DISCRETE & RANDOM

VARIABLES

Discrete random variable

A discrete random variable is one which may take on
only a countable number of distinct values such as 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, ...
Discrete random variables are usually (but not
necessarily) counts. If a random variable can take only a
finite number of distinct values, then it must be discrete.
Examples of discrete random variables include the
number of children in a family, the Friday night
attendance at a cinema, the number of patients in a
doctor's surgery, the number of defective light bulbs in a
box of ten.

Relative frequency
Number of flat sides up.

Score

The only way to get an estimate of the probability is to

throw the sticks many times and find what we call the:
relative frequency
Q

Can be different each time why?

If the stick is thrown 100 times and the results

are:
Flat side up: 70 giving an estimate probability of 0.7
Curved side up: 30 giving an estimate probability of 0.3

Listing possibilities:
have a system
3 sticks

2 sticks
1 stick
f
c

c f
c c

c f

c c

c f

c f

c c f
c c c

c f

c c

c f

c f

c c f

c c c

c f

c f

c f

c f

c f

c c

c c f

c c f

c c c f
c c c c

c f

c c

1 x P(f,f,f,f) = 0.7 x 0.7 x 0.7 x 0.7= 0.2401 = 0.74

c f

4 x P(f,f,f,c)= 0.73 x 0.3 x 4=

c f

6 x P(f,f,c,c)=0.72 x 0.32 x 6 =

c c f

c c c

Working out probabilities:

Each stick falls independently,
f=0.7

c=0.3

4 x P(f,c,c,c) = 0.7 x 0.33 x 4 =

3 sticks

1 x P(c,c,c,c) = 0.34 =

c f

c f

c f

c f

c f

c c

c f

c c

2 sticks
1 stick
f
c

c f
c c

c f

c c f

c f

c c f

c c f

c c c f

c c c

c c c c

Relative frequency
Number of flat sides up.

Score

The score is an example of discrete random variable.

Let S stand for score. Capital letters are used for random
variables.
P(S=3) means the probability that S=3
P(S=3) = 0.4116
s.

P(S=s)
Probability
function

0.0756

0.2646

0.4116

0.2401

0.0081

Note s is used for individual values of the random variable S

P(X=x) as a stick/bar graph

TASK
Exercise A Page 53 & 54
Questions: 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6
Do rest at home.

Mean, variance and standard

deviation
s.

P(S=s)
Probability function

0.0756 0.2646

0.4116 0.2401

5
0.0081

If I were to throw 10000 times, I could work out the

mean like the below. Multiply each of my
probabilities by 10000 and then divide by 10000
1 756 2 2646 3 4116 4 2401 5 81
mean
2.84
10000

Mean, variance and standard

deviation
s.

P(S=s)
Probability function

0.0756 0.2646

0.4116 0.2401

5
0.0081

However, multiplying and dividing by 10000

both top and bottom seems unnecessary
and it is
mean 1 0.0756 2 0.2646 3 0.4116 4 0.2401 5 0.0081 2.84

MEAN of:
Discrete random Variables
Mean S =s x P(S=s)
The mean of a random variable is usually
denoted by (mu)

Task B1, B2

VARIANCE

x
P(X=x)
Probability function

0.15

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.1

Mean = 0x0.15 + 1x0.25 + 2x0.25 +

3x0.25 + 4x0.1=1.9
x
0

x-
-1.9

1
2
3
4

-0.9
0.1
1.1
2.1

(x-)2 P(X=x) (x-)2x P(X=x)

3.61
0.15
0.5415
0.81
0.25
0.2025
0.01
0.25
0.0025
1.21
0.25
0.3025
4.41
0.1
0.4410

Variance & Standard deviation

x
0

x-
-1.9

(x-)2 P(X=x) (x-)2x P(X=x)

3.61
0.15
0.5415
1
-0.9
0.81
0.25
0.2025
2
0.1
0.01
0.25
0.0025
3
1.1
1.21
0.25
0.3025
4
2.1
4.41
0.1
0.4410
Variance = 2
1.49
Standard deviation =
1.22
The standard deviation or random variables is normally denoted as

TASK
Page 56 question 2
Homework test yourself