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Random Variables - Introduction

The document introduces random variables and their definitions, emphasizing the distinction between discrete and continuous random variables. It explains probability distributions and provides examples, including the outcomes of tossing a coin three times. Key features of discrete probability distributions are highlighted, including the requirement that the sum of probabilities equals one.

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Jack Jan
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5 views

Random Variables - Introduction

The document introduces random variables and their definitions, emphasizing the distinction between discrete and continuous random variables. It explains probability distributions and provides examples, including the outcomes of tossing a coin three times. Key features of discrete probability distributions are highlighted, including the requirement that the sum of probabilities equals one.

Uploaded by

Jack Jan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTRODUCTION

TO
RANDOM VARIABLES
BY
HAIDER ABBAS NAQVI
Inferential Statistics:
A decision, estimate, prediction, or generalization about a
population, based on a sample.

A population is a collection of all possible individuals, objects, or


measurements of interest.

A sample is a portion, or part, of the population of interest.


Random Variable
Definition 1
A numerical event whose value is determined by a chance process. This definition
valid when the variable or information is in the form of numbers.
Example:
No. of “A” grade students in the class,
No. of units sold per day,
height of male students in the class etc.

Definition 2

“A rule which assigns numbers to the outcomes of the possibility space is called a
Random Variable”.

This definition is valid when outcomes are non numeric. Capital English letters say X
to denote a random variable and its corresponding small letter, x in this case for one
of its values.
Random Variables
A quantitative variable x is a random variable if the value that x takes
on in a given experiment or observation is a chance or random
outcome.

A discrete random variable can take on only a finite number of values


or a countable number of values.

A continuous random variable can take on any of the countless


number of values in a line interval.
Probability distribution

A probability distribution is an assignment of


probabilities to each distinct value of a discrete random
variable or to each interval of values of a continuous
random variable.

Features of the probability distribution of a discrete


random variable
1. The probability distribution has a probability assigned to
each distinct
value of the random variable.
2. The sum of all the assigned probabilities must be 1.
Example:

A coin is tossed three times. Find the possibility space and the values of the random
variables X , Y , and N where;

X is the number of heads,


Y is the number of tails
N is the Sum of Heads and Tail ,
consider value of head +1 and Tail -1
Possibility Space X Y N

HHH 3 0 3

HHT 2 1 1

HTH 2 1 1

HTT 1 2 -1

THH 2 1 1

THT 1 2 -1

TTH 1 2 -1

TTT 0 3 -3
Difference between Discrete and Continuous random Variable
Discrete Random Variable: Continuous Random Variable:
 Countable set of distinct values.  Any value within some interval
 Discrete data is counted. say 1 to 3.
 It can take only integer values,  Continuous data is measured.
 It can take values including
never include fractions or
decimal. fractions and decimals.
 Discrete data can only take  Continuous data can take any
certain values. value including decimal points
Examples: within a range.
 Number of classes missed last Examples:
 Hours spent exercising last week.
week.
 Number of patients in a Hospital.  Time required to finish a test.
Discrete Probability Distribution:
A table or a function (called as discrete probability distribution function) listing all
possible values that a discrete random variable X can take on, along with the associated
probabilities, is called a discrete probability distribution. In any discrete probability
distribution, the sum of probabilities should always be equal to one”.

Example: A coin is tossed three times. Develop the probability distribution table for the
random variable X, where X is the number of heads
Probability distribution table for X
X P(X)
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8
Total Probability 8/8 = 1

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