Math Problem Statement

Consider the following data:

x −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 P(X=x) 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2

Step 3 of 5 : Find the standard deviation. Round your answer to one decimal place.

Solution

To find the standard deviation for the given probability distribution, we need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the mean (expected value), μ\mu.

The formula for the mean μ\mu is:

μ=(xP(X=x))\mu = \sum (x \cdot P(X = x))

Where xx represents each possible value of XX, and P(X=x)P(X = x) is the corresponding probability.

Using the data:

μ=(5)(0.2)+(4)(0.3)+(3)(0.2)+(2)(0.1)+(1)(0.2)\mu = (-5)(0.2) + (-4)(0.3) + (-3)(0.2) + (-2)(0.1) + (-1)(0.2)

Calculating each term:

μ=(1)+(1.2)+(0.6)+(0.2)+(0.2)=3.2\mu = (-1) + (-1.2) + (-0.6) + (-0.2) + (-0.2) = -3.2

So, the mean μ=3.2\mu = -3.2.

Step 2: Find the variance.

Variance is given by the formula:

σ2=[P(X=x)(xμ)2]\sigma^2 = \sum \left[ P(X = x) \cdot (x - \mu)^2 \right]

Now, we will compute (xμ)2(x - \mu)^2 for each xx value, then multiply each by its respective probability.

  1. For x=5x = -5: (xμ)2=(5+3.2)2=(1.8)2=3.24(x - \mu)^2 = (-5 + 3.2)^2 = (-1.8)^2 = 3.24 P(X=5)(xμ)2=0.23.24=0.648P(X = -5) \cdot (x - \mu)^2 = 0.2 \cdot 3.24 = 0.648

  2. For x=4x = -4: (xμ)2=(4+3.2)2=(0.8)2=0.64(x - \mu)^2 = (-4 + 3.2)^2 = (-0.8)^2 = 0.64 P(X=4)(xμ)2=0.30.64=0.192P(X = -4) \cdot (x - \mu)^2 = 0.3 \cdot 0.64 = 0.192

  3. For x=3x = -3: (xμ)2=(3+3.2)2=(0.2)2=0.04(x - \mu)^2 = (-3 + 3.2)^2 = (0.2)^2 = 0.04 P(X=3)(xμ)2=0.20.04=0.008P(X = -3) \cdot (x - \mu)^2 = 0.2 \cdot 0.04 = 0.008

  4. For x=2x = -2: (xμ)2=(2+3.2)2=(1.2)2=1.44(x - \mu)^2 = (-2 + 3.2)^2 = (1.2)^2 = 1.44 P(X=2)(xμ)2=0.11.44=0.144P(X = -2) \cdot (x - \mu)^2 = 0.1 \cdot 1.44 = 0.144

  5. For x=1x = -1: (xμ)2=(1+3.2)2=(2.2)2=4.84(x - \mu)^2 = (-1 + 3.2)^2 = (2.2)^2 = 4.84 P(X=1)(xμ)2=0.24.84=0.968P(X = -1) \cdot (x - \mu)^2 = 0.2 \cdot 4.84 = 0.968

Now, summing these values:

σ2=0.648+0.192+0.008+0.144+0.968=1.96\sigma^2 = 0.648 + 0.192 + 0.008 + 0.144 + 0.968 = 1.96

Step 3: Find the standard deviation.

The standard deviation σ\sigma is the square root of the variance:

σ=1.96=1.4\sigma = \sqrt{1.96} = 1.4

So, the standard deviation is 1.4 (rounded to one decimal place).


Would you like further clarification on any of these steps or any related questions? Here's a few more to explore:

  1. How would you calculate the mean of a continuous probability distribution?
  2. What is the relationship between variance and standard deviation?
  3. How can you use standard deviation to understand data spread in a real-life scenario?
  4. What happens if a probability distribution is symmetric?
  5. Can you use this same method to calculate the variance and standard deviation of a normal distribution?

Tip: To better understand probability distributions, visualize them with a graph—this helps to intuitively grasp how the data is spread out.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Probability Distribution
Standard Deviation
Variance
Mean

Formulas

Mean (μ) = Σ(x * P(X = x))
Variance (σ^2) = Σ[P(X = x) * (x - μ)^2]
Standard Deviation (σ) = √Variance

Theorems

Law of Total Probability

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12