DISCRETE &

CONTINUOUS
RANDOM
VARIABLE
DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE
• A RANDOM VARIABLE IS A DISCRETE
RANDOM VARIABLE IF ITS SET OF
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IS COUNTABLE.
MOSTLY, DISCRETE RANDOM
VARIABLES REPRESENT COUNT DATA,
SUCH AS THE NUMBER OF DEFECTIVE
CHAIRS PRODUCED IN A FACTORY.
CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE
• A RANDOM VARIABLE IS A
CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE IF IT
TAKES ON VALUES ON A CONTINUOUS
SCALE. OFTEN, CONTINUOUS
RANDOMVARIABLES REPRESENT
MEASURED DATA, SUCH AS HEIGHTS,
WEIGHTS, AND TEMPERATURES.
ACTIVITY

•CLASIFY THE FOLOWING

RANDOM VARIABLES AS
DISCRETE OR
CONTINUOUS.
ACTIVITY
1. THE NUMBER OF DEFECTIVE COMPUTERS
PRODUCED BY A MANUFACTURER
2. THE WEIGHTS OF A NEW BORNS 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 APERIOD OF 10 YEARS.
ACTIVITY

6. THE SPEED OF A CAR

7. THE NUMBER OF FEMALE
ATHLETES
8. THE TIME NEEDED TO FINISH
THE TEST
QUIZ
1. THE NUMBER OF FEMALE ATHLETES
2. THE TIME NEEDED TO FINISH THE TEST
3. THE AMOUNT OF SUGAR IN A CUP OF COFFEE
4. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PLAYING
LOTTO EACH DAY
5. THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS PER YEAR AT
AN INTERSECTION
QUIZ
6. THE NUMBER OF VOTERS FAVORING A CANDIDATE
7. THE NUMBER OF BUSHELS OF APPLES PER HECTARE THIS
YEAR
8. THE NUMBER PATIENTS ARRIVALS PER HOUR AT A
MEDICAL CLINIC
9. THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMED PER
HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH
10. THE NUMBER OF DEATHS PER YEAR ATTRIBUTED TO
LUNG CANCER
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION OF
A DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE
• A DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
IS A LISTING OF ALL POSSIBLE VALUES
OF A DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE
ALONG WITH THEIR CORRESPONDING
PROBABILITIES. IT IS PRESENTED IN
TABULAR, GRAPHICAL/HISTOGRAM OR
FORMULA FORM.
EXAMPLE
• SUPPOSED TWO COINS ARE
TOSSED. LET X BE THE RANDOM
VARIABLE REPRESENTING THE
NUMBER OF HEADS. CONSTRUCT
THE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
AND DRAW THE HISTOGRAM.