COMPUTING THE

VARIANCE OF A
DISCRETE PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
 OBJECTIVES
•The learner will be able to:
• Illustrate and calculate the variance and
standard deviation of a discrete random
variable;
• Interpret the variance and standard deviation
of a discrete random variable; and
• Solve problems involving variance and
standard deviation of a probability
distribution.
COMPUTE THE VARIANCE OF THIS
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION
NUMBER OF
SCORE
STUDENTS
5 3
8 5
10 4
12 5
15 3
FOLLOW THE STEPS GIVEN BELOW.
COMPLETE THE TABLES SHOWN FOR
EACH STEP.

STEP 1 : Compute the mean

by using the formula
 NUMBER OF
SCORE (X) f(X)
STUDENTS (f)
5 3
8 5
10 4
12 5
15 3
n = 20
STEP 2 : Subtract the
mean from each score.
Square the results.
SCORE NUMBER OF
X-X (X – X)²
(X) STUDENTS (f)

5 3
8 5
10 4
12 5
15 3
n = 20
STEP 3 : Multiply the results to
the corresponding frequency.
Add the results in the f(X-X)²
column.
SCORE NUMBER OF
X - X (X – X)² f(X – X)²
(X) STUDENTS (f)
5 3
8 5
10 4
12 5
15 3
∑f(X – X)²
n = 20
The variance and standard
deviation describe the amount of
spread, dispersion, or
variability of the items in a
distribution.
•How do you describe the spread or
dispersion in a probability distribution?
•This lesson will teach us how to compute
the variance and standard deviation of a
discrete probability distribution.
 ACTIVITY 1
NUMBER OF CARS SOLD
The number of cars sold per day at a local car
dealership, along with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table.
Compute the variance and the standard deviation of
the probability distribution by following the given
steps.
Number of Cars Sold (X) Probability P(X)

4
 STEPS IN FINDING THE VARIANCE
AND STANDARD DEVIATION
1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the results obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4.
6. Get the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.
1.Find the mean of the
probability distribution.
Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(X) X · P(X)

0 0

µ = ∑ X · P(X) =
2. Subtract the mean from
each value of the random
variable X.
X P(X) X · P(X) X-µ

0 0 0 – 2.2 = -2.2

1 1 – 2.2 = -1.2

2 2 – 2.2 = -0.2

3 3 – 2.2 = 0.8

4 4 – 2.2 = 1.8
3. Square the
results obtained in
Step 2.
X P(X) X · P(X) X-µ (X - µ)²

0 0 -2.2 4.84

1 -1.2 1.44

2 -0.2 0.04

3 0.8 0.64

4 1.8 3.24
4. Multiply the results
obtained in Step 3 by the
corresponding probability.
X P(X) X · P(X) X-µ (X - µ)² (X - µ)² · P(X)

0 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484

1 -1.2 1.44 0.288

2 -0.2 0.04 0.012

3 0.8 0.64 0.128

4 1.8 3.24 0.648

5. Get the sum of the
results obtained in Step
4.
X P(X) X · P(X) X-µ (X - µ)² (X - µ)² · P(X)

0 0 -2.2 4.84 0.484

1 -1.2 1.44 0.288

2 -0.2 0.04 0.012

3 0.8 0.64 0.128

4 1.8 3.24 0.648

σ² = (X - µ)² · P(X) = 1.56

6. Get the square root of the variance to get
the standard deviation.
The variance of the probability distribution
is 1.56.
The standard deviation is σ = = 1.25
FORMULA FOR THE VARIANCE AND STANDARD
DEVIATION OF A DISCRETE PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
The variance of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:
σ² = (X - µ)² · P(X)
The standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution is given by the formula:
σ=
where:
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random variable X
µ = mean of the probability distribution
The variance and standard
deviation can be obtained using
a shorter formula and procedure.
ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE IN FINDING THE
VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION OF A
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Multiply the square of the value of the random
variable X to its corresponding probability.
3. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 2.
4. Subtract the square of the mean from the results
obtained in Step 3.
1.Find the mean of the
probability distribution using
the formula µ = ∑ X · P(X)
Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(X) X · P(X)

0 0

µ = ∑ X · P(X) =
2. Multiply the square of the
value of the random variable X
to its corresponding probability.
Number of Cars Probability
Sold X P(X) X · P(X) X² · P(X)

0 0 0² ·

1 1² ·

2 2² ·

3 3² ·

4 4² ·
3. Get the sum of the
results obtained in Step
2.
Number of Cars Probability
Sold X P(X) X · P(X) X² · P(X)

0 0 0² ·

1 1² ·

2 2² ·

3 3² ·

4 4² ·

µ = ∑ X² · P(X) =
4. Subtract the mean from the results
obtained in Step 3 to get the
variance. So, the formula for the
variance of a probability distribution
is σ² = ∑X² · P(X) - µ²
The variance is
σ² = ∑X² · P(X) - µ²
= 6.4 – (2.2)²
σ² = 1.56
The standard deviation is the square of the
variance. Thus,
σ=
σ=
σ=
σ=
 ACTIVITY 2
NUMBER OF HEADS
When three coins are tossed, the probability
distribution for the random variable X representing
the number of times that heads turn up is given
below. Compute the variance and standard
deviation of the probability distribution.
Number of Head(X) Probability P(X)
0

3
Number of Head(X) Probability P(X) X · P(X)

0 0

3
µ = ∑ X · P(X) =
Number of Probability
Head(X) P(X) X · P(X) X² · P(X)

0 0 0² ·

1 1² ·

2 2² ·

3 3² ·
µ = ∑ X² · P(X) =
The variance is given by
σ² = ∑X² · P(X) - µ²
= 3 – (1.5)²
σ² = 0.75
The standard deviation is
σ = = 0.87
 ACTIVITY 3
NUMBER OF ITEMS SOLD
The number of items sold per day at a retail
store, with its corresponding probabilities is
shown in the table. Find the variance and
standard deviation of the probability
distribution.
Number of Items Sold (X) Probability P(X)
19 0.20
20 0.20
21 0.30
22 0.20
23 0.10
 LOOK BACK AND REFLECT
• What are the steps in computing the variance and standard
deviation of a probability distribution of a random variable?
• How it is similar to the procedure in finding the variance and
standard deviation of a frequency distribution?
• Compare the formulas for finding the variance and standard
deviation of a frequency distribution and that of a probability
distribution.
 LOOK BACK AND REFLECT
• What does the variance and standard deviation of a
probability distribution tell us?
• How do you interpret the variance and standard
deviation of a probability distribution?
• Which formula is easier to use in finding the variance
and standard deviation of a probability distribution?
 EXERCISES:
Complete the table below and find
the variance and standard deviation
of the following distributions.
Number of Probability
Head(X) P(X) X · P(X) X² · P(X)

5
Number of Probability
Head(X) P(X) X · P(X) X² · P(X)
2
4
6
8
10
3. Find the variance and standard deviation
of the probability distribution of a random
variable X which can take only the values
of 2, 4, 5, and 9, given that , .
4. Find the variance and standard
deviation of the probability
distribution of a random variable X
if P(X) for X = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
 HOPE YOU
LEARN
SOMETHING! 
See you on next meeting!