Probability Distribution of Discrete
Random Variables
Guide questions:
• What is a probability distribution?
• What are the properties of a discrete probability distribution?
• How to construct a discrete probability distribution?
What is a probability distribution?
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION is an organized tabulation of
assigned probabilities associated with the outcomes of a
random variable.
It is composed of value of random variable X, the frequency
f of each of the random variable X and the probability P(X)
of the random variable X .
What is a probability distribution?
Value of X Frequency (f) P(X)
5 3
10 8
15 26
20 10
25 3
Given the variable x and the frequency of its occurrence,
compute the probabilities for each of random variable x.
X f P(X)
5 3 3
or 0.06 or 6%
50
10 8 8
or 0.16 or 16%
50
15 26 26
or 0.52 or 52%
50
20 10 10
or 0.20 or 20%
50
25 3 3
or 0.06 or 6%
50
Remember that to get P(X), you have to divide the corresponding f by
the total number of frequency n.
Here, n= 3+8+26+10+3=50.
Properties of Discrete Probability Distribution
1. In a discrete probability distribution, the probability
values for all its possible outcomes are greater than or
equal to zero. P(X)≥0
2. The sum of all the probability values associated to the
corresponding outcome is equal to one. ∑P(X)=1.00
Properties of Discrete Probability Distribution
Given a discrete random variable X that assumes six
values, its probability distribution is shown below as
follows:
X 5 7 10 15 30 41
P(X) 0.01 0.04 ______ 0.14 0.39 0.18
Properties of Discrete Probability Distribution
Other examples:
1. A grade 11 class has 45 students. The following records shows the
typical number of students who were absent on a particular school day.
Days (x) No. of students absent P(x)
Monday 2 2
45
𝑜𝑟 2/45 or 0.2667 or
26.67%
Tuesday 1 1
or 0.1778 or 17.78%
45
Wednesday 3 3
= 1/15 or 0.1111 or
45
11.11%
Thursday 2 2
45
𝑜𝑟 2/45 or 0.1556 or
15.56%
Friday 5 5
𝑜𝑟 1/9 or 0.2889 or
45
28.89%
Other examples:
2. X is a discrete random variable, given its probability distribution below.
X P(X)
100 0.38
250 0.30
380 0.17
420 0.10
510 0.05
Answer the following:
a. What is the probability that X is 250?
P(X=250) = P(250)
= 0.30
Thus, the probability that X is 250 is 0.30 or 30%.
Other examples:
2. X is a discrete random variable, given its probability distribution below.
X P(X)
100 0.38
250 0.30
380 0.17
420 0.10
510 0.05
b. What is the probability that X is below 420 or P(X< 420)?
P(X< 420) = P(100)+P(250)+P(380)
= 0.38 + 0.30 +0.17
= 0.85
Thus, the probability that X is below 420 is 0.85 or 85%.
Other examples:
2. X is a discrete random variable, given its probability distribution below.
X P(X)
100 0.38
250 0.30
380 0.17
420 0.10
510 0.05
c. What is the probability that X is greater than 100 but less than 420?
P(100< 𝑋 < 420) = P(250)+ P(380)
= 0.30 + 0.17
= 0.47
Thus, the probability that X is greater than 100 but less than 420 is 0.47 or 47%.
Other examples:
2. X is a discrete random variable, given its probability distribution below.
X P(X)
100 0.38
250 0.30
380 0.17
420 0.10
510 0.05
d. What is the probability that X is greater than or equal to 380?
P(X ≥380) = P(380)+ P(420)+ P(510)
= 0.17 + 0.10 + 0.05
= 0.32
Thus, the probability that X is greater than or equal to 380 IS 0.32 or 32%.
Other examples:
2. X is a discrete random variable, given its probability distribution below.
X P(X)
100 0.38
250 0.30
380 0.17
420 0.10
510 0.05
e. What makes the probability distribution above valid?
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