Chapter Six Discrete Probability Distributions
Chapter Six Discrete Probability Distributions
Discrete Probability
Distributions
6.1
Probability Distributions
A random variable is a numerical
measure of the outcome from a
probability experiment, so its value is
determined by chance. Random
variables are denoted using letters such
as X.
A discrete random variable is a random
variable that has values that has either a
finite number of possible values or a
countable number of possible values.
A continuous random variable is a
random variable that has an infinite
number of possible values that is not
countable.
EXAMPLE Distinguishing Between Discrete and
Continuous Random Variables
Determine whether the following random
variables are discrete or continuous. State
possible values for the random variable.
(a) The number of light bulbs that burn out in a
room of 10 light bulbs in the next year.
(b) The number of leaves on a randomly selected
Oak tree.
(c) The length of time between calls to 911.
(d) A single die is cast. The number of pips
showing on the die.
• We use capital letter , like X, to denote the
random variable and use small letter to list
the possible values of the random variable.
• Example. A single die is cast, X represent
the number of pips showing on the die and
the possible values of X are x=1,2,3,4,5,6.
A probability distribution provides the
possible values of the random variable and
their corresponding probabilities. A
probability distribution can be in the form of
a table, graph or mathematical formula.
The table below shows the probability distribution
for the random variable X, where X represents
the number of DVDs a person rents from a video
store during a single visit.
EXAMPLE Identifying Probability Distributions
Probability Distribution
0 0.06
0.7
0.6
1 0.58
0.5
probabilities
0.4
2 0.22
0.3
0.2
0.1
3 0.1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
4 0.03
random va ria ble va lue s
5 0.01
EXAMPLE The Mean of a Discrete Random
Variable
Compute the mean of the following probability
distribution which represents the number of DVDs
a person rents from a video store during a single
visit.
Mean=0*0.06+1*0.58+2
*0.22+3* 0.1+4
*0.03+5*0.01
= 1.49
The following data represent the number of DVDs
rented by 100 randomly selected customers in a single
visit. Compute the mean number of DVDs rented.
x1 x2 ... x100
X 1.49
100
EXAMPLE Variance and Std
Compute the variance and standard deviation of
the following probability distribution which
represents the number of DVDs a person rents
from a video store during a single visit.
• The variance=(0-1.49)^2*0.06+(1-1.49)^2*0.58
+(2-1.49)^2*0.22+(3-1.49)^2*0.1
+(4-1.49)^2*0.03+(5-1.49)^2*0.01
=0.8699
• Standard Deviation= 0.932684
EXAMPLE Expected Value
Source: Rutherford, Sir Ernest; Chadwick, James; and Ellis, C.D.. Radiations from
Radioactive Substances. London, Cambridge University Press, 1951, p. 172.
The Poisson probability distribution function
can be used to approximate binomial
probabilities provided the number of trials
n > 100 and np < 10. In other words, the
number of independent trials of the binomial
experiment should be large and the
probability of success should be small.
EXAMPLE Using the Poisson Distribution to
Approximate Binomial Probabilities