Week 5: Chapter 4

Discrete Random Variables (Section 4.1-4.3)

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Terminology (4.1)

Random Variable
A variable that assumes numerical values associated with
the random outcome of an experiment, where one (and
only one) numerical value is assigned to each sample
point.

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Terminology (4.1)

Discrete Random Variable

a countable number of values.

Continuous Random Variable

any value along a given interval of a number line.

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Examples

Discrete random
variables

Continuous random
variables

Number of sales

Length

Number of calls

Depth

Shares of stock

Volume

People in line

Time

Mistakes per page

Weight

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Probability Distributions for Discrete

Random Variables (4.2)

Consists of all possible values of a random

variable with their associated probabilities.

Example: Let us consider the experiment of

tossing two fair coins.
S = { HH, HT, TH, TT }
X is the random variable which is defined by the
number of heads.
X=x

P(X=x)

1/4

2/4

1/4
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Conditions
1.

P(x) 0 for all values of x

2.

The sum of all of the probabilities must

equal 1.

=1
=1

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Expected Value and Variance (4.3)

The mean, or expected value, of a discrete

random variable is

E( X )
x1 p1 x2 p2 xn pn
x p( x)

The variance of a discrete random variable is

x p( x)
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Example

Number of assistance programs used simultaneously by

families with children in Head Start programs in Ohio.
# of
programs (x)

Frequency

P(x)

62

.2088

47

.1582

39

.1313

39

.1313

58

.1953

37

.1246

.0135

11

.0370

297

1.000

Total

62/297=.2088

Week 5: Chapter 5
Continuous Random Variables

continuous

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Continuous Random Variable

A continuous random variable can assume

any numerical value within some interval
or intervals.

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Continuous Probability Distributions

The graph of the probability distribution is

a smooth curve called a
probability density function
frequency function
probability distribution

There are an infinite number of possible

outcomes
p(x) = 0
Instead, find p(a<x<b)

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Mean & Standard Deviation of x

Two distributions with the same standard
deviation with different means.

Larger mean

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Illustrations
Two distributions with the same means and
different standard deviation.
Smaller standard deviation

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The Uniform Distribution (5.2)

1
f ( x)
,
d c

cxd
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Formulas
For two values a and b
<< =

c<

The mean and Standard deviation for a Uniform

random variable X is:
Mean
+2
=
2

Standard Deviation
=

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Example

Suppose a random variable X is distributed

uniformly with c = 5 and d = 25.
a. What is P(10 x 18) ?

b. Find mean and standard deviation of X.

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Example

Suppose a random variable X is distributed

uniformly with c = 5 and d = 25.
a. What is P(10 x 18) ?

1
1
1

d c 25 5 20

c=5
a=10

d=25
b=18
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(a) What is P(10 x 18) ?

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ba
P ( a x b)
,
cabd
d c
18 10
P(10 x 18)
.40
25 5
(b)
Mean,

c d 5 25 30

15
2
2
2

Standard
d c 25 5 20

5.7735
deviation,
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