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How To Find Mean of Probability Distribution?

Last Updated : 13 Feb, 2024
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Answer: To find the mean of a probability distribution, multiply each possible outcome by its corresponding probability, and then sum up these products.

Mathematically, it is represented as:

Mean(μ) = ​xi – P(xi)

Where:

  • μ is the mean of the probability distribution.
  • xi represents each possible outcome.
  • P(xi) is the probability of each outcome.
  • n is the total number of possible outcomes.

For example, let’s say we have a discrete probability distribution with outcomes {1, 2, 3} and probabilities {0.2, 0.5, 0.3} respectively. Then, the mean is calculated as:

μ = (1×0.2) + (2×0.5) + (3×0.3) =0.2 + 1.0 + 0.9 = 2.1

Therefore, the mean of the probability distribution is 2.1.

In conclusion, the mean of a probability distribution is obtained by summing the products of each outcome and its corresponding probability.


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