5-2

Discrete Probability
Functions
&
Random Variables
 A random variable is a
variable (usually
represented by x) that has
a single numerical value,
determined by chance, for
each outcome of a
procedure.
 A probability distribution
is a description that
gives the probability for
each value of the
random variable.
Requirements for a probability
distribution:

1) 0 P( x) 1

2) P( x) 1
 Are these tables examples of
discrete probability distributions?
 Formulas:
Mean [ x P ( x)]

Variance 2 [( x )2 P( x)]

Standard Deviation is the square root of
the variance!

Expected value, E, is the same as the

mean!
Example
Example
Example