Scribd
Upload
145 views

Teaching Guide 4

The document provides a teaching guide on defining the probability density function for continuous random variables. It begins by recalling continuous random variables and how they differ from discrete variables. For continuous variables, the probability of a specific value is zero, so instead we find the probability a variable falls in an interval using the probability density function f(x). The probability density function is defined as a function where f(x) is always nonnegative and the total area under the curve is 1, analogous to a probability mass function. Using f(x) allows calculating the probability a continuous variable lies between values a and b by finding the area under the curve between those points. An example of a uniform distribution is provided to demonstrate.

Uploaded by

Sharlyn Balgoa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
145 views

Teaching Guide 4

The document provides a teaching guide on defining the probability density function for continuous random variables. It begins by recalling continuous random variables and how they differ from discrete variables. For continuous variables, the probability of a specific value is zero, so instead we find the probability a variable falls in an interval using the probability density function f(x). The probability density function is defined as a function where f(x) is always nonnegative and the total area under the curve is 1, analogous to a probability mass function. Using f(x) allows calculating the probability a continuous variable lies between values a and b by finding the area under the curve between those points. An example of a uniform distribution is provided to demonstrate.

Uploaded by

Sharlyn Balgoa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

A Teaching Guide in Statistics and Probability

Learning Competency: define the probability density function for continuous variables and
its properties

A. Introduction: Recall Concept of Continuous Random Variables


 Help learners recall that random variables map outcomes of independent random
events into numbers, and that there are two general types: discrete (which takes on a
specific and countable number of possible values) and continuous (which takes
onpossible values in a continuum).
An example of continuous random variable is the weight of a randomly-chosen rock from a
pile of rocks since the exact weight of therock (to the smallest of measures) is impossible to
pinpoint as weight can besubjected to varying levels of accuracy, and we are only limited by
the precision ofour instruments.

B. Motivation: Probability Density Function as Analog of Probability Mass Function


In the previous lesson, you showed learners that for discrete random variable X, that
takes on a finite or countably infinite number of possible values, there is a probability
distribution (or probability mass function P(X = x) for all of the possible values of X

Now, inform learners that for continuous random variables, the probability that X
takes on any particular value x is zero (0). That is, finding P(X = x) for a continuous
random variable X is always known to be zero (0).
Instead, we will need to find the probability that X falls in some interval (a, b), that
is, we'll need to find P(a < X < b). We can use a curve called the probability
density function f(x), for this purpose.

C. Main Lesson: Probability Density Function


Since you have managed to discuss the idea behind a probability density function
for a continuous random variable, you can now formally define it to the class:

Definition: Let X be a random variable, the probability density function f(x) is


a function that satisfies the following properties:
(a) the height of the graph, i.e. f(x) must be greater than or equal to zero (0) (i.e
nonnegative) for all real numbers x. That is, the graph of the equation must lie
on or above the horizontal axis for all possible values of the random variable.
(b) the total area under the curve f(x) is 1
Show to students that the definition of the probability density function of a
continuous random variable is analogous to the probability mass function (or
probability distribution) of a discrete random variable, i.e. the first property is about
probabilities being nonnegative, and the second property is about probabilities
adding up to 1.

 Explain to students that we can use the probability density function to find the
probability that X lies in some interval from a to b, by considering the area under
the graph of the probability density function over the interval.

Example 1: Uniform Distribution, also called Rectangular Distribution


Suppose that your friend is always late, and that the continuous random variable X
represents the time from when you are supposed to meet your friend until he shows up.
D. Enrichment: Pseudo Random Numbers between 0 and 1
Use Microsoft worksheet to represent a probability distribution for a continuous random
variable.

E. Evaluation
Suppose that in a certain class, grades will be given in a uniform distribution
where a = 80, b = 100. Let X be the grade of a randomly-selected student,
what is:
a. P( X < 90)
b. P( X > 90 )
c. P (X = 90)
d. P (85 <X < 95)
F. Reinforcement

Answer the following exercises about the topic on their workbook.

You might also like