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Discrete Random Variables&Prob dist (4.0).ppt
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Oct 08, 2025
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About This Presentation
statistics
Size:
1.39 MB
Language:
en
Added:
Oct 08, 2025
Slides:
60 pages
Slide Content
Slide 1
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Statistics for Business and
Economics
Random Variables &
Probability Distributions
Slide 2
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Content
1.Two Types of Random Variables
2.Probability Distributions for Discrete
Random Variables
3.The Binomial Distribution
4.Poisson and Hypergeometric Distributions
5.Probability Distributions for Continuous
Random Variables
6.The Normal Distribution
Slide 3
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Content (continued)
7.Descriptive Methods for Assessing
Normality
8.Approximating a Binomial Distribution
with a Normal Distribution
9.Uniform and Exponential Distributions
10.Sampling Distributions
11.The Sampling Distribution of a Sample
Mean and the Central Limit Theorem
Slide 4
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Learning Objectives
1.Develop the notion of a random variable
2.Learn that numerical data are observed values of
either discrete or continuous random variables
3.Study two important types of random variables
and their probability models: the binomial and
normal model
4.Define a sampling distribution as the probability of
a sample statistic
5.Learn that the sampling distribution of follows a
normal model
x
Slide 5
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Thinking Challenge
•You’re taking a 33 question
multiple choice test. Each
question has 4 choices. Clueless
on 1 question, you decide to
guess. What’s the chance you’ll
get it right?
•If you guessed on all 33
questions, what would be your
grade? Would you pass?
Slide 6
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
4.1
Two Types of Random Variables
Slide 7
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Random Variable
A random variable is a variable that assumes
numerical values associated with the random
outcomes of an experiment, where one (and only
one) numerical value is assigned to each sample
point.
Slide 8
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Discrete
Random Variable
Random variables that can assume a countable
number (finite or infinite) of values are called
discrete.
Slide 9
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Discrete Random Variable
Examples
Experiment
Random
Variable
Possible
Values
Count Cars at Toll
Between 11:00 & 1:00
# Cars
Arriving
0, 1, 2, ..., ∞
Make 100 Sales Calls# Sales 0, 1, 2, ..., 100
Inspect 70 Radios # Defective0, 1, 2, ..., 70
Answer 33 Questions# Correct0, 1, 2, ..., 33
Slide 10
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Continuous
Random Variable
Random variables that can assume values
corresponding to any of the points contained in
one or more intervals (i.e., values that are
infinite and uncountable) are called continuous.
Slide 11
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Continuous Random Variable
Examples
Measure Time
Between Arrivals
Inter-Arrival
Time
0, 1.3, 2.78, ...
Experiment
Random
Variable
Possible
Values
Weigh 100 People Weight 45.1, 78, ...
Measure Part Life Hours 900, 875.9, ...
Amount spent on food$ amount54.12, 42, ...
Slide 12
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
4.2
Probability Distributions for
Discrete Random Variables
Slide 13
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Discrete
Probability Distribution
The probability distribution of a discrete
random variable is a graph, table, or formula
that specifies the probability associated with each
possible value the random variable can assume.
Slide 14
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Requirements for the
Probability Distribution of a
Discrete Random Variable x
1. p(x) ≥ 0 for all values of x
2. p(x) = 1
where the summation of p(x) is over all possible
values of x.
Slide 15
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Discrete Probability
Distribution Example
Probability Distribution
Values, x Probabilities, p(x)
0 1/4 = .25
1 2/4 = .50
2 1/4 = .25
Experiment: Toss 2 coins. Count number of
tails.
© 1984-1994 T/Maker Co.
Slide 16
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Visualizing Discrete
Probability Distributions
Listing Table
Formula
# Tails
f(x)
Count
p(x)
0 1 .25
1 2 .50
2 1 .25
px
n
x!(n – x)!
()
!
= p
x
(1 – p)
n – x
Graph
.00
.25
.50
0 1 2
x
p(x)
{ (0, .25), (1, .50), (2, .25) }
Slide 17
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Summary Measures
1.Expected Value (Mean of probability distribution)
•Weighted average of all possible values
• = E(x) = x
p(x)
2.Variance
• Weighted average of squared deviation about
mean
•
2
= E[(x
(x
p(x)
3. Standard Deviation
2
●
Slide 18
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Summary Measures
Calculation Table
xp(x)x p(x)x –
Total (x
p(x)
(x –
(x –
p(x)
xp(x)
Slide 19
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Thinking Challenge
You toss 2 coins. You’re
interested in the number of
tails. What are the expected
value, variance, and
standard deviation of this
random variable(is it
Discrete or Continuous?),
number of tails?
© 1984-1994 T/Maker Co.
Slide 20
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Expected Value & Variance
Solution*
0.25 –1.001.00
1.50 0 0
2.25 1.001.00
0
.50
.50
= 1.0
xp(x)x p(x)x – (x –
(x –
p(x)
.25
0
.25
Slide 21
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Probability Rules for Discrete
Random Variables
Let x be a discrete random variable with probability
distribution p(x), mean µ, and standard deviation .
Then, depending on the shape of p(x), the following
probability statements can be made:
Chebyshev’s Rule Empirical Rule
Pxxµ 0 .68
Px2xµ2
3
4
.95
Px3xµ3
8
9
1.00
Slide 22
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
The Binomial Distribution
Slide 23
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Distribution
Number of ‘successes’ in a sample of n
observations (trials)
•Number of reds in 15 spins of roulette wheel
•Number of defective items in a batch of 5 items
•Number correct on a 33 question exam
•Number of customers who purchase out of 100
customers who enter store (each customer is
equally likely to purchase)
Slide 24
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Probability
Characteristics of a Binomial Experiment
1.The experiment consists of n identical trials.
2.There are only two possible outcomes on each trial. We
will denote one outcome by S (for success) and the other
by F (for failure).
3.The probability of S remains the same from trial to trial.
This probability is denoted by p, and the probability of
F is denoted by q. Note that q = 1 – p.
4.The trials are independent.
5.The binomial random variable x is the number of S’s in
n trials.
Slide 25
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Probability
Distribution
!
( ) (1 )
!( )!
x n x x n x
n n
p x p q p p
x x n x
p(x) = Probability of x ‘Successes’
p=Probability of a ‘Success’ on a single trial
q=1 – p
n=Number of trials
x=Number of ‘Successes’ in n trials
(x = 0, 1, 2, ..., n)
n – x=Number of failures in n trials
Slide 26
Find the Combination (5,3)
•
5C3 = ?
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 27
nC
x
•Combination
5C
3
=
5!/[3!(5-3)!]=10
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 28
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Probability
Distribution Example
3 5 3
!
( ) (1 )
!( )!
5!
(3) .5 (1 .5)
3!(5 3)!
.3125
x n xn
p x p p
x n x
p
Experiment: Toss 1 coin 5 times in a row. Note
number of tails. What’s the probability of 3 tails?
© 1984-1994 T/Maker Co.
Slide 29
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Probability Table
(Portion)
n = 5 p
k .01 … 0.50… .99
0 .951… .031… .000
1 .999… .188… .000
21.000… .500… .000
31.000… .812… .001
41.000… .969… .049
Cumulative Probabilities
p(x ≤ 3) – p(x ≤ 2) = .812 – .500 = .312
Slide 30
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Distribution
Characteristics(Analyze Graphs)
.0
.5
1.0
012345
X
P(X)
.0
.2
.4
.6
012345
X
P(X)
n = 5 p = 0.1
n = 5 p = 0.5
E(x)np
Mean
Standard Deviation
npq
Slide 31
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Distribution
Thinking Challenge
You’re a telemarketer selling service
contracts for Macy’s. You’ve sold 20
in your last 100 calls (p = .20). If you
call 12 people tonight, what’s the
probability of
A. No sales?
B. Exactly 2 sales?
C. At most 2 sales?
D. At least 2 sales?
Slide 32
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Binomial Distribution Solution*
n = 12, p = .20
A. p(0) = .0687
B. p(2) = .2835
C. p(at most 2)= p(0) + p(1) + p(2)
= .0687 + .2062 + .2835
= .5584
D. p(at least 2)= p(2) + p(3)...+ p(12)
= 1 – [p(0) + p(1)]
= 1 – .0687 – .2062
= .7251
Slide 33
•Exercise Time!
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 34
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Properties of Variances:
If a random variable X
is adjusted by multiplying by the value
b
and adding the value
a, then the variance is affected as follows:
Since the spread of the distribution is not affected
by adding or subtracting a constant,
the value
a
is not considered.
And, since the variance is a sum of squared terms,
any multiplier value
b
must also be squared
when adjusting the variance.
Slide 35
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
For independent random variables
X
and
Y,
the variance of their sum or difference is the sum of their variances:
Variances are added for both the sum
and
difference of two independent
random variables because the variation in each variable contributes
to the variation in each case.
Slide 36
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
4.4
Other Discrete Distributions:
Poisson and Hypergeometric
Slide 37
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Distribution
1.Number of events that occur in an interval
• events per unit
— Time, Length, Area, Space
2.Examples
• Number of customers arriving in 20 minutes
• Number of strikes per year in the U.S.
• Number of defects per lot (group) of DVD’s
Slide 38
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Characteristics of a Poisson
Random Variable
1.Consists of counting number of times an event
occurs during a given unit of time or in a given
area or volume (any unit of measurement).
2.The probability that an event occurs in a given unit
of time, area, or volume is the same for all units.
3.The number of events that occur in one unit of
time, area, or volume is independent of the number
that occur in any other mutually exclusive unit.
4.The mean number of events in each unit is denoted
by
Slide 39
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Probability
Distribution Function
p(x) = Probability of x given
=Mean (expected) number of events in unit
e=2.71828 . . . (base of natural logarithm)
x=Number of events per unit
px
x
()
!
x
e
–
(x = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .)
Slide 40
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Probability
Distribution Function
.0
.2
.4
.6
.8
012345
X
P(X)
.0
.1
.2
.3
X
P(X)
= 0.5
= 6
Mean
Standard Deviation
E(x)
Slide 41
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Distribution Example
Customers arrive at a
rate of 72 per hour.
What is the probability
of 4 customers arriving
in 3 minutes?
© 1995 Corel Corp.
Slide 42
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Distribution Solution
72 Per Hr. = 1.2 Per Min. = 3.6 Per 3 Min. Interval
-
4
-3.6
( )
!
3.6
(4) .1912
4!
x
e
px
x
e
p
Slide 43
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Probability Table
(Portion)
x
0 … 3 4 … 9
.02 .980 …
: : : : : : :
3.4 .033 … .558 .744 … .997
3.6 .027 … .515 .706 … .996
3.8 .022 … .473 .668 … .994
: : : : : : :
Cumulative Probabilities
p(x ≤ 4) – p(x ≤ 3) = .706 – .515 = .191
Slide 44
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Thinking Challenge
You work in Quality Assurance
for an investment firm. A clerk
enters 75 words per minute
with 6 errors per hour. What is
the probability of 0 errors in a
255-word bond transaction?
© 1984-1994 T/Maker Co.
Slide 45
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Distribution Solution:
Finding *
•75 words/min = (75 words/min)(60 min/hr)
= 4500 words/hr
• 6 errors/hr= 6 errors/4500 words
= .00133 errors/word
•In a 255-word transaction (interval):
= (.00133 errors/word )(255 words)
= .34 errors/255-word transaction
Slide 46
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Poisson Distribution Solution:
Finding p(0)*
-
0
-.34
( )
!
.34
(0) .7118
0!
x
e
p x
x
e
p
Slide 47
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Characteristics of a
Hypergeometric
Random Variable
1.The experiment consists of randomly drawing n
elements without replacement from a set of N
elements, r of which are S’s (for success) and (N –
r) of which are F’s (for failure).
2.The hypergeometric random variable x is the
number of S’s in the draw of n elements.
Slide 48
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Hypergeometric Probability
Distribution Function
where . . .
[x = Maximum [0, n – (N – r), …,
Minimum (r, n)]
px
r
x
Nr
nx
N
n
µ
nr
N
2
rNrnNn
N
2
N1
Slide 49
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 50
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Hypergeometric Probability
Distribution Function
N = Total number of elements
r = Number of S’s in the N elements
n = Number of elements drawn
x = Number of S’s drawn in the n elements
Slide 51
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 52
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 53
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 54
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 55
Exercise 2:
•Assume we have an urne with 10 balls.
•4 of these balls are red
•6 of the balls are black
•We select 5 balls from a total of 10.
•Calculate the probability that we get 1 red ball
and 4 black balls.
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 56
•P (X= 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) Maximum 4 red balls.
•N = 10 (Total number of balls in my sample)
•n = 5 ( number of balls selected)
•r = number of balls of the special kind in N (Red)
•X = is in the question (what we want to calculate).
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 57
•P (X = 1) = 1 red ball and 4 black balls
•P(X = 1) = (4 choose 1) (6 choose 4) / (10
choose 5)
•Final answer = to be determined
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Slide 58
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
4.5
Probability Distributions for
Continuous Random Variables
Slide 59
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Continuous Probability
Density Function
The graphical form of the probability distribution for a
continuous random variable x is a smooth curve
Slide 60
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc
Continuous Probability
Density Function
This curve, a function of x, is denoted by the symbol f(x)
and is variously called a probability density function
(pdf), a frequency function, or a probability
distribution.
The areas under a probability
distribution correspond to
probabilities for x. The area A
beneath the curve between two
points a and b is the probability
that x assumes a value betweena and b.
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