VARIABLES

A variable is a characteristic or
condition that can change or
take on different values.
 RANDOM VARIABLES
1. Random Variable (RV): A numeric
outcome that results from an
experiment
2. For each element of an
experiment’s sample space, the
random variable can take on exactly
one value
 RANDOM VARIABLES
3. Random Variables are denoted by
upper case letters (Y)

4. A random variable assumes numerical

values associated with the random
outcome of an experiment, where one
(and only one) numerical value is
assigned to each sample point.
TYPES OF RANDOM VARIABLES

1. A discrete random variable can

assume a countable number of values.

Number of steps to the top of the Eiffel

Tower
 Discrete variables are countable in a
finite amount of time. For example, you
can count the change in your pocket.
You can count the money in your bank
account. You could also count the
amount of money in everyone’s bank
account. It might take you a long time
to count that last item, but the point is
— it’s still
countable.
Variables that can only take on a
finite number of values 

Discrete Random Variables

Number of sales
Number of calls
Shares of stock
People in line
Mistakes per page
Discrete Random Variable Examples

Experiment Random Possible

Variable Values
Make 100 Sales Calls # Sales 0, 1, 2, ..., 100

Inspect 70 Radios # Defective 0, 1, 2, ..., 70

Answer 33 Questions # Correct 0, 1, 2, ..., 33

Count Cars at Toll # Cars 0, 1, 2, ..., ∞

Between 11:00 & 1:00 Arriving
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 TYPES OF RANDOM VARIABLES

2. A continuous random variable can

assume any value along a given interval of a
number line.

The time a tourist stays at the top once he gets

there
 Continuous Variables would (literally) take
forever to count. In fact, you would get to
“forever” and never finish counting them. For
example, take age. You can’t count “age”. Why
not? Because it would literally take forever. For
example, you could be:
25 years, 10 months, 2 days, 5 hours, 4 seconds,
4 milliseconds, 8 nanoseconds, 99 picosends…
and so on.
 Variables that can take on an
infinite number of possible values 
• Continuous Random Variables
– Length
– Depth
– Volume
– Time
– Weight
 Continuous Random Variable
Examples

Experiment Random Possible

Variable Values
Weigh 100 People Weight 45.1, 78, ...
Measure Part Life Hours 900, 875.9, ...
Amount spent on food $ amount 54.12, 42, ...
Measure Time Inter-Arrival 0, 1.3, 2.78, ...
Between Arrivals Time

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc