RANDOM

VARIABLES
Sample Space set of
all possible outcomes
of an experiment.
 ACTIVITY
DEFECTIVE CELL PHONES
Suppose three cell phones are tested at random. We want to
find out the number of defective cell phones that occur. Thus,
to each outcome in the sample space we shall assign a value.
These are 0, 1, 2 or 3. If there is no defective cell phone, we
assign the number 0; if there is one defective cell phone we
assign the number 1; if there are two defective cell phones, we
assign the number 2 and 3 if there are three defective cell
phones. The number of defective cellphones is a random
variable. The possible values of this random variables are 0,1,2
and 3.
ILLUSTRATION:
Let D represent the defective cell phone and N represent the non-
defective cell phone. If we let X be the random variable
representing the number of defective cell phones, can you show the
values of the random variable X? Complete the table below to show
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable X
the random variable. (number of defective cell phones)
 Defective cell phones
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable X
(number of defective cell phones)

NNN 0

NND 1

NDN 1

DNN 1

NDD 2

DND 2

DDN 2

DDD 3
 RANDOM VARIABLE
A function that associates a real
number to each element in the sample
space. It is a variable whose values are
determined by chance.
 TOSSING THREE COINS
Suppose three coins are tossed. Let Y be the random variable
representing the number of tails that occur. Find the values of the
random variable Y. Complete the table below:
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y
(number of tails)
 Tossing Three Coins
Determine the sample space.
S = {TTT,TTH,THT,HTT,HHT,HTH,THH,HHH}
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Y
(number of tails)

TTT 3
TTH 2
THT 2
HTT 2
HHT 1
HTH 1
THH 1
HHH 0
 DRAWING BALLS FROM AN URN
Two balls are drawn in succession without replacement from an URN
containing 5 red balls and 6 blue balls. Let Z be the random variable
representing the number of blue balls. Find the values of the
random variable Z. Complete the table below:
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Z
(number of blue balls)
 Drawing balls from an urn
Determine the sample space.
S = {RR,RB,BR,BB}
Possible Outcomes Value of the Random Variable Z
(number of blue balls)
RR 0
RB 1
BR 1
BB 2
 SEATWORK
FOUR COINS ARE TOSSED
Let Z be the random variable
representing the number of heads
that occur. Find the values of
the random variable Z.
DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE
The set of possible outcomes is
countable.
Represent Count data.
Example: defective cell phone,
tossed coins.
CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE
Takes on values on a continuous
scale.
Represent Measured data.
Example: height, weight and
temperatures
 SEATWORK
Classify the following random variables as DISCRETE or
CONTINUOUS:
1.) the number of defective computers produced by a manufacturer.
2.) the weight of newborns each year in a hospital
3.) the number of siblings in a family of a region
4.) the amount of paint utilized in a building project
5.) the number of dropout in a school district for a period of 10
years.