Chapter 5
Discrete & Binomial
Probability Distributions
Learning Objectives
LO1 Identify the characteristics of a probability distribution.
LO2 Distinguish between discrete and continuous random
variable.
LO3 Compute the mean of a probability distribution.
LO4 Compute the variance and standard deviation of a
probability distribution.
LO5 Describe and compute probabilities for a binomial
distribution.
What is a Probability Distribution?
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION A listing of all the outcomes of
an experiment and the probability associated with each outcome.
Experiment:
Toss a coin three times.
Observe the number of
heads. The possible
results are: Zero heads,
One head,
Two heads, and
Three heads.
What is the probability
distribution for the
number of heads?
Characteristics of a Probability Distribution
CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION
1.The probability of a particular outcome is between
0 and 1 inclusive.
2. The outcomes are mutually exclusive events.
3. The list is exhaustive. So the sum of the probabilities
of the various events is equal to 1.
Probability Distribution of Number of Heads
Observed in 3 Tosses of a Coin
Random Variables
RANDOM VARIABLE A quantity resulting from an experiment
that, by chance, can assume different values.
Types of Random Variables
DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE A random variable that can assume
only certain clearly separated values. It is usually the result of counting
something.
CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE can assume an infinite number of
values within a given range. It is usually the result of some type of
measurement
Discrete Random Variables
DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE A random variable that can assume
only certain clearly separated values. It is usually the result of counting
something.
EXAMPLES
1. The number of students in a class.
2. The number of children in a family.
3. The number of cars entering a carwash in a hour.
4. Number of home mortgages approved by Coastal Federal
Bank last week.
Continuous Random Variables
CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE can assume an infinite number of
values within a given range. It is usually the result of some type of
measurement
EXAMPLES
n The length of each song on the latest Tim McGraw album.
n The weight of each student in this class.
n The temperature outside as you are reading this book.
n The amount of money earned by each of the more than 750
players currently on Major League Baseball team rosters.
The Mean of a Probability Distribution
MEAN
•The mean is a typical value used to represent the
central location of a probability distribution.
•The mean of a probability distribution is also
referred to as its expected value.
Mean, Variance, and Standard
Deviation of a Probability Distribution - Example
John Ragsdale sells new cars for
Pelican Ford. John usually sells the
largest number of cars on Saturday. He
has developed the following probability
distribution for the number of cars he
expects to sell on a particular Saturday.
Mean of a Probability Distribution - Example
The Variance and Standard
Deviation of a Probability Distribution
Measures the amount of spread in a distribution
• The computational steps are:
1. Subtract the mean from each value, and square this
difference.
2. Multiply each squared difference by its probability.
3. Sum the resulting products to arrive at the variance.
The standard deviation is found by taking the positive
square root of the variance.
Variance and Standard
Deviation of a Probability Distribution - Example
s = s 2 = 1.290 = 1.136
Binomial Probability Distribution
n A Widely occurring discrete probability
distribution
n Characteristics of a Binomial Probability
Distribution
1. There are only two possible outcomes on a
particular trial of an experiment.
2. The outcomes are mutually exclusive,
3. The random variable is the result of counts.
4. Each trial is independent of any other trial
Binomial Probability Experiment
1. An outcome on each trial of an experiment is
classified into one of two mutually exclusive
categories—a success or a failure.
2. The random variable counts the number of successes
in a fixed number of trials.
3. The probability of success and failure stay the same
for each trial.
4. The trials are independent, meaning that the outcome
of one trial does not affect the outcome of any
other trial.
Binomial Probability Formula
Binomial Probability - Example
There are five flights
daily from Pittsburgh
via US Airways into
the Bradford
Regional Airport in
PA. Suppose the
probability that any
flight arrives late is
.20.
What is the
probability that none
of the flights are late
today?
Binomial Dist. – Mean and Variance
Binomial Dist. – Mean and Variance:
Example
For the example
regarding the number
of late flights, recall
that p =.20 and n = 5.
What is the average
number of late flights?
What is the variance
of the number of late
flights?
Binomial Dist. – Mean and Variance:
Another Solution
Binomial Probability Distributions -
Example
A study by the Illinois Department of Transportation
concluded that 76.2 percent of front seat occupants
used seat belts. A sample of 12 vehicles is selected.
What is the probability the front seat occupants in
exactly 7 of the 12 vehicles are wearing seat belts?
Binomial Probability Distributions -
Example
A study by the Illinois Department of Transportation
concluded that 76.2 percent of front seat occupants
used seat belts. A sample of 12 vehicles is selected.
What is the probability the front seat occupants in at
least 7 of the 12 vehicles are wearing seat belts?
