A.

Discrete random variables Diagrams of discrete random variable

A traffic survey, at critical points around the town. The Just as with frequency distribution for discrete data,
survey involved 1000 cars. The number of people in each the most appropriate diagram to illustrate a
car was noted, with the following results. discrete random variable is a vertical line chart.

The numbers of people per car are necessarily discrete. A

discrete frequency distribution is best illustrated by a
vertical line chart.

The diagram shows probability distribution of X, the

number of people per car.

B. Expectation and Variance

The survey involved 1000 cars. This is a large sample and Next survey, involved 800 cars. The number of
reasonable to use the result to estimate the probabilities people is shown in the table.
of the various possible outcomes. Divide the frequency by
1000 to obtain the relative frequency, or probability of
each outcome (number of people).
Use the results to estimate the probabilities of the
various possible outcome as before.

Notation and condition for a discrete random variable The most useful measure of central tnedency is the
mean or expectation of the random variable and the
A discrete random variable is usually denoted by an upper most useful measure of spread is the variance.
case letter such as X, Y, Z. The particular values that
variable takes are denoted by lower case letters, such as Using relative frequencies generates an alternative
r. Thus 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟1 ) means the probability that the discrete approach which gives the expectation 𝐸(𝑋) = 𝜇
random variable X takes a particular value r1. The and variance 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋) = 𝜎 2 for a discrete random
expression 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟) is used to express a more general variable.
idea. We define the expectation, E(X) as
Another, shorter way of writing probabilities is P1, P2, P3, 𝐸(𝑋) = 𝜇 = ∑ 𝑟𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟) = ∑ 𝑟𝑃𝑟
… . If a finite discrete random variable has n distinct and Variance,𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋) as
outcomes r1, r2, ...., rn, with associated probabilities p1, p2, 𝜎 2 = 𝐸([𝑋 − 𝜇]2 ) = ∑(𝑟 − 𝜇2 )𝑃𝑟
…, pn, then the sum of the probabilities must equal 1. 2
Or 𝜎 2 = 𝐸(𝑋 2 ) − 𝜇2 = ∑ 𝑟 2 𝑃𝑟 − [∑ 𝑟𝑃𝑟 ]
Since the various outcomes cover all possibilities, they These formulae can also be written as:
are exhaustive. 𝐸(𝑋) = ∑ 𝑥𝑝
𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋) = ∑ 𝑥 2 𝑝 − [𝐸(𝑋)]2
Formally, we have

𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + … + 𝑃𝑛 = 1
𝑛 𝑛

∑ 𝑝𝑖 = ∑ 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟𝑖 ) = 1
𝑖=1 𝑖=1

If there is no ambiguity, then ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟𝑖 ) is often abverted

to ∑ 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑟) 𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑟

Catatan Si Thamrin 1
When calculating the expectation and variance of a Sample question:
discrete probability distribution, you will find helpful to
[9709_s14_qp_63_003]
set your work out systematically in a table.
A pet shop has 6 rabbits and 3 hamsters. 5 of these pets
are chosen at random. The random variable X represents
the number of hamsters chosen.

(i) Show that the probability that exactly 2

10
hamsters are chosen is .
21

(ii) Draw up the probability distribution table for X.

Solution:
𝐶36 ×𝐶23
(i) 𝑃(2) =
𝐶59
In this case: (ii)

𝐶6 6
𝑃(0) = 𝐶59 = 126
5
𝐶46 ×𝐶13 45
𝑃(1) = 𝐶59
= 126
𝐶26 ×𝐶13
𝑃(3) = 126

[9709_w14_qp_61_002]

The number of phone calls, X, received per day by Sarah

has the following probability distribution.

In practice, method (a) is to be preferred since the

computation is usually easier, especially when the (i) Find the value of k.
expectation is other than a whole number. (ii) Find the mode of X.
(iii) Find the probability that the number of phone
calls received by Sarah on any particular day is
more than the mean number of phone calls
received per day.

Solution:

(i) 0.24 + 0.35 + 2𝑘 + 𝑘 + 0.05 = 1

𝑘 = 0.12

(ii) Model number is 1

(iii) mean = 0 × 0.24 + 1 × 0.35 + 2 × 0.24 +
3 × 0.12 + 4 × 0.05 = 1.39

𝑃(> 1.39) = 𝑃(2,3,4) = 0.41

Catatan Si Thamrin 2
[9709_s13_qp_63_002]

The 12 houses on one side of a street are numbered with

even numbers starting at 2 and going up to 24. A free
newspaper is delivered on Monday to 3 different houses
chosen at random from these 12. Find the probability
that at least 2 of these newspapers are delivered to
houseswith number greater

Solution:

𝑃(𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 2) = 𝑃(2,3) 𝑜𝑟 1 − 𝑃(0,1)

5 4 7 5 4 3
= × × × 𝐶23 + × ×
12 11 10 12 11 10
4
= (0.364)
11

(𝐶35 )+(𝐶25 𝐶17 )

OR
𝐶312

Catatan Si Thamrin 3