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PSUnit I Lesson 3 Computing The Mean of A Discrete Probability Distribution

The document discusses how to calculate the mean of a discrete probability distribution. It explains that the mean is the weighted average of all possible values of a random variable based on their probabilities. It provides examples of finding the mean for situations like rolling a die, grocery purchases, and number of patients a surgeon sees. Exercises are included to have the reader practice calculating means of different probability distributions.

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Janeth Marcelino
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3K views24 pages

PSUnit I Lesson 3 Computing The Mean of A Discrete Probability Distribution

The document discusses how to calculate the mean of a discrete probability distribution. It explains that the mean is the weighted average of all possible values of a random variable based on their probabilities. It provides examples of finding the mean for situations like rolling a die, grocery purchases, and number of patients a surgeon sees. Exercises are included to have the reader practice calculating means of different probability distributions.

Uploaded by

Janeth Marcelino
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMPUTING THE MEAN OF A DISCRETE

PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

• illustrate and calculate the mean of a discrete


random variable;
• interpret the mean of a discrete random
variable; and
• solve problems involving mean of probability
distributions.
Pre-Assessment A

Recap: Evaluating Summations


Pre-Assessment B
Recap:
Finding the mean of a data set.
Lesson Introduction
Mathematicians usually consider the outcomes
of a coin toss as a random event. That is, each
probability of getting a head is 12 , and the
probability of getting a tail is 12 .

However, it is not possible to predict with


100% certainty which outcome will occur.
Discussion Points

The mean of a discrete random variable X is the


weighted average of the possible values that the
random variable can take.
Discussion Points

Illustrative Example:
Consider rolling a die. What is the average
number of spots that would appear?
Discussion Points
Step 1.
Construct the probability distribution for the
random variable X representing the number of
spots that would appear.
Number of Spots X Probability P(X)

1 1/6

2 1/6

3 1/6
4 1/6
5 1/6
6 1/6
Discussion Points
Step 2.
Multiply the value of the random variable X by the
corresponding probability.
Discussion Points
Step 3:
Add the results obtained in Step 2.

 21
 x  P x  6  3.5
The mean tells us the average number of spots that would
appear in a roll of a die. So, the average number of spots that
would appear is 3.5.

Although the die will never show a number, which is 3.5, this
implies that rolling the die many times, the theoretical mean
would be 3.5.
Discussion Points
Example 1
Grocery Items

The probabilities that a customer will buy 1, 2, 3,


4, or 5 items in a grocery store
are 3/10, 1/10, 1/10, 2/10, and 3/10,
respectively. What is the average number of
items that a customer will buy?
Solution to Example 1
Step 1.
Construct the
probability
distribution for the
random variable X
representing the
number of items
that the customer
will buy.
Solution to Example 1
Step 2:
Multiply the value of the random variable X by the
corresponding probability.
Solution to Example 1
Step 3:
Add the results obtained in Step 2.

 31
 x  P x  10  3.1

The mean of the probability distribution is 3.1. This implies


that the average number of items that the customer will buy
is 3.1.
Example 2
Surgery Patients

The probabilities that a surgeon operates on 3,


4, 5, 6, or 7 patients in any day are 0.15, 0.10,
0.20, 0.25, and 0.30, respectively.

Find the average number of patients that a


surgeon operates on a day.
Solution to Example 2
Step 1:
Construct the probability distribution for the random
variable X representing the number of patients that
a surgeon operates on a day.
Number of Patients X Probability P(X)

3 0.15

4 0.10

5 0.20
6 0.25
7 0.30
Solution to Example 2
Step 2:
Multiply the value of the random variable X by the
corresponding probability.

Number of Probability P(X) X • P(X)


Patients X

3 0.15 0.45

4 0.10 0.40

5 0.20 1.00
6 0.25 1.50
7 0.30 2.10
Solution to Example 2
Step 3:
Add the results obtained in Step 2.

 x  P x  5.45
The average number of patients that a surgeon will
operate in a day is 5.45.
Exercise 1 Complete the table below and find the
mean of the following probability
distribution.
Exercise 2
Find the mean of the probability distribution of
the random variable X, which can take only the
values 1, 2, and 3, given that P(1) = 10/33, P(2) =
1/3 , and P(3) = 12/33.

Exercise 3
The probabilities of a machine manufacturing 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, or 5 defective parts in one day are 0.75,
0.17, 0.04, 0.025, 0.01, and 0.005, respectively. Find
the mean of the probability distribution.
Exercise 4
A bakeshop owner determines the number of boxes of
pandesal that are delivered each day. Find the mean of
the probability distribution shown. If the manager stated
that 35 boxes of pandesal were delivered in one day, do
you think that this is a believable claim?

Number of Boxes X Probability P(X)

35 0.10

36 0.20

37 0.30
38 0.30
39 0.10
Summary

The mean of a discrete random variable X is


the weighted average of the possible values
that the random variable can take.
Summary
To find the mean of the probability
distribution,
• Construct the probability distribution for
the random variable X
• Multiply the value of the random variable
X by the corresponding probability.
• Add the results obtained in Step 2.

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