Senior High School

Statistics and
Probability
Second Semester (Midterm) – Module 2.1
Probabilities of the Random Variable

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 Senior High School

Statistics and
Probability
Second Semester (Midterm) – Module 2.1
Probabilities of the Random Variable

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Introductory Message

For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Statistics and Probability Self-Learning Module on Probabilities
of the Random Variable!
This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators
both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping
the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their
personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims
to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body
of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that will

help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You
also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their
own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as
they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

Welcome to the Statistics and Probability Self-Learning Module on Probabilities
of the Random Variable!
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

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 Probabilities of the Random Variable
CONTENT STANDARD
The learner demonstrates an understanding of key concepts of random variables
and probability distributions.

PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learner is able to apply an appropriate random variable for a given real-life
problem (such as in decision making and games of chance).

LEARNING COMPETENCY
Computes probabilities corresponding to a given random variable.
(M11/12SP-llla-6)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Recall the process on how to construct the random probability distribution.
2. Relate the concept to real-life problems.
• 3. Solve probabilities corresponding to a given random variable.

INTRODUCTION
The study on how to compute the probability of a random variable, in this
module, exposes us to some very interesting real-world problems on probability. This
lesson shows how to compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable
and construct the probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its
histogram.

PRE-TEST
Name: _______________________ Grade Level & Section: _________ Score: ______
Read the questions carefully. Choose the letter that corresponds to the correct answer.
Write the correct answer in the blank that corresponds to your answer.

____ 1. What do you call a random variable that takes data which can take any values
between the interval of two whole numbers?
A. Continuous
B. Discrete
C. Finite
D. Infinite
____ 2. What is the graph of probability mass function called?
A. Bar Graph
B. Histogram
C. Pie Chart
D. Probability Distribution

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____ 3. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The range of the probabilities in a probability mass function is 0 to 1.
B. The range of the probabilities in a probability mass function is 0 to 0.4.
C. The range of the probabilities in a probability mass function is 0 to 0.6.
D. The range of the probabilities in a probability mass function is 0 to 0.8.
____ 4. If three coins are tossed, which is not a possible value of the random variable
for the number of heads?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
A. D .4
____ 5. If two coins are tossed, what is the probability of getting all heads?
A. 1/8
B. 1/4
C. 1/2
D. 3/4
____ 6. It describes how the probabilities are distributed over the values of the random
variable.
A. Data distribution
B. Probability distribution
C. Residue
D. Skewed distribution
For items number 7 to 9
Consider the given table below:
X 1 2 3 4
P(X) 0.50 0.25 0.10 0.15

____ 7. Compute for the mean.

A. 1.09
B. 1.19
C. 1.90
D. 1.91
____ 8. Compute for the variance.
A. 1.09
B. 1.19
C. 1.90
D. 1.91
____ 9. Compute for the standard deviation.
A. 1.09
B. 1.19
C. 1.90
D. 1.91

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____ 10. If a die is rolled what is the probability of getting an odd number.
A. 1/6
B. 1/4
C. 1/2
D. 5/6
____ 11. A fair coin is tossed three times and the sequence of heads (H) and tails (T) is
observed. What is the probability that no heads will appear?
A. 1/8
A. B.3/8
B. 5/8
C. 3/4
____ 12. The ratio of the frequency of occurrences relative to the total number of
occurrences.
A. Probability Distribution
B. Probability Mass Function
C. Probability Value
D. Random Variable
____ 13. It is obtained by getting the square root of the variance.
A. Expected Value
B. Mean
C. Standard Deviation
D. Variance
____ 14. Which of the following probability distributions corresponds to the probability
distribution of the number of heads that occur when three coins are tossed?
A.
X 0 1 2 3
P(X) 0 1 1/2 1/3
B.
X 0 1 2 3
P(X) 1/8 1/4 3/8 1/4
C.
X 0 1 2 3
P(X) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8
D.
X 1 2 3
P(X) 1/8 3/8 1/8

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_____15. If three coins are tossed, which of the following statements is/are true?

I. The probability distribution of this problem is a discrete probability distribution

II. The mean of the number of heads that occur is 1.5
III. The variance of the number of heads that occur is 0.8
IV. The standard deviation of the number of heads that occur is 0.16

A. I and II only
B. I, II and III only
C. II, III and IV only
D. I, II, III and IV

REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS MODULE

In your previous study of mathematics, you have learned how to find the
probability of an event. In this lesson, you will learn how to construct a probability
distribution of a discrete random variable. Your knowledge of getting the probability of
an event is very important in understanding the present lesson. As a review, make a
probability distribution on the given problem below.

Tossing a fair coin twice and let x be equal to the number of heads (H) observed.

PRESENTATION OF THE NEW MODULE

As observed, the probabilities of the values of the random variable are one of the
important parts of the probability distribution. So, in this lesson, you will be taught how
to compute probabilities corresponding to a given random variable and construct the
probability mass function of a discrete random variable and its histogram.

ACTIVITY

Supposed you are to spin the wheel

consisting of five different colors namely: 2
orange, 3 blue, 4 green, 5 yellow, and 6
red. Find the following probabilities:

1. You will get the color blue?

2. You will get the color green?

3. You will get the color red?

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 4. You will get the color orange?

5. You will get the color yellow?

ANALYSIS

1. Which of the colors has the least probability of occurrence? Why?

2. Which of the colors has the greatest probability of occurrence? Why?

3. How did you obtain the probability of each color?

ABSTRACTION
The probability value is the ratio of the frequency of occurrences relative
to the total number of occurrences.
In computing probabilities corresponding to a given random variable, we need to
determine the number of outcomes that the value of a random variable represents.
Examples are shown below.

Example 1.
Supposed the 3 cell phones are tested at random, let D represent the defective
cellphone and let the N none defective. If we let X the random variable for the
number of a defective cell phone. Solve the following probabilities using the
probability distribution of a random variable X.

a. Find P(X ≤ 2)
b. Find P(X ≥ 1)
c. Find P(1 ≤ X ˂ 3)
Solution:
First, we will construct a probability distribution table for a random variable X.
Number of Defective Cell phones Probability
(x) P(X=x)
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8

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 • The probability of having no defective cell phones is 1/8 or P(X=0) = 1/8 because
there is only one out of 8 possible outcomes and that is NNN.
• The probability of having 1 defective cell phone is 3/8 or P(X=1) = 3/8 because
there are 3 out of 8 possible outcomes and that is NND, NDN & DNN.
• The probability of having 2 defective cell phones is 3/8 or P(X=2) = 3/8 because
there are 3 out of 8 possible outcomes and that is NDD, DND & DDN.
• The probability of having 3 defective cell phones is 1/8 or P(X=3) = 1/8 because
there is only one out of 8 possible outcomes and that is DDD.
Now, by using the probability distribution answer the following problems:
a. Find P(X ≤ 2)

Solution:
P(X ≤ 2) means the probability of getting less than or equal to 2 defective cell
phones. It follows that P(X ≤ 2) is the sum of the probabilities P(X=0), P(X=1) & P(X=2),
that is
P(X ≤ 2) = P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2)
= 1/8 + 3/8 + 3/8
= 7/8

b. Find P(X ≥ 1)
Solution:
P(X ≥ 1) means the probability of getting greater than or equal to 1 defective cell
phones. It follows that P(X ≥ 1) is the sum of the probabilities P(X=1), P(X=2) & P(X=3),
that is
P(X ≥ 1) = P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3)
= 3/8 + 3/8 + 1/8
= 7/8

c. Find P(1 ≤ X ˂ 3)
Solution:
P(1 ≤ X ˂ 3) means the probability of getting greater than or equal to 1 but less
than 3 defective cell phones. It follows that P(1 ≤ X ˂ 3) is the sum of the probabilities
P(X=1) & P(X=2), that is
P(1 ≤ X ˂ 3) = P(X=1) + P(X=2)
= 1/8 + 3/8
= 4/8 or ½

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 Example 2.
The daily demand for copies of Novel at the National Book Store has the
probability distribution as follows:

Number of Copies Probability

(X) P(X)
0 0.08
1 0.07
2 0.06
3 0.04
4 0.03
5 0.06
6 0.14
7 0.16
8 0.14
9 0.12
10 0.10

a. What is the probability that seven or more copies will be demanded on a

particular day?
b. What is the probability that the demand will be at least two but fewer than five
on a particular day?
c. What is the probability that the demand is exactly 5 copies on a particular
day?
d. What is the probability that the demand is fewer than four copies?
e. What is the probability that the demand will be at least two but not more than
six copies on a particular day?

Solution:

a. What is the probability that seven or more copies will be demanded on a

particular day?
P(X ≥ 7) = P(7) + P(8) + P(9) + P(10)
= 0.16 + 0.14 + 0.12 + 0.10
= 0.52

b. What is the probability that the demand will be at least two but fewer than five
in a particular day?
P(2 ≤ X˂ 5) = P(2) + P(3) + P(4)
= 0.06 + 0.04 + 0.03
= 0.13

c. What is the probability that the demand is exactly 5 copies on a particular

day?
P(X = 5) = P(5)
= 0.06

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 d. What is the probability that the demand is fewer than four copies?
P(X˂ 4) = P(0) + P(1) + P(2) + P(3)
= 0.08 + 0.07 + 0.06 + 0.04
= 0.25

e. What is the probability that the demand will be at least two but not more than
six copies in a particular day?
P(2 ≤ X < 6) = P(2) + P(3) + P(4) + P(5)
= 0.06 + 0.04 + 0.03 + 0.06
= 0.19

APPLICATION

The following data show the probabilities for the number of cars sold in a given
day at a car dealer store.

Number of Copies Probability

(X) P(X)
0 0.08
1 0.07
2 0.06
3 0.04
4 0.03
5 0.06
6 0.14
7 0.16
8 0.14
9 0.12
10 0.10
a. Find P(X ≤ 2)

b. Find P(X ≥ 7)

c. Find P(1 ≤ X ≤ 5)

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ENRICHMENT

1. Why should the sum of the probabilities in a probability distribution always equal
to 1?

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REFERENCES

• Teaching Guide for Senior High School Statistics & Probability

•
• Statistics and Probability Book
•
• Statistics and Probability by Rene R. Belecina, et.al, Rex Book Store
•
• Statistics and Probability Vibal by Calaca, Uy, Nobl, Manalo,
•
• Statistics and Probability Education Resources Corporation. Quazon City,
Philippines, Banigon Jr., Ricardo B. (2016)

• Next Century Mathematics Statistics & Probability by Jesus P. Mercado, et.al,

Phoenix Publishing House
•
• www.quipperschool.com,

• https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/random-variable.html

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Schools Division of Surigao del Norte

Peñaranda St., Surigao City
Surigao del Norte, Philippines 8400
Tel. No: (086) 826-8216
Email Address: surigao.delnorte@deped.gov.ph

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