Name: Grade & Section: Score:

School: Teacher: Subject: Statistics & Probability

LAS Writer: JANRIE M. RAGUINE, MAT Content Editor: JOHANNAH Y. ACHURRA
Lesson Topic: Understanding Random Variable (Q3 – Wk. 1, LAS 1)
Learning Targets: Illustrate random variable; and (M11/12SP–IIIa–1)
Distinguishing between a discrete and a continuous random variable. (M11/12SP–IIIa–2)
Reference(s): Walpole, R. and Myers, R., 1993. Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists. 5th ed. New
York: Macmillan Publishing Company, pp.49-56.

UNDERSTANDING RANDOM VARIABLE

A variable is something which can change its value. It may vary with different outcomes of an experiment. If the value
of a variable depends upon the outcome of a random experiment it is a random variable. A random variable can take up any real
value.
Mathematically, a random variable is a real-valued function whose domain is a sample space S of a random experiment.
A random variable is always denoted by capital letter like X, Y, Z, M etc. The lowercase letters like x, y, z, m etc. represent the
value of the random variable.
Consider the random experiment of tossing a coin 20 times. You will earn 5 pesos if you get head and will lose 5 pesos
if it is a tail. You and your friend are all set to see who will win the game by earning more money. Here, we see that the value
of getting head for the coin tossed for 20 times is anything from zero to twenty. If we denote the number of a head by X, then:
X = {0, 1, 2, … , 20}. The probability of getting a head is always ½.

Classifications of Random Variable:

A random variable can be classified as discrete or continuous. A discrete random variable is one that can assume
only for countable number of values. A continuous random variable can assume infinite number of values in one or more
intervals.
A. Discrete Random Variable
- a discrete random variable is one that can assume only for countable number of values.
- it has a finite number of elements or countable values and can be represented by whole numbers. The
number of calls a person gets in a day, the number of items sold by a company, the number of items
manufactured, number of accidents, number of gifts received on birthday etc. are some of the discrete random
variables.
Examples:
X: The number of women among 10 newly hired teachers
B: The number of gifts received by 20 students during the Christmas seasons
D: The number of eggs a hen lays
B. Continuous Random Variable
- a continuous random variable is one that can assume infinite number of values in one or more intervals.
These values usually arise from measurements such as heights, weights and temperatures.
Examples:
Z: The weight (in grams) of 8 randomly selected 8 Mathematics books
C: The amount of rainfall (in milliliter) in the different cities in Metro Manila
V: The average height of 12 Grade 11 students

ACTIVITY
Determine the following whether Discrete or Continuous Random Variable:
1. X: The number of defective computers produced by a manufacturer
2. M: The average temperature (in oC) in Koronadal City for past 7 days
3. Q: The number of siblings in a family of a region
4. A: The amount of paint utilized in a building project
5. P: The number of dropout in a school district for a period of 10 years
6. F: The speed of a car
7. R: The number of female athletes
8. T: The time needed to finish the test
9. G: The amount of sugar in a cup of coffee
10. K: The number of people who are playing LOTTO each day