Discrete and

Continuous Random
Variables
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

 accurately differentiate discrete and continuous

random variables; and

 correctly determine whether a random variable is

discrete or continuous.
 Essential Questions

 Why is it important to classify random variables as either

discrete or continuous?
 Warm Up!

1. Suppose you are trying to decide what to have for

breakfast. You can choose between cereal and a bagel,
and you have four choices for what to drink: coffee,
orange juice, tea, or water. List the sample space.

2. Suppose you have four pairs of pants, two tops, and three
pairs of shoes. Assuming that all will match, how many
different outfits can you make?
 Guide Questions

● How do you list the outcomes of a random experiment?

● How do you count the number of possible outcomes of a

random experiment without counting?
 Learn about It!

1 Discrete Random Variable

a random variable with a finite number of possible values
or an infinite number of values that can be counted

Example:
The number of phones produced by a company is a discrete
random variable since it can be counted as 0, 1, 2, 3, and so
on. It has an infinite number of values that can be counted.
 Learn about It!

2 Continuous Random Variable

a random variable that can assume an infinite number of
values that can take decimal or fractional values

Example:
The height of a student is a continuous random variable since
its possible values can be represented by decimal numbers
such as kg and kg. The number of its possible values is not
countable, and there can be an infinite number of values.
Learn about It!
 Try It!

Example 1: A random variable has the following value: , , , ,

or . Is the random variable discrete or continuous?
 Try It!

Example 1: A random variable has the following value: , , , ,

or . Is the random variable discrete or continuous?

Solution:
Based on the given, we see that the number of possible
values of the random variable is finite. Thus, the random
variable is discrete.
 Try It!

Example 2: Determine whether the recorded body

temperature of a patient in a hospital is a discrete or
continuous random variable.
 Try It!

Example 2: Determine whether the recorded body

temperature of a patient in a hospital is a discrete or
continuous random variable.
Solution:
The body temperature of a patient may take infinitely many
possible decimal values such as , , and . Thus, the body
temperature of a patient is a continuous random variable.
 Let’s Practice!
Individual Practice:
1. Let be a random variable that denotes the number of
boys in a flag ceremony. Is discrete or continuous?

2. Which of the following is an example of a continuous

random variable?
a. number of passengers inside the bus
b. height of a Grade 11 female student
c. number of 5-peso coins contained in a purse
d. number of Senior High School Teachers in TCNHS
 Let’s Practice!
Individual Practice:
3. Which of the following is a discrete random variable?
a. number of used masks thrown each day
b. the amount of water required to drink every day
c. the height of Mary’s dog named Berlin
d. the weight of your father during his teenage years

4. Which DOES NOT belong to the following?

a. outcomes in rolling a pair of dice
b. the number of DVD monthly sales in a Video Center
c. water temperatures of ten rivers in the Philippines on a given day
d. Student enrollment in a certain University
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

5. Which DOES NOT belong to the following?

a. amount of time spent surfing the internet per week
b. the tire pressures of automobiles
c. the time between passengers arriving at an airport
d. the mark on general mathematics examination that consists of 50-
multiple-choice questions
 Let’s Practice!

Group Practice: To be done in groups of five.

A teacher conducts a physical fitness test measuring the

following: number of sit-ups, time spent in a 50-m sprint, the
distance of a long jump, and body mass index. Identify the
random variables in the fitness test and determine whether
the variables are discrete or continuous.
Key Points

Discrete Random Variable

1 a random variable with a finite number of possible values or an infinite number of
values that can be counted

Continuous Random Variable

2 a random variable that can assume an infinite number of values that can take
decimal or fractional values
 Synthesis

 What is the difference between discrete and continuous

random variables?

 How can you use discrete and continuous random

variables in describing data?