RandomVariables
Discrete & Continuous
Random Variable
Random variable is a real valued function whose domain is the sample space
associated with a random experiment and range is the real line.
Discrete Random variable
Discrete Random Variable. A random variable is said to be discrete if it takes only
a finite number of values.
For example, in an experiment of tossing a pair of coins, if we define the random
variable X as the number of heads obtained, then the values of random variable
X are 0,1,1,2 corresponding to the outcomes TT, HT, TH and HH respectively.
Continuous Random variable
Continuous Random variable. A random variable is said to be continuous if it
assumes any possible value between cases it takes any value in a certain limit.
In such an interval.
For example, the height of a person chosen at random from a population of 1000
persons lies between 140 cm and 160 cm. Similarly age, weight etc. are
continuous variables.
Probability distribution of a Random Variable
If a random variable x assume value X1,X2 .....Xn with respective probabilities
P1, P2,..........Pn such that :
a) 0 < pi ≤ 1 for i = 1, 2,…, n
b) P1 + P2 +.......+ Pn = 1
then the random variable X possesses the following probability distribution :
X : x1 x2 x3………………..xn
P(x) : p1 p2 p3………………..pn
Example 1 - A coin is biased so that the head is 3 times as likely to occur as a
tail. If the coin is tossed twice, find the probability distribution for the number of
tails.
Solution :
Example 2 - Two cards are drawn simultaneously from a pack of 52 cards
without replacement. Find the probability distribution of the number of kings.
Solution :
Example 3 - From a lot of 10 items containing 3 defectives, a sample of 4 items
is drawn at random. Let the random variable X denote the number of defective
items in the sample. If the sample is drawn without replacement, find
(i) the probability distribution of X.
(ⅱ) P(x<1)
(iii) P(0<x<2)
Solution :
Example 4 - Assume that the pair of dice is thrown and the random variable X is
the sum of numbers that appears on two dice. Find the mean or the expectation
of the random variable X.
Solution :
Question 5 -
Solution :
Assignment
Question 1 :
Assume that the pair of dice is thrown and the random variable X is the sum of numbers
that appears on two dice. Find the mean or the expectation of the random variable X
Question 2 :
Find the probability distribution for the number of doublets in the three throws of a pair
of dice.
Question 3 :
Let X be a discrete random variable with the following pmf: P(X = 1) = 0.1, P(X = 2) =
0.3, P(X = 3) = 0.4, and P(X = 4) = 0.2. Find the expected value E(X).
Question 4 :
An urn contains 5 mangoes and 4 apples. Three fruits are taken at random. If the number of
apples taken is a random variable, then find the values of the random variable and number of
points in its inverse images.
Question 5 :
In a pack of 52 playing cards, two cards are drawn at random simultaneously. If the number of
black cards drawn is a random variable, find the values of the random variable and number of
points in its inverse images.
Answer Sheet
Q1: E(X) = 7
Q2: P(X = k) = C(3, k)(1/6)^k(5/6)^(3−k), k = 0,1,2,3
Q3: E(X) = 2.7
Q4: Values of X: 0, 1, 2, 3 Inverse image points: 10, 40, 30, 4
Q5: Values of X: 0, 1, 2 Inverse image points: 325, 676, 325