
4
 1.
4
 2.
4
1

=
 21 22 2 1 2
0
 4 .  1 .  2 .   1 2.25  1 1.25
 4 4

   2  1.25 1.11
:Example Rolling a Die
Compute the variance and standard deviation for the
probability distribution in a die rolling example.

: Solution
 2   X 2 P  X    2
 2 12 16  22 16  32 16  42 16
 5   6   3.5 
2 1 2 1 2
6 6

  2.9
2 Variance

,   1.7 Standard Deviation

:Example Selecting Numbered Balls
A box contains 5 balls .Two are numbered 3, one is numbered
4, and two are numbered 5. The balls are mixed, and one is
selected at random. After a ball is selected, its number is
recorded, then it is returned. If the experiment is repeated
many times, find the variance and standard deviation of the
numbers on the balls.
: Solution

Number on each ball (X) 3 4 5

Probability P(X)
 Number on each ball (X) 3 4 5
Probability P(X)

: Step 1 2 1 2
= µ = ∑X . P(X) 3.  4.  5. 1.5
5 5 5
: Step 2
Expectation
 The expected value, or expectation, of a discrete
random variable of a probability distribution is the
theoretical average of the variable.
 The expected value is, by definition, the mean of the
probability distribution.

E  X    X P  X 
Example: Winning Tickets
One thousand tickets are sold at $1 each for a color
television valued at $350. What is the expected value of the
gain if you purchase one ticket?
: Solution Win Lose
Gain (X) $349 -$1
Probability P(X)
Example: Winning Tickets
One thousand tickets are sold at $1 each for four prizes
of $100, $50, $25, and $10. After each prize drawing, the
winning ticket is then returned to the pool of tickets.
What is the expected value if you purchase two tickets?
GainX $98 $48 $23 $8 $2-

ProbabilityP(X) 2 2 2 2 992
1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

E  X  $98 1000
2
 $48 1000
2
 $23 1000
2

 $8 1000
2
  $2 1000
992
  $1.63
The Binomial Distribution
 Many types of probability problems have
only two possible outcomes or they can be
reduced to two outcomes.

 Examples include when a coin is tossed it

can land on heads or tails, when a baby is
born it is either a boy or girl, etc.
The Binomial Distribution
The binomial experiment is a probability
experiment that satisfies these requirements:
1. Each trial can have only two possible
outcomes: success or failure.
2. There must be a fixed number of trials.
3. The outcomes of each trial must be
independent of each other.
4. The probability of success must remain the
same for each trial.
Notation for the Binomial Distribution
P(S) The symbol for the probability of success
P(F) The symbol for the probability of failure
p The numerical probability of success
q The numerical probability of failure
P(S) = p and P(F) = 1 – p = q
n The number of trials
X The number of successes
Note that X = 0, 1, 2, 3,..., n
The Binomial Distribution
In a binomial experiment, the probability
of exactly X successes in n trials is

n!
P X   X
p q n X

n - X ! X !
 Example: Tossing Coins
A coin is tossed 3 times. Find the probability of getting
exactly two heads.
n=3
: Solution
x=2

=p
Example: Survey on Doctor Visits
A survey found that one out of five Americans say he or
she has visited a doctor in any given month. If 10 people
are selected at random, find the probability that exactly 3
will have visited a doctor last month.
n = 10
n!
P X   p X q n  X X=3
n - X ! X !
n 10,"one out of five"  p  15 , X 3 =p
3 7
10!  1   4
P 3       0.201
7!3!  5   5
Example: Survey on Employment
A survey from Teenage Research Unlimited (Northbrook, Illinois) found
that 30% of teenage consumers receive their spending money from part-
time jobs. If 5 teenagers are selected at random, find the probability that
at least 3 of them will have part-time jobs.
: Solution n=5
5!
P 3  0.30  0.70  0.132
3 2

2!3! X = 3,4,5
5!
P 4   0.30  0.70  0.028
4 1

1!4!
5! p = 0.30
P 5   0.30  0.70  0.002
5 0

0!5!
q = 0.70
P  X 3  0.132
0.028
0.002
 0.162
 Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation for
the Binomial Distribution

Example: Tossing a Coin
A coin is tossed 4 times
Find the mean, variance and standard deviation of
number of heads that will be obtained.
n=4

=p
Example: Rolling a Die
A die is rolled 360 times , find the mean ,
variance and standard deviation of the
number of 4s that will be rolled . n = 360

=p