Section 3.4 Probability Density Functions 85
15.9 ~~ 160 ae 16.1
Amounts rounded to nearest tenth of an ounce
16.00 16.10
Amounts rourided to nearest hundredth of an ounce
159) 160 161
FIGURE 3.6: Definition of probability in the continuous case.
Because of this property, the value of a probability density function can
be changed for some of the values of a random variable without changing the
probabilities, and this is why we said in Definition 3.4 that f(x) is the value of a
probability density, not she probability density, of the random variable X at x. Also,
in view of this property, it does not matter whether we include the endpoints of the
interval from a to b; symbolically,
TueoreM 3.4, If X is a continuous random variable and a and b are real
constants with a < b, then
Pla SX Sb) = Pa X