S H S Learning Activity

Statistics and Probability 11 (Module 1)

Name: _______________________________Date: ________________

Grade & Section: ____________________Teacher: Ms. Mickee Engao

Activity Title: ______________Random Variable_________________

Learning Target/s: In this lesson, the students will be able to define and
illustrate a random variable, find the possible values of a random
variable and distinguish between a discrete and a continuous random
variable.

Definition (Random Variable)

A random variable is a function whose value is a real number
determined by each element in the sample space – the set of all possible
outcomes of an experiment and is denoted by S.
The variables that are measured in most scientific studies,
whose values occur by chance, are called to be “random variables”.
These are assumed to follow a probability distribution when
used in a statistical analysis.

Two types of random variable:

Discrete random variable – may take a number of distinct
values. These are usually (but not necessarily) counts such as 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, …
A discrete variable can also take on countably infinite numbers
that can be listed but have no specific end. It characterizes a count
data of possible outcomes such as the number of children in each
family in a community, the yearly enrollment in a school, and the daily
number of bus passengers.

Continuous random variable – takes an uncountably infinite

number of possible values within a particular range or interval. These
are usually measurements such as height, weight, the amount of
sugar in a mango, or the time taken to run 100 meters.