INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Unit 1 Random Variables and Probability Distributions

Lesson 2. Mean, Variance, and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Random
Variable
At the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:
1. illustrate the mean, variance, and standard deviation of a discrete random
variable, and
2 calculate the mean, Variance, and standard deviation of a discrete random
variable

The mean of a discrete random variable X is also called the expected value of X. It is
the weighted average of all the values that the random variable X would assume in the long
run. The discrete random variable X assumes values or outcomes in every trial of an
experiment with their corresponding probabilities. The expected value of X is the average of
the outcomes that is likely to be obtained if the trials are repeated over and over again. The
expected value of X is denoted by E(X).
The mean or expected value of a discrete random variable X is computed using the
following formula:
E(X)= Σ(xP(x))
where
X = discrete random variable
x= outcome or value of the random variable
P(x) = probability of the outcome x.

Example 1:
A researcher surveyed the households in a small town. The random variable X represents
the number of college graduates in the households. The probability distribution of X is shown
below.

x 0 1 2
P (x) 0.25 0.50 0.25

Find the mean or expected value of x.

Solution:
x P (x) x P (x)
0 0.25 0
1 0.50 0.50
2 0.25 0.50
Σ(xP(x)) = 1.00

So, E(x) = Σ(xP(x))

= 1.00
Reference: Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability by Fernando B. Orines.
 INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The expected value is 1. So the average number of college graduates in the

household of the small town is one.

Example 2:
A random variable X has this probability distribution:

x 1 2 3 4
P (x) 0.10 0.20 0.45 0.25

Calculate expected value of x.

Solution:
x P (x) x P (x)
1 0.10 0.10
2 0.20 0.40
3 0.45 1.35
4 0.25 1.00
Σ(xP(x)) = 2.85

So, E(x) = 2.85.

Example 3:
A security guard recorded the number of people entering the bank every hour during one
working day. The random variable X represents the number ot people who entered the
bank. The probability distribution of X is shown below.

x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P (x) 0 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1

What is the expected number of people who enters the bank every hour?

Solution:
x P (x) x P (x)
0 0 0.0
1 0.1 0.1
2 0.2 0.4
3 0.4 1.2
4 0.2 0.8
5 0.1 0.5
Σ(xP(x)) = 3.0

So, E(x) = 3.0.

Therefore, the average number of people entering the bank every hour during that
working day is three.

Reference: Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability by Fernando B. Orines.

 INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Random Variable

The variance of a random variable X is denoted by a. lt can likewise be written as

Var (X). The variance of a random variable is the expected value of the square of the
difference between the assumed value of random variable and the mean. The variance of X
is:
Var (X) = ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥)
or 𝜎 2 = ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥)
where:
x = Outcome
𝜇 = population mean
P (x) = probability of the outcome

The larger the value of the variance, the farther are the values of X from the mean.
The variance is tricky to interpret since it uses the square of the unit of measure of X. So, it
is easier to interpret the value of t standard deviation because it uses the same unit of
measure of X.
The standard deviation of a discrete random variable X is written as a. lt is the square
root of the variance. The standard deviation is computed as

𝜎 = √∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥)
Example 4:
Determine the variance and the standard deviation of the following probability mass
function.
x P(x)
1 0.15
2 0.25
3 0.30
4 0.15
5 0.10
6 0.05
Solution:
Steps
1. Find the expected value.
2. Subtract the expected value from each outcome. Square each difference.
3. Multiply each squared difference by the corresponding probability
4. Sum up all the figures obtained in Step 3.

No. P(x) xP(x) x-𝜇 (x - 𝜇)2 (x - 𝜇)2 P(x)

1 0.15 0.15 1 - 2.95 = -1.95 3.8025 0.570375
2 0.25 0.50 2 - 2.95 = -.095 0.9025 0.225625
3 0.30 0.90 3 - 2.95 = 0.05 0.0025 0.000750
4 0.15 0.60 4 - 2.95 = 1.05 1.1025 0.165375
5 0.10 0.50 5 - 2.95 = 2.05 4.2025 0.420250
6 0.05 0.30 6 - 2.95 = 3.05 9.3025 0.465125
∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥)] =2.95 ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇)2 𝑃(𝑥) = 1.8475
Reference: Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability by Fernando B. Orines.
 INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

E(X) = ∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥 )] 𝜎 2 = ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥) 𝜎 = √∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥)

= 2.95 = 1.8475 ≈ 1.85 = √1.8475
= 1.359227 ≈ 1.36

Example 5:
Determine the variance and the standard deviation of the following probability mass
function.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1

Solution:
No. P(x) xP(x) x-𝜇 (x - 𝜇)2 (x - 𝜇)2 P(x)
0 0.1 0 0 - 2.1 = - 2.1 4.41 0.441
1 0.2 0.2 1 - 2.1 = - 1.1 1.21 0.242
2 0.3 0.6 2 - 2.1 = - 0.1 0.01 0.003
3 0.3 0.9 3 - 2.1 = 0.9 0.81 0.243
4 0.1 0.4 4 - 2.1 = 1.9 3.61 0.361
∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥)] = 2.1 ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇)2 𝑃(𝑥) = 1.29

𝜇 = ∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥 )] 𝜎 2 = ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥) 𝜎 = √∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥)

= 2.1 = 1.29 = √1.8475
= 1.14

Alternative Method
The variance of a discrete random variable can also be determined by subtracting
the square of its mean from the summation of the products of the squares of the outcomes
and their corresponding probabilities.
Hence, the following formula:
𝜎 2 = ∑[𝑥 2 𝑃 (𝑥 )] − (∑[𝑥𝑃 (𝑥 )]2

Using Example 5,
x P(x) xP(x) x2 x2 P(x)
0 0.1 0 0 0
1 0.2 0.2 1 0.2
2 0.3 0.6 4 1.2
3 0.3 0.9 9 2.7
4 0.1 0.4 16 1.6
∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥)] = 2.1 ∑[𝑥 2 𝑃(𝑥)] = 5.7

𝜎 2 = ∑[𝑥 2 𝑃 (𝑥 )] − (∑[𝑥𝑃 (𝑥 )]2

= 5.7 – (2.1)2
= 5.7 – 4.41
= 1.29
𝜎 = √1.29 = 1.14

Reference: Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability by Fernando B. Orines.

 INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Example 6:
A discrete random variable X has this probability distribution.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.12 0.25 0.18 0.35 0.10

Find the variance and the standard deviation of X.

Solution:
No. P(x) xP(x) x-𝜇 (x - 𝜇)2 (x - 𝜇)2 P(x)
0 0.12 0 0 - 2.06 = -2.06 4.2436 0.509232
1 0.25 0.25 1 - 2.06 = -1.06 1.1236 0.280900
2 0.18 0.36 2 - 2.06 = -0.06 0.0036 0.000648
3 0.35 1.05 3 - 2.06 = 0.94 0.8836 0.309260
4 0.10 0.40 4 - 2.06 = 1.94 3.7636 0.376360
∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥)] = 2.06 ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇)2 𝑃(𝑥) = 1.4764

𝜇 = ∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥 )] 𝜎 2 = ∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥) 𝜎 = √∑[(𝑥 − 𝜇 )2 𝑃(𝑥)

= 2.06 = 1.4764 ≈ 1.48 = √1.4764
= 1.2151 ≈ 1.22
Alternative Method
x P(x) xP(x) x2 x2 P(x)
0 0.12 0 0 0
1 0.25 0.25 1 0.25
2 0.18 0.36 4 1.72
3 0.35 1.05 9 3.15
4 0.10 0.40 16 1.60
∑[𝑥𝑃(𝑥)] = 2.06 ∑[𝑥 2 𝑃(𝑥)] = 5.72

𝜎 2 = ∑[𝑥 2 𝑃 (𝑥 )] − (∑[𝑥𝑃 (𝑥 )]2

= 5.72 – (2.1)2
= 5.72 – 4.41
= 1.4764
𝜎 = √1.4764 = ≈ 1.22

Reference: Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability by Fernando B. Orines.

 INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Learning Task 1

A. Find the expected value of each probability mass function below.

1.
x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 0.15 0.32 0.37 0.16

2.
x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 0.17 0.33 0.36 0.14

3.
x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 0.20 0.30 0.32 0.18

4.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.08 0.19 0.39 0.27 0.07

5.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.07 0.30 0.35 0.23 0.05

B. Find the variance and standard deviation of each probability distributions below.

6.
x 0 1 2 3
P(x) 0.15 0.38 0.33 0.1

7.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.09 0.19 0.39 0.22 0.11

8.
x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.11 0.22 0.33 0.25 0.09

9.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.05 0.13 0.31 0.30 0.14 0.07

10.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.10 0.41 0.19 0.15 0.10 0.05
Reference: Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability by Fernando B. Orines.
 INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Reference: Next Century Mathematics: Statistics and Probability by Fernando B. Orines.