Random Variable: a variable whose possible values are determined by chance.

A random variable is
typically represented by an uppercase letter, usually X, while its corresponding lowercase letter in this
case, x, is used to represent one of its values.

X: Random Variable

x: RV’s values

A random variable is a rule that assigns a number to each outcome of an experiment.

Notation: Denote the random variable by a capital letter such as X or Y

Probability Experiments: flip coin, dice, card etc

A discrete random variable can only take a finite (countable) number of distinct values. The values are
exact and can be represented by nonnegative whole numbers.

A continuous random variable can assume an infinite number of values in an interval between two
specific values. These values are often resulting of measurements.

1. Number of women among 10 newly hired teachers DISCRETE

2. Height CON
3. Number of car accidents DISCRETE
4. Amount of rainfall in mm in Manila CON
5. Weight CON

Discrete probability distribution: a table showing all the possible values of discrete random variable
together with their corresponding probabilities.

Properties:

If X is a random variable with n elements, then

1. Each of the probabilities, P(x) has a value which range from O through 1.
2. The sum of the probabilities P(x1) + P(x1) + P(x1) + … + P(xn) = EP(x) = 1

The Mean of a Discrete Probability Distribution

The mean of a discrete random variable X is also called expected value of X. It is the weighted average
of all the values that the random variable X would assumes in the long run.
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS OF DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLES

Rather than look at the probability of just one value of X, we find the probability of each of the possible
values of X. We call this assignment of a probability to each value of a discrete random variable a
probability distribution.

Probability Distribution

1. The sum of the probabilities of all the events in the sample must equal to 1; that is ∑𝑃𝑋=1

2. The probability of each event in the sample space must be between or equal to 0 and 1. That is
0≤𝑃(𝑋)≤1

Skewness: The measure of symmetry or asymmetry of the probability distribution of a random variable

Normal Distribution: a continuous probability distribution that describes data that cluster around the
mean. It is continuous, symmetric, bell-shaped curve distribution of a variable. It measured central
tendency, that is the mean, median and mode are identical.

The graph of the associated probability density function is bell-shaped, with peak at the mean

Properties:

- The distribution is bell-shaped

- The mean, mode and median are equal and are located at the center
- Unimodal
- Symmetric about the mean
- Continuous
- Asymptotic
- Total area under ND curve is 1 or 100%

Normal Distribution

Gaussian Distribution

Normal Curve  Bell Curve

Gaussian Function
History

1733 Abraham De Moivre

1924 Karl Pearson discovered the paper

1783 Pierre-Simon Laplace

1809 Carl Friedrich Gauss

Gaussian Distribution