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Probability and Distribution
An Interactive Teaching Presentation
with Infographics and Examples
Definition of Probability
• Probability measures how likely an event is to
occur.
• Formula: P(A) = m/n, where m = favorable
outcomes, n = total outcomes.
• Range: 0 ≤ P(A) ≤ 1.
• Example: Probability of getting a head in a
coin toss = 1/2.
Addition Law of Probability
• For any two events A and B:
• P(A B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A ∩ B)
∪
• If mutually exclusive: P(A B) = P(A) + P(B).
∪
• Example: Probability of drawing a red or a king
card from a deck.
Multiplication Law of Probability
• P(A ∩ B) = P(A) × P(B|A)
• If independent, P(A ∩ B) = P(A) × P(B).
• Example: Probability of getting two heads in
two coin tosses = 1/4.
Mathematical Expectation
• Expected value (mean) of a random variable X:
• E(X) = ΣxP(x)
• It gives the long-run average of outcomes.
• Example: For X = {1,2,3} with
P(X)={0.2,0.5,0.3}, E(X)=2.1
Binomial Distribution
• Used when trials are independent with two
outcomes.
• Formula: P(X=r)=C(n,r)p^r q^(n−r)
• Mean=np, Variance=npq.
• Example: Find P(X=2) when n=5, p=0.4.
• Solution: P(X=2)=C(5,2)(0.4)^2(0.6)^3=0.3456
Poisson Distribution
• Used for rare events.
• Formula: P(X=r)=(e^−λ λ^r)/r!
• Mean=Variance=λ.
• Example: If λ=3, find P(X=2).
• Solution: e^−3 × 3²/2! = 0.224
Normal Distribution
• Continuous, symmetric, bell-shaped curve.
• Formula: f(x)=1/(σ√(2π)) e^{-(x−μ)²/(2σ²)}
• Mean=μ, Variance=σ².
• Example: Marks ~ N(70,10²), find P(60<X<80)
using Z-scores.
Joint, Marginal & Conditional
Distributions
• Joint: P(X=x, Y=y)
• Marginal: P(X=x)=Σ P(X=x, Y=y)
• Conditional: P(X=x|Y=y)=P(X=x,Y=y)/P(Y=y).
• Example: Table of probabilities for X and Y.
Moment Generating Function
(MGF)
• MGF: M_X(t)=E(e^{tX})
• Helps find moments: E(X)=M'(0),
Var(X)=M''(0)−[M'(0)]².
• Example: For Poisson(λ),
M_X(t)=exp[λ(e^t−1)].
Characteristic Function
• φ_X(t)=E(e^{itX})
• Always exists, useful for Central Limit Theorem
proofs.
Data Collection and Compilation
• Data collection: Gathering raw information.
• Compilation: Organizing and coding data.
• Sources: Primary (survey, experiment),
Secondary (reports, books).
Classification and Tabulation
• Classification: Grouping data (qualitative,
quantitative).
• Tabulation: Presenting in rows and columns
with headings.
Diagrammatic Representation
• Visual comparison of data: Bar diagram, Pie
chart, Pictogram.
• Each represents proportion or frequency.
Graphical Representation
• Line graph – shows trends over time.
• Frequency polygon – connects midpoints.
• Ogive – cumulative frequency curve (less than,
more than).
Histogram and Ogives
• Histogram: Adjacent rectangles with height =
frequency.
• Ogive: Curve showing cumulative frequencies.
• Their intersection gives the median.
Summary Table
• Probability laws, Distributions (Binomial,
Poisson, Normal), MGF, and Data Presentation
summarized for revision.