Lesson 2

Discrete and
Continuous Random
Variables
Learn about It!

Discrete Random Variable

1 a random variable with a finite number of possible values or an infinite number of
values that can be counted
 Learn about It!

Discrete Random Variable

1 a random variable with a finite number of possible values or an infinite number of
values that can be counted

Example:
The number of phones produced by a company is a discrete
random variable since it can be counted as 0, 1, 2, 3, and so
on. It has an infinite number of values that can be counted.
Learn about It!

Continuous Random Variable

2 a random variable that can assume an infinite number of values that can take
decimal or fractional values
Learn about It!

Continuous Random Variable

2 a random variable that can assume an infinite number of values that can take
decimal or fractional values
Try It!
 Try It!

Solution:
Based on the given, we see that the number of possible
values of the random variable is finite. Thus, the random
variable is discrete.
 Try It!

Example 2: Determine whether the recorded body

temperature of a patient in a hospital is a discrete or
continuous random variable.
 Try It!

Example 2: Determine whether the recorded body

temperature of a patient in a hospital is a discrete or
continuous random variable.
Key Points

Discrete Random Variable

1 a random variable with a finite number of possible values or an infinite number of
values that can be counted

Continuous Random Variable

2 a random variable that can assume an infinite number of values that can take
decimal or fractional values