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1 Random Variables

This document discusses random variables and their distributions. It defines a random variable as a set whose elements are numbers assigned to outcomes of an experiment. Random variables can be either discrete or continuous. A discrete random variable has a finite number of possible values that are usually counts, while a continuous random variable has infinite possible values that cannot be represented by whole numbers, such as measurements. Examples are provided to demonstrate classifying random variables as discrete or continuous.

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Mario Anacleto
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189 views

1 Random Variables

This document discusses random variables and their distributions. It defines a random variable as a set whose elements are numbers assigned to outcomes of an experiment. Random variables can be either discrete or continuous. A discrete random variable has a finite number of possible values that are usually counts, while a continuous random variable has infinite possible values that cannot be represented by whole numbers, such as measurements. Examples are provided to demonstrate classifying random variables as discrete or continuous.

Uploaded by

Mario Anacleto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson Radom Variables and Probability

1 Distributions

Random Variables
A random variable is a set whose elements are the numbers assigned to the outcomes of an experiment.
It is usually denoted by uppercase letters such as X, whose elements are denoted by lower case letters,
x1, x2, x3, and so on.

In some experiments such as tossing a coin three times, rolling a die twice, drawing two balls from an
urn and the like, we are not oftentimes concerned with every detail of the outcomes. We are usually
interested in some numerals associated with the outcomes. For instance, if a coin is tossed twice, the set
of all possible outcomes (S) of the experiment is:

S = {TT, TH, HT, HH}

If we are interested in the number of tails that comes out in the experiment, then we can assign
numbers 0, 1, and 2 for each of the 4 possible outcomes. Thus, we can write

Sample Space Number of Tails

TT 2

TH 1

HT 1

HH 0
Table 1.1

From the above, instead of Writing number of Tails, we can denote it as set X whose elements (x1, x2,
and x3) are 0, 1, and 2. In symbol,

X = {0, 1, 2}

Then X is called a Random Variable.


Types of Random Variables

in an experiment of tossing a coin n times, in X is the random variable determined by the number of tails
that will come out, then there is always a whole number (e.g. 0, 1, 2,….,n) that could be associated with
each outcome, regardless of whether n is finite ( countable) or infinite as the number of whole numbers.
This type of random variable is called discrete random variable. However, in a random variable Y,
determined by weight of students (in Kg) in any given moment, it is impossible for us to assign a whole
number for each weight. Because between two weights, there is always another value of weight. This is
called a continuous random variable.

A random variable X is said to be discrete random variable if it has a finite number of elements or
infinite but ca be represented by whole numbers. These values usually arise from counts.

A random variable Y is said to be continuous random variable if it has infinite number of elements and
cannot be represented by whole numbers. These values usually arise from measurements.

Example 1:

A teacher’s record has the following (a) Scores of students in a 50-item test, (b)Gender, (c) Heights of
the students

Let: X = Scores of students in a 50-item test

Y = Gender

Z = Height of the students

Classify each variable above as discrete or continuous.

Answer:

X = discrete random variable

Y= discrete random variable

Z = continuous random variable

X is a discreate random variable because the scores of the students are represented by whole numbers.

Y is also a discrete random variable because male and female could be coded 0 = female and 1 = male,
and thus, could be counted

Z is a continuous random variable because between two values of height, there are always infinite
numbers of possible values for height, thus making representations to be impossible.
Practice Exercise 1.1
A. Classify each random variable as discrete or continuous.

1. Number of women among 10 newly hired teachers

2. Height (in inches) of a randomly selected adult male

3. Number of a car accidents among 8 selected cities

4. Amount of rainfall (in mm) in the different cities in Metro Manila

5. Number of gifts received by 20 students during Christmas season.

6. Weight ( in grams) of 8 randomly selected Math book

7. Cost (rounded to the nearest Php) of a Statistics Book

8. Number of eggs a hen lays

9. The amount of milk obtained from a cow

10. Average temperature (in °C) in Baguio City for the past 5 days.
Answer Key 1.1

1. discrete random variable

2. continuous random variable

3. discrete random variable

4. continuous random variable

5. discrete random variable

6. continuous random variable

7. discrete random variable

8. discrete random variable

9. continuous random variable

10. continuous random variable


References:

1. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/random-variable.asp

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_variable

3. https://www.statisticshowto.com/random-variable/

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