Statistics and Probability

Lesson 1 – Discrete and Continuous Random Variable

EXPERIMENT – any procedure that has well-defined set of possible outcomes.
OUTCOME – possible result of an experiment.
SAMPLE SPACE – the set of all outcomes of a probability experiment.
EVENT – consist of one or more outcomes of the sample space.

RANDOM EXPERIMENT
 Any process used to draw outcomes with the element of randomness.
o Note: The actual outcomes are said to happen randomly, without specific rule or plan of certain
determination, but have definite probability or chance of occurrence.
 If a random experiment is to be performed, the possible outcomes can already be determined and
enumerated but these outcomes are uncertain to happen.
 Although outcomes are uncertain, they can be determined using probabilities. Commonly, outcomes of
random experiments have equal probabilities of occurring.

RANDOM EXPERIMENT’S EXAMPLES

 Tossing a coin
 Waistline measurement of individuals
 Drawing a card from a deck
 Weight of students
 Rolling a die
 Time spent jogging

RANDOM VARIABLE
 A function that assigns numerical value/s to the possible outcomes that will result from a random
experiment.
 May be represented by any uppercase letter in the alphabet (often denoted as X or Y).
 May be DISCRETE or CONTINUOUS.

EXAMPLE OF RANDOM VARIABLES

 A = the sum of the numbers that turn up when a pair of dice is tossed
 W = the length of time in minutes that a scheduled airplane flight is delayed
 X = the number of correct answers a student get in a 10-item true-false test
 Y = the length of time it takes a swimmer to complete a 100-meter race
 Z = the number of defective items in a sample of 10 production items randomly selected from a
manufacturing process

TWO TYPES OF RANDOM VARIABLES

1. Discrete Random Variable
 Takes on a set of distinct possible values.
 Possible values are listable.
 May have finite/infinite number of possible values.
 EXAMPLES OF DISCRETE RANDOM EXPERIMENT
o Tossing a coin
o Rolling a die
o Drawing a card from a deck
EXAMPLE 1:
Random Experiment: Tossing a one-peso coin once
Random Variable: Let 𝑿 = occurrence of head

Value of Random Variable X

Possible Outcome
(occurrence of HEAD)
Head (H) 1
Tail (T) 0
𝑿 = { 𝟎, 𝟏 }

EXAMPLE 2:
Random Experiment: Rolling a die once
Random Variable: Let 𝒀 = the number of dots on the top face of a die

Value of Random Variable Y

Possible Outcome
(no. of dots on the top face of a die)

Single dot 1

Two dot 2

Three dot 3

Four dot 4

Five dot 5

Six dot 6

𝒀 = { 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, 𝟒, 𝟓, 𝟔 }

EXAMPLE 3:
Random Experiment: Tossing two coins
Random Variable: Let 𝒀 = occurrence of tails

Value of Random Variable Y

Possible Outcome
(occurrence of TAILS)
Heads (H) and Heads (H) 0
Heads (H) and Tails (T) 1
Tails (T) and Heads (H) 1
Tails (T) and Tails (T) 2
𝒀 = { 𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐 }
 2. Continuous Random Variable
 Can take on any value within specific interval.
 Holds an uncountable infinite number of possible value.
 Are usually measurements (e.g. height, amount of calories in desserts, time spent to finish a
task).
 EXAMPLES OF CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE
o Weight of students
o Waistline measurement of individuals
o Time spent jogging

EXAMPLE 1:
Random Experiment: Nurse Glenda was given a task to get the weight of some grade 11
students
Random Variable: Let 𝑨 = weight of every grade 11 students

X A(X) = Weight (in kg)

1 43
2 53.12
3 46.77
4 56
5 60
6 50.08
Table 1. Weight of some grade 11 students

Min: 43 – Max: 60
A is a continuous random variable which takes on any value from the interval [43, 60].

EXAMPLE 2:

X B(X) = Time (in min.)

1 – Gina 4.5
2 – Timmy 5.25
3 – Polly 6
4 – Rina 4.67
5 – Martel 3.87
Table 2. Time recorded to finish a lap

Min: 3.87 – Max: 6

B is a continuous random variable.

NOTE: More examples of continuous random variable are height, weight, length, time, distance, and
temperature.
 SUMMARY
 Random Experiment – any process used to draw outcomes with the elements of randomness.
 Random Variable – a function that assigns numerical value/s to the possible outcomes that will
result from a random experiment.
 A discrete random variable if its set of possible outcomes is countable (e.g. number of
defective chairs produced in a factory).
 A continuous random variable if it takes on values on a continuous scale (e.g. heights,
weights, and temperature).
o Examples:
 The weight in meters of a student randomly chosen from senior class.
 The time it takes for the winner of a five-kilometer race to cross the finish line.