1. Probability & Statistics for P-8 Teachers
Chapter 5
Probability Distributions

2. Probability Distributions
We will now combine the methods of descriptive statistics (Chapter 2 and 3) and those of probability (Chapter 4) to describe and analyze
probability distributions.
Probability Distributions describe what will probably happen instead of what actually did happen, and they are often given in the format of a graph, table, or formula.

3. Combining Descriptive Methods and Probabilities
In this chapter we will construct probability distributions by presenting possible outcomes along with the relative frequencies we expect.

4. Probability Distributions
A random variable is a variable whose values are determined by chance.
A discrete probability distribution consists of the values a random variable can assume and the corresponding probabilities of the values.
The sum of the probabilities of all events in a sample space add up to 1. Each probability is between 0 and 1, inclusively.

5. Random Variables Two types of random variables:
A discrete random variable can assume a countable number of values.
Number of steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower
A continuous random variable can assume any value along a given interval of a number line.
The time a tourist stays at the top
once s/he gets there

6. Random Variables Discrete random variables Number of sales
Number of calls
Shares of stock
People in line
Mistakes per page
Continuous random variables
Length
Depth
Volume
Time
Weight

7. Probability Distributions
The probability distribution of a discrete random variable is a graph, table or formula that specifies the probability associated with each possible outcome the random variable can assume.
0 ≤ P(x) ≤ 1 for all values of x
P(x) = 1

8. Probability Distributions
Is the following a probability distribution? x
P(x)
0.16 1
0.18 2
0.22 3
0.10 4
0.30 5
-0.01
P(x) < 0
Not a probability distribution
∑P(x) ≠ 1
0.95

9. Probability Distribution
Construct a probability distribution for tossing a coin twice and recording the number of heads
P(0 heads) =
P(1 head) =
P(2 heads) =
1/4
2/4
# of Heads x
Probability
P(x)
0.25 1
0.50 2 HH
H T
T H
T T

10. Probability Histogram
A probability histogram is a histogram in which the horizontal axis corresponds to the value of the random variable and the vertical axis represents the probability of that value of the random variable.

11. Probability Histogramx
P(x)
0.06 1
0.58 2
0.22 3
0.10 4
0.03 5
0.01
Draw a probability histogram of the probability distribution to the right, which represents the number of DVDs a person rents from a video store during a single visit.

12. Probability Distribution
A survey was completed regarding how many siblings are in your family. Let X denote the number of siblings of a randomly selected student.
Determine the probability distribution of the random variable x.
b. Construct a probability histogram for the random variable x.
Change to page 228 and insert table 5.2

13. Probability Distribution
Solution
Probability Distribution
Probability Histogram
Change to page 228 and insert table 5.2

14. Probability Distribution
Just like with any distribution, we would like to analyze the data. The mean and standard deviation are the most common measurements.
To find these measurements, we will treat the probability distribution just like a frequency distribution.
Since probability distributions represent theoretical data, we will treat the results as a true population.

15. Mean and Standard Deviation
Mean: µ = ∑ x P(x)
Variance: σ2 = ∑ (x – µ)2 P(x)
or σ2 = ∑ x2 P(x) – µ2

16. Mean & Standard Deviation
Find the mean and standard deviaton of the number of spots that appear when a die is tossed.
Outcome x
Probability
P(x) 1
1/6 2 3 4 5 6
x P(x)
1/6
2/6
3/6
4/6
5/6
6/6
21/6
µ = ∑ x P(x)
= 21/6
= 3.5

17. Mean & Standard Deviation
Find the mean and standard deviaton of the number of spots that appear when a die is tossed.
Outcome x
Probability
P(x) 1
1/6 2 3 4 5 6
x2 P(x)
1/6
4/6
9/6
16/6
25/6
36/6
91/6
σ2 = ∑ x2 P(x) – µ2
= 91/6 – (21/6)2
= 105/36
σ = √ 105/36
= 1.708

18. Mean & Standard Deviation
The probability distribution shown represents the number of trips of five nights or more that American adults take per year. (That is, 6% do not take any trips lasting five nights or more, 70% take one trip lasting five nights or more per year, etc.) Find the mean.

19. Mean & Standard Deviation
# Trips x
Probability
P(x)
0.06 1
0.70 2
0.20 3
0.03 4
0.01
x P(x)
0.00
0.70
0.40
0.09
0.04
1.23
x2 P(x)
0.00
0.70
0.80
0.27
0.16
1.93
µ = ∑ x P(x) = 1.23
σ2 = ∑ x2 P(x) – µ2 = 1.93 – (1.23)2 =
σ = √ =

20. Expectation E(x) = µ = ∑ x P(x)
The expected value, or expectation, of a discrete random variable of a probability distribution is the theoretical average of the variable.
The expected value is, by definition, the mean of the probability distribution.
E(x) = µ = ∑ x P(x)

21. Winning Tickets E(x) = ∑ x P(x) = –0.815
One thousand tickets are sold at $1 each for four prizes of $100, $50, $25, and $10. After each prize drawing, the winning ticket is then returned to the pool of tickets. What is the expected value if you purchase a ticket?
Winnings = prize amount – $1 ticket price
Winnings x
Probability
P(x) 99
1/1000 49 24 9 -1
996/1000
x P(x)
99/1000
49/1000
24/1000
9/1000
-996/1000
-815/1000
E(x) = ∑ x P(x)
= –0.815
On average, you will lose 82 cents for every dollar you spend

22. Winning Tickets (Alternate approach)
One thousand tickets are sold at $1 each for four prizes of $100, $50, $25, and $10. After each prize drawing, the winning ticket is then returned to the pool of tickets. What is the expected value if you purchase a ticket?
Winnings x
Probability
P(x)
100
1/1000 50 25 10
996/1000
x P(x)
100/1000
50/1000
25/1000
10/1000
0/1000
185/1000
E(x) = ∑ x P(x) – initial cost
= – $1
= –0.815

23. The Binomial Distribution
Many types of probability problems have only two possible outcomes or they can be reduced to two outcomes.
Examples include: when a coin is tossed it can land on heads or tails, when a baby is born it is either a boy or girl, etc.

24. The Binomial Distribution
The binomial experiment is a probability experiment that satisfies these requirements:
Each trial can have only two possible outcomes—success or failure.
There must be a fixed number of trials.
The outcomes of each trial must be independent of each other.
The probability of success must remain the same for each trial.

25. Notation for the Binomial Distributionp q n x
Note that x = 0, 1, 2, 3,...,n
The numerical probability of success
The numerical probability of failure
The number of trials
The number of successes

26. The Binomial Distribution
In a binomial experiment, the probability of exactly X successes in n trials is

27. The Binomial Distribution
The Binomial Probability Distribution
the probability of exactly x successes in n trials is
The probability of getting the required number of successes
The probability of getting the required number of failures
The number of ways of getting the desired results
P(x) = nCx px qn-x

28. The Binomial Distribution
If 40% of the class is female, what is the probability that 1 of the next 2 students walking in will be female?
P(x) = nCx px qn-x
P(1) = 2C1 p1 q2-1
= (2) (.4)1 (.6)1
= 0.48
n = 2 (# trials)
x = 1 (# successes)
p = .4 (probability of success)
q = .6 (probability of failure)

29. The Binomial Distribution
A survey found that one out of five Americans say he or she has visited a doctor in any given month. If 10 people are selected at random, find the probability that exactly 3 will have visited a doctor last month.
P(x) = nCx px qn-x
P(3) = 10C3 p3 q10-3
n = 10
x = 3
p = 1/5
q = 4/5

30. The Binomial Distribution
Individual baseball cards, chosen at random from a set of 20, are given away inside cereal boxes. Stan needs one more card to complete his set so he buys five boxes of cereal. What is the probability that he will complete his set?
P(x) = nCx px qn-x
P(1) = 5C1 p1 q5-1
= (5) (.05)1 (.95)4
= 0.204
n = 5
x = 1
p = 1/20
q = 19/20
The probability of Stan completing
his set is 20%.

31. The Binomial Distribution
A test consists of 10 multiple choice questions, each with four possible answers. To pass the test, one must answer at least nine questions correctly. Find the probability of passing, if one were to guess the answer for each question.
P(x successes) = nCx px qn - x
P(x ≥ 9 successes) = P(9 successes) + P(10 successes)
n = 10
x = 9, 10
p = 1/4
q = 3/4
P(x ≥ 9) = =
The probability of passing is 0.003%.

32. The Binomial Distribution
A survey from Teenage Research Unlimited (Northbrook, Illinois) found that 30% of teenage consumers receive their spending money from part-time jobs. If 5 teenagers are selected at random, find the probability that at least 3 of them will have part-time jobs.
n = 5
p = 0.3
q = 0.7
x = 3, 4, 5
P(x ≥ 3) = = 0.162

33. The Binomial Distribution
A family has nine children. What is the probability that there is at least one girl?
This can be best solved using the compliment, that is, the probability of zero girls:
P(x successes) = nCx px qn - x
n = 9
p = 0.5
q = 0.5
x = 0
P (0) = 9C0 p0 q9 - 0
= (1) (.5)0 (.5)9 =
P(x ≥ 1) = 1 – P(0)
= 1 –
= 0.998

34. Binomial Distribution
Create a probability distribution table for tossing a coin 3 times
P(x) = nCx px qn-x
P(0) = 3C0 p0 q3-0
= (1) (.5)0 (.5)3 = 0.125
P(1) = (3) (.5)1 (.5)2 = 0.375
P(2) = (3) (.5)2 (.5)1 = 0.375
P(3) = (1) (.5)3 (.5)0 = 0.125
# Heads x 1 2 3
P(x)
0.125
0.375

35. Tossing Coins
A coin is tossed 3 times. Find the probability of getting exactly two heads, using Table B.

36. Binomial Distribution
(a) Construct a binomial probability histogram with n = 8 and p = 0.15.
(b) Construct a binomial probability histogram with n = 8 and p = 0. 5.
(c) Construct a binomial probability histogram with n = 8 and p = 0.85.
For each histogram, comment on the shape of the distribution.

40. The Binomial Distribution
The mean, variance, and standard deviation of a variable that has the binomial distribution can be found by using the following formulas.

41. The Binomial Distribution
The Statistical Bulletin published by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. reported that 2% of all American births result in twins. If a random sample of 8000 births is taken, find the mean, variance, and standard deviation of the number of births that would result in twins.

42. The Binomial Distribution
According to the Experian Automotive, 35% of all car-owning households have three or more cars. Find the mean and standard deviation for a random sample of 400 homes.
µ = np
= (400)(0.35)
= 140
σ = √npq
= √(400)(0.35)(0.65)
= 9.54