Cone Pre Calculus
Cone Pre Calculus
1
Discrete Random Variables
Random Variables
A random variable is a numeric measure
of the outcome of a probability
experiment
Random variables reflect measurements that
can change as the experiment is repeated
Random variables are denoted with capital
letters, typically using X (and Y and Z …)
Values are usually written with lower case letters,
typically using x (and y and z ...)
Examples (Random Variables)
● Tossing four coins and counting the
number of heads
The number could be 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4
The number could change when we
toss another four coins
● Measuring the heights of students
The heights could change from student
to student
Discrete Random Variable
● A discrete random variable is a random
variable that has either a finite or a countable
number of values
A finite number of values such as {0, 1, 2, 3, and 4}
A countable number of values such as {1, 2, 3, …}
● Discrete random variables are designed to
model discrete variables (see section 1.2)
● Discrete random variables are often “counts of
…”
Example (Discrete Random
Variable)
● The number of heads in tossing 3 coins
(a finite number of possible values)
There are four possible values – 0 heads, 1
head, 2 heads, and 3 heads
A finite number of possible values – a
discrete random variable
This fits our general concept that discrete
random variables are often “counts of …”
Discrete Random Variables
● Other examples of discrete random variables
● The possible rolls when rolling a pair of dice
A finite number of possible pairs, ranging from (1,1) to
(6,6)
● The number of pages in statistics textbooks
A countable number of possible values
● The number of visitors to the White House in a
day
A countable number of possible values
Continuous Random
Variable
● A continuous random variable is a
random variable that has an infinite, and
more than countable, number of values
The values are any number in an interval
● Continuous random variables are
designed to model continuous variables
(see section 1.1)
● Continuous random variables are often
“measurements of …”
Example (Continuous
Random Variable)
● An example of a continuous random variable
● The possible temperature in Chicago at noon
tomorrow, measured in degrees Fahrenheit
The possible values (assuming that we can measure
temperature to great accuracy) are in an interval
The interval may be something like (–20,110)
This fits our general concept that continuous
random variables are often “measurements of …”
Continuous Random Variables
● Other examples of continuous random
variables
● The height of a college student
A value in an interval between 3 and 8 feet
● The length of a country and western song
A value in an interval between 1 and 15 minutes
● The number of bytes of storage used on a
80 GB (80 billion bytes) hard drive
Although this is discrete, it is more reasonable to
model it as a continuous random variable
between 0 and 80 GB
Probability Distribution
● The probability distribution of a
discrete random variable X relates
the values of X with their
corresponding probabilities
● A distribution could be
In the form of a table
In the form of a graph
In the form of a mathematical formula
Probability Distribution
● If X is a discrete random variable and x
is a possible value for X, then we write
P(x) as the probability that X is equal to
x
● Examples
In tossing one coin, if X is the number of
heads, then P(0) = 0.5 and P(1) = 0.5
In rolling one die, if X is the number rolled,
then
P(1) = 1/6
Probability Distribution
Properties of P(x)
Since P(x) form a probability distribution,
they must satisfy the rules of probability
0 ≤ P(x) ≤ 1
Σ P(x) = 1
Inthe second rule, the Σ sign means to
add up the P(x)’s for all the possible x’s
Probability Distribution
An example of a discrete probability
distribution
0 .035
b) Draw a probability histogram
1 .074
2 .197
3 .320
4 .374
X P(x)
C) Compute and interpret the mean of the random
0 .035 variable X.
1 .074
2 .197
D) Compute the variance of random variable X.
3 .320
4 .374
E) Compute the standard deviation of random variable x.