La Consolacion College of Daet, Inc.

MODULE 2
Froilan Pimentel Avenue Daet, Camarines Norte 4600 Basic Education Department
Tel. Nos. (054) 721-2181/440-2002 Fax No. (054) 571-3467
School Year 2024-2025

Subject : STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY Grade & Section : GRADE 11 ST SERVUS OF GAFSA
Quarter: Third Subject Teacher : Mr. Kenneth C. Navea

VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION OF THE DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE

The variance and standard deviation describe the amount of spread, dispersion, or variability of the items in a
distribution. How can we describe the spread or dispersion in a probability distribution? In this lesson, you will
learn how to compute the variance and standard deviation of a discrete probability distribution.

Variance and Standard Deviation of a Random Variable The variance and standard deviation are two values that
describe how scattered or spread out the scores are from the mean value of the random variable. The variance,
denoted as σ2, is determined using the formula:
σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)
The standard deviation σ is the square root of the variance, thus,
σ = √ ∑( x - µ)² p ( x )
σ2 - variance
σ – standard deviation
µ - mean
p(x) – probability of the outcome

1. 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.
Number of Cars Sold X Probability P(x)

0 10%
1 20%
2 30%
3 20%
4 20%

STEPS IN FINDING THE VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION

1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
2. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X.
3. Square the result obtained in Step 2.
4. Multiply the results obtained in Step 3 by the corresponding probability.
5. Get the sum of the results obtained in Step 4. Results obtained is the value of the variance of probability
distribution.
 STEPS SOLUTION
1. Find the mean of the Number of Probability X · P(x)
probability distribution Car Sold X P(x)
using the formula: 0 0.1 0
1 0.2 0.2
µ = ∑ 𝑋𝑃(𝑥) 2 0.3 0.6
3 0.2 0.6
4 0.2 0.8
TOTAL 2.2

µ = ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = 𝟐.𝟐
2. Subtract the mean from X P(x) X · P(x) X-µ
each value of the random 0 0.1 0 0 – 2.2 =
variable X -2.2
1 0.2 0.2 1 – 2.2 =
-1.2
2 0.3 0.6 2 – 2.2 =
- 0.2
3 0.2 0.6 3 – 2.2 =
0.8
4 0.2 0.8 4 – 2.2 =
1.8

3. Square the results X P(x) X · P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2

obtained in Step 2. 0 0.1 0 0 – 2.2 4.84
= -2.2
1 0.2 0.2 1 – 2.2 1.44
= -1.2
2 0.3 0.6 2 – 2.2 0.04
= - 0.2
3 0.2 0.6 3 – 2.2 0.64
= 0.8
4 0.2 0.8 4 – 2.2 3.24
= 1.8
4. Multiply the results X P(x) X · P(x) X - µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 3 by the 0 0.1 0 0 – 2.2 4.84 0.484
corresponding probability. = -2.2
1 0.2 0.2 1 – 2.2 1.44 0.288
= -1.2
2 0.3 0.6 2 – 2.2 0.04 0.012
= - 0.2
3 0.2 0.6 3 – 2.2 0.64 0.128
= 0.8
4 0.2 0.8 4 – 2.2 3.24 0.648
= 1.8
5. Get the sum of the results X P(x) X · P(x) X - µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 4. The result 0 0.1 0 0 – 2.2 4.84 0.484
is the value of the variance. = -2.2
So, the formula is: 1 0.2 0.2 1 – 2.2 1.44 0.288
= -1.2
σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ) 2p(x) 2 0.3 0.6 2 – 2.2 0.04 0.012
= - 0.2
3 0.2 0.6 3 – 2.2 0.64 0.128
 = 0.8
4 0.2 0.8 4 – 2.2 3.24 0.648
= 1.8
TOTAL 1.56

σ2 = ∑(x − µ)2p(x) = 1.56

To Solve for Standard Deviation: Get the square root of the variance
σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)
= 1.56
σ = √1.56
= 1.25
So, the variance of the number of cars sold per day is 1.56 and the standard deviation is 1.25.

2. When three coins are tossed once, 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.

Solution:
Follow the steps in finding variance and standard deviation of the probability distribution

STEPS SOLUTION
1. Find the mean of the Number of Probability X · P(x)
probability distribution Car Sold X P(x)
using the formula: 0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
µ = ∑ 𝑋𝑃(𝑥) 2 3/8 3/8
3 1/8 1/8

µ = ∑ 𝑿𝑷(𝒙) = 12/8 = 1.5

TOTAL 12/8 = 1.5

2. Subtract the mean from X P(x) X · P(x) X-µ

each value of the random 0 1/8 0 0 – 1.5
variable X = -1.5
1 3/8 3/8 1 – 1.5
= -0.5
2 3/8 6/8 2 – 1.5
= 0.5
3 1/8 3/8 3 – 1.5
= 1.5
3. Square the results X P(x) X · P(x) X - µ (X - µ)2
obtained in Step 2. 0 1/8 0 0 – 1.5 2.25
= -1.5
1 3/8 3/8 1 – 1.5 0.25
= -0.5
2 3/8 6/8 2 – 1.5 0.25
= 0.5
3 1/8 3/8 3 – 1.5 2.25
= 1.5
4. Multiply the results X P(x) X · P(x) X - µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 3 by the 0 1/8 0 0 – 1.5 2.25 2.25/8 = 0.28
corresponding probability. = -1.5
1 3/8 3/8 1 – 1.5 0.25 0.75/8 = 0.09
= -0.5
 2 3/8 6/8 2 – 1.5 0.25 0.75/8 = 0.09
= 0.5
3 1/8 3/8 3 – 1.5 2.25 2.25/8 = 0.28
= 1.5
5. Get the sum of the results X P(x) X · P(x) X-µ (X - µ)2 (X - µ)2 · P(x)
obtained in Step 4. The result 0 1/8 0 0 – 1.5 2.25 0.28
is the value of the variance. = -1.5
So, the formula is: 1 3/8 3/8 1 – 1.5 0.25 0.09
= -0.5
σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x) 2 3/8 6/8 2 – 1.5 0.25 0.09
= 0.5
3 1/8 3/8 3 – 1.5 2.25 0.28
= 1.5
TOTAL 0.74

σ2 = ∑(x − µ)2p(x) = 1.56

To solve for Standard Deviation

σ2 = ∑(𝑥 − µ)2p(x)
= 0.74
σ = √0.74
= 0.86
The mean in tossing 3 coins with probability of Head will show up is 0.86 and the variance is 0.74, then the standard
deviation is 0.86.