1.
TSIITASCS
2. YLTOABPIBRI
3. DMOARN
4. EBIALRVA
5. STEEDCRI
6. USUOTCOINN
7. OSPISLBE UEVLA
Objectives:
At the end of the session, the learners should be able to;
❑ Illustrates a random variable (discrete and continuous)
❑ Distinguishes between a discrete and a continuous
random
❑ Apply a random variable in real - life problem.
Exploring
Random
Variable
Random Variable
A Random Variable may be viewed as a way to map
outcomes of statistical experiment determine by
chance into a number. It is a set whose elements
are the numbers assigned to the outcomes of an
experiment. It is denoted by a capital letter, usually
X.
In some experiments such as:
❑ Tossing a coin three
times
❑ Rolling a dice
twice
❑ Drawing two balls in a
box
Example 1.
Suppose two coins are tossed. Let X be the random variable
representing the number of heads that occur. Find the values
of the random variable X.
Head Possible Value of the
Outcomes random variable X
Head (Number of heads)
Tail
HH 2
Head HT 1
Tail TH 1
Tail TT 0
X = {0,1,2}
Sample Space = {HH, HT, TH, TT}
So, the possible values of the random variable X are 0,1 and 2.
Example 2.
Suppose tree coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable
representing the number of tails that occur. Find the values of
the random variable Y. Possible Outcomes Value of the random
variable X
(Number of tails)
HHH 0
HHT 1
HTH 1
HTT 2
THH 1
THT 2
TTH 2
Sample Space = TTT 3
{HHH,HHT,HTH,HTT,THH,THT,TTH,TTT}
Y= {0,1,2,3}
So, the possible values of the random variable X are 0,1 ,2and 3.
Example 4. Write all the possible values of each random variable.
1. X: Number of even number outcomes in a roll
of a die.
Answer: X = {2,4,6}
2 Z: Scores of a student in a 10 - item test
Answer: Z = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
3. Y: Weight (in mg) of a powder that does not
exceed 80 mg.
Answer: Y = {0mg ≤ y ≤ 80mg}
4. A: Product of two numbers taken from two boxes
containing numbers 0 to 5.
0 1 2 3 4 5
0 0,0
0 0,1
0 0,2
0 0,3
0 0,4
0 0,5
0
1 1,0
0 1,1
1 1,2
3 1,3
4 1,4
4 1,5
5
2 2,0
0 2,1
2 2,2
4 2,3
6 2,4
8 2,5
10
3 3,0
0 3,1
3 3,2
6 3,3
9 3,4
12 3,5
15
4 4,0
0 4,1
4 4,2
8 4,3
12 4,4
16 4,5
20
5 5,0
0 5,1
5 5,2
10 5,3
15 5,4
20 5,5
25
Answer: A = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,12,15,16,20,25}
Discrete Random Variable:
A random variable that can take on a finite (or countable infinite)
number of distinct values.
Examples:
❑ Number of siblings
❑ Number of heads obtained when tossing a coin
thrice
❑ The number of students present in a classroom
at a given time
Continuous Random Variable
A random variable that take an infinitely uncountable number of possible
values, typically measurable quantities.
Examples:
❑ Time of person can hold his/her breathe
❑ The height or weight of a person
❑ Body Temperature
Let’s Practice!!!
Determine whether the following are DISCRETE or CONTINUOUS random variables.
1. The time it takes a student selected at random to register for the fall semester
Continuous
Discrete2. The number or bad checks drawn on Upright Bank on a day selected at random
3. The amount of gasoline needed to drive your car 200 miles
Continuous
Discrete4. The number of traffic fatalities per year in the state of Florida
5. The distance a golf ball travels after being hit with a driver
Continuous
Discrete6. The number of ships in Pearl Harbor on any given day
7. Your weight before breakfast each morning
Continuous
TASK #1
A. Do as indicated.
1. Suppose Four coins are tossed. Let X be the random variable representing the number
of tails that occur. Find the values of the random variable X.
2. Three balls are drawn in succession without replacement from a box containing 5 red
balls, 6 yellow balls and 6 blue balls. Let Z be the random variable representing the
number of blue balls. Find the values of the random variable Z.
B. Write all the possible values of each random variable.
1. X: Number of Odd number outcomes in a roll of a two dice
2. Z: Scores of a student in a 15 - item test
3. Y: Height (in ft) of a Basketball player that does not exceed 7ft.
4. W: Product of two numbers taken from two boxes containing numbers 1 to 6.
C. Classify each random variable as discrete or continuous
1. Score of a students in a quiz
2. How long students ate breakfast
3. Time to finish running 100 m
4. Amount of paint utilized in a building project