Random Variables &

Discrete Probability
Distributions
 Random Variables
A random variable x represents a numerical value
associated with each outcome of a probability distribution.
Basically it is just a symbol that represents the outcome of
an experiment.
X = number of heads when the experiment is flipping a coin
20 times.
C = the daily change in a stock price.
R = the number of miles per gallon you get on your auto
during a family vacation.
Y = the amount of medication in a blood pressure pill.

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 Random Variables

A random variable is discrete if it has a finite or countable

number of possible outcomes that can be listed.
x
0 2 4 6 8 10

A random variable is continuous if it has an uncountable

number or possible outcomes, represented by the intervals
on a number line.
x
0 2 4 6 8 10

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 Random Variables
Example:
Decide if the random variable x is discrete or continuous.
a.) The distance your car travels on a tank of gas
The distance your car travels is a continuous
random variable because it is a measurement that
cannot be counted. (All measurements are
continuous random variables.)

b.) The number of students in a statistics class

The number of students is a discrete random
variable because it can be counted.
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 Random variables can be discrete or
continuous

Discrete random variables have a countable

number of outcomes
Examples: Dead/alive, treatment, dice, counts, etc.

Continuous random variables have an infinite

continuum of possible values.
Examples: blood pressure, weight, the speed of a car, the real
numbers from 1 to 6.

Lets Try! Page 4 - 5

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 Probability functions

A probability function maps the possible

values of x against their respective
probabilities of occurrence, p(x)
p(x) is a number from 0 to 1.0.
The area under a probability function is
always 1.

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Discrete example: roll of a die

p(x)

1/6

x
1 2 3 4 5 6

P(x) 1
all x
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Probability mass function

x p(x)
1 p(x=1)=1/6

2 p(x=2)=1/6

3 p(x=3)=1/6

4 p(x=4)=1/6

5 p(x=5)=1/6

6 p(x=6)=1/6
1.0
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 Practice Problem:
The number of patients seen in the ER in any given hour is a
random variable represented by x. The probability distribution
for x is:

x 10 11 12 13 14
P(x) .4 .2 .2 .1 .1
Find the probability that in a given hour:
a. exactly 14 patients arrive p(x=14)= .1

b. At least 12 patients arrive p(x12)= (.2 + .1 +.1) = .4

c. At most 11 patients arrive p(x11)= (.4 +.2) = .6

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 Review Question 1

If you toss a die, whats the probability that you

roll a 3 or less?

a. 1/6
b. 1/3
c. 1/2
d. 5/6
e. 1.0

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 Review Question 1

If you toss a die, whats the probability that you

roll a 3 or less?

a. 1/6
b. 1/3
c. 1/2
d. 5/6
e. 1.0

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 Review Question 2

Two dice are rolled and the sum of the face

values is six? What is the probability that at
least one of the dice came up a 3?

a. 1/5
b. 2/3
c. 1/2
d. 5/6
e. 1.0

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 Review Question 2

Two dice are rolled and the sum of the face

values is six. What is the probability that at least
one of the dice came up a 3?

a. 1/5 How can you get a 6 on two

b. 2/3 dice? 1-5, 5-1, 2-4, 4-2, 3-3
c. 1/2 One of these five has a 3.
d. 5/6
1/5
e. 1.0

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 Probability
Distributions
Discrete Probability Distributions
A discrete probability distribution lists each possible value
the random variable can assume, together with its
probability. A probability distribution must satisfy the
following conditions.

In Words In Symbols
1. The probability of each value of 0 P (x) 1
the discrete random variable is
between 0 and 1, inclusive.

2. The sum of all the probabilities P (x) = 1

is 1.

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Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Guidelines
Let x be a discrete random variable with possible
outcomes x1, x2, , xn.
1. Make a frequency distribution for the possible
outcomes.
2. Find the sum of the frequencies.
3. Find the probability of each possible outcome by
dividing its frequency by the sum of the frequencies.
4. Check that each probability is between 0 and 1 and
that the sum is 1.

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Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example:
The spinner below is divided into two sections. The
probability of landing on the 1 is 0.25. The probability of
landing on the 2 is 0.75. Let x be the number the spinner
lands on. Construct a probability distribution for the
random variable x.

1
x P ( x)
1 0.25 Each probability is
2 between 0 and 1.
2 0.75

The sum of the probabilities is 1.

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Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example:
The spinner below is spun two times. The probability of
landing on the 1 is 0.25. The probability of landing on the 2
is 0.75. Let x be the sum of the two spins. Construct a
probability distribution for the random variable x.

The possible sums are 2, 3, and 4.

1 P (sum of 2) = 0.25 0.25 = 0.0625

Spin a 1 on and Spin a 1 on the

2
the first spin. second spin.

Continued.
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Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example continued:

P (sum of 3) = 0.25 0.75 = 0.1875

1
Spin a 1 on and Spin a 2 on the
2 the first spin. second spin.
or

P (sum of 3) = 0.75 0.25 = 0.1875

Sum of
P ( x)
spins, x
2 0.0625 Spin a 2 on and Spin a 1 on the
3 0.375 the first spin. second spin.
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0.1875 + 0.1875 Continued.
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Constructing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example continued:

1 P (sum of 4) = 0.75 0.75 = 0.5625

2 Spin a 2 on and Spin a 2 on the
the first spin. second spin.

Sum of
P ( x)
spins, x
2 0.0625 Each probability is between
3 0.375 0 and 1, and the sum of the
4 0.5625 probabilities is 1.

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 PROBABILITY HISTOGRAM

A probability histogram is a histogram in

which the horizontal axis corresponds to
the value of the random variable and the
vertical axis represents the probability of
that value of the random variable.

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Graphing a Discrete Probability Distribution

Example:
Graph the following probability distribution using a histogram.
Sum of P(x)
P ( x) Sum of Two Spins
spins, x 0.6
2 0.0625 0.5
3 0.375
Probability

4 0.5625 0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
0 x
2 3 4
Sum
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