Lesson Objectives:
•Illustrate and calculate the
variance of a discrete random
variable;
•Interpret the variance of a discrete
random variable; and
•Solve problems involving variance
of probability distributions.
Compute the variance of this frequency
distribution.
SCORE Number of
Students
5 3
8 5
10 4
12 5
15 3
•The variance and standard deviation describe
the amount of spread , dispersion, or variability
of the items in a distribution.
•Steps in finding the Variance and Standard
Deviation of a Discrete Random Variable X.
1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the
random variable X.
3. Square the results obtained in Step 3 by the
corresponding probability.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the
corresponding probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4.
Formula of the Variance and Standard Deviation
of a Discrete Probability Distribution.
Variance of Discrete probability distribution:
σ
=2 Σ(X-µ) •P(X)
2
Standard deviation:
σ = √Σ(X-µ) •P(X)
2
where:
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = probability of the random
variable X
µ = mean of the probabilities
distribution
Shorter formula & procedure:
•Steps in finding the Variance and
Standard Deviation of a Discrete Random
Variable X.
1. Find the mean of the probability
distribution.
2. Multiply the square of the value of
the random variable X by its
corresponding probability.
3.Get the sum of the results obtained
in step 2.4. Subtract the mean from
the results obtained in step 3.
Formula of the Variance and Standard Deviation
of a Discrete Probability Distribution:
Variance of Discrete probability
distribution:
σ = ΣX •P(X) µ
2 2 2
Standard deviation:
σ = √ΣX •P(X) µ
2 2
The Number of Cars Sold
The number of cars sold per day at a local
car dealership, along with its corresponding
probabilities, is shown in the succeeding table.
Compute the variance and the standard
deviation of the probability distribution by
following the given steps.
X P(X) X•P(X) X - µ (X - µ)2 X-µ 2
(X-µ) •P(X)
µ=ΣX•P(X)= σ 2 = Σ(X 2
-µ) •P(X)=
X P(X) X•P(X) X2 •P(X)
µ= ΣX •P(X)
2 = µ= ΣX •P(X)
2 =
Numbers of Heads
When three coins are tossed, the probability
distribution for the random variable X
representing the number of heads that occur
is given below. Compute the variance and
standard deviation of the probability
distribution.
SCORE Number of Students
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 6/8
3 3/8