3-1

Introductory Statistical
Methods
Preparatory Module
 3-2

Chapter 3

Random Variables
 3-3

3 Random Variables

Using Statistics

Expected Values of Discrete Random Variables

Sum and Linear Composite of Random Variables

Bernoulli Random Variable

The Binomial Random Variable

The Poisson Distribution

Continuous Random Variables

Uniform Distribution

The Exponential Distribution
 3-4

3 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter you should be able to:

Distinguish between discrete and continuous random variables

Explain how a random variable is characterized by its probability
distribution

Compute statistics about a random variable

Compute statistics about a function of a random variable

Compute statistics about the sum or a linear composite of a
random variable

Identify which type of distribution a given random variable is
most likely to follow

Solve problems involving standard distributions manually using
formulas
 3-5

3-1 Using Statistics

Consider the different possible orderings of boy (B) and girl (G) in
four sequential births. There are 2*2*2*2=24 = 16 possibilities, so
the sample space is:

BBBB BGBB GBBB GGBB

BBBG BGBG GBBG GGBG
BBGB BGGB GBGB GGGB
BBGG BGGG GBGG GGGG

If girl and boy are each equally likely [P(G) = P(B) = 1/2], and the
gender of each child is independent of that of the previous child,
then the probability of each of these 16 possibilities is:
(1/2)(1/2)(1/2)(1/2) = 1/16.
 3-6

Random Variables
Now count the number of girls in each set of four sequential births:

BBBB (0) BGBB (1) GBBB (1) GGBB (2)

BBBG (1) BGBG (2) GBBG (2) GGBG (3)
BBGB (1) BGGB (2) GBGB (2) GGGB (3)
BBGG (2) BGGG (3) GBGG (3) GGGG (4)

Notice that:
• each possible outcome is assigned a single numeric value,
• all outcomes are assigned a numeric value, and
• the value assigned varies over the outcomes.

The count of the number of girls is a random variable:

A random variable, X, is a function that assigns a single, but variable, value to

each element of a sample space.
 3-7

Random Variables (Continued)

BBBB 0
BGBB
GBBB 1
BBBG
BBGB
GGBB
GBBG X
BGBG 2
BGGB
GBGB
BBGG
BGGG
GBGG 3
GGGB
GGBG
GGGG 4 Points on the
Real Line
Sample Space
 3-8

Random Variables (Continued)

Since the random variable X = 3 when any of the four outcomes BGGG,
GBGG, GGBG, or GGGB occurs,
P(X = 3) = P(BGGG) + P(GBGG) + P(GGBG) + P(GGGB) = 4/16
The probability distribution of a random variable is a table that lists the
possible values of the random variables and their associated probabilities.

x P(x)
0 1/16 TheGraphical
GraphicalDisplay
Displayfor
forthis
this
1 4/16 The
2 6/16
ProbabilityDistribution
Probability Distribution
3 4/16 isisshown
shownon
onthe
thenext
nextSlide.
Slide.
4 1/16
16/16=1
 3-9

Random Variables (Continued)

ProbabilityDistribution
Probability Distributionof
ofthe
theNumber
Numberof
ofGirls
Girlsin
inFour
FourBirths
Births

0.4
0.4 6/ 16
6/ 16

0.3
0.3
P(X)

4/ 16 4/ 16
Probability,P(X)

4/ 16 4/ 16
Probability,

0.2
0.2

0.1
0.1
1/ 16 1/ 16
1/ 16 1/ 16

0.0
0.0
00 11 22 33 44
NNumberof
umber ofGG irls,XX
irls,
 3-10

Example 3-1

Consider the experiment of tossing two six-sided dice. There are 36 possible
outcomes. Let the random variable X represent the sum of the numbers on
the two dice: x P(x)** Probability Distribution of Sum of Two Dice
2 1/36
3 2/36 0.17

2 3 4 5 6 7 4 3/36
5 4/36 0.12
1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6 8 6 5/36

p(x)
2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 9 7 6/36
0.07
3,1 3,2 3,3 3,4 3,5 3,6 10 8 5/36
4,1 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,5 4,6 11 9 4/36
10 3/36 0.02
5,1 5,2 5,3 5,4 5,5 5,6 12 11 2/36 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
x
6,1 6,2 6,3 6,4 6,5 6,6 12 1/36
1
* Note that: P ( x )  ( 6  ( 7  x ) 2 ) / 36
 3-11

Example 3-2
Probability Distribution of the Number of Switches
The Probability Distribution of the Number of Switches
x P(x)
0.4
0 0.1
1 0.2 0.3

2 0.3

P(x)
3 0.2 0.2

4 0.1
0.1
5 0.1
1 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5
x

Probability of more than 2 switches:

P(X > 2) = P(3) + P(4) + P(5) = 0.2 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 0.4
Probability of at least 1 switch:
P(X 1) = 1 - P(0) = 1 - 0.1 = .9
 3-12

Discrete and Continuous Random

Variables
AAdiscrete
discreterandom
randomvariable:
variable:


hasaacountable
has countablenumber
numberofofpossible
possiblevalues
values


hasdiscrete
has discretejumps
jumps(or
(orgaps)
gaps)between
betweensuccessive
successivevalues
values


hasmeasurable
has measurableprobability
probabilityassociated
associatedwith
withindividual
individualvalues
values


counts
counts

AAcontinuous
continuousrandom
randomvariable:
variable:


hasan
has anuncountably
uncountablyinfinite
infinitenumber
numberofofpossible
possiblevalues
values


movescontinuously
moves continuouslyfrom
fromvalue
valueto
tovalue
value


hasno
has nomeasurable
measurableprobability
probabilityassociated
associatedwith
witheach
eachvalue
value


measures(e.g.:
measures (e.g.:height,
height,weight,
weight,speed,
speed,value,
value,duration,
duration,
length)
length)
 3-13

Rules of Discrete Probability

Distributions

The probability distribution of a discrete random

variable X must satisfy the following two conditions.

1. P (x)  0 for all values of x.

2.  P ( x ) 1
all x

 Corollary: 0  P ( X ) 1
 3-14

Cumulative Distribution Function

The cumulative distribution function, F(x), of a discrete

random variable X is:
F (x)  P ( X x)   P (i )
all i x

Cumulative Probability Distribution of the Number of Switches

x P(x) F(x)
1 .0
0 0.1 0.1 0 .9

1 0.2 0.3 0 .8
0 .7

2 0.3 0.6 0 .6
F(x)

0 .5
3 0.2 0.8 0 .4
0 .3
4 0.1 0.9 0 .2
0 .1
5 0.1 1.0 0 .0

1.00 0 1 2
x
3 4 5
 3-15

Cumulative Distribution Function

The probability that at most three switches will occur:

x P(x) F(x)
0 0.1 0.1
1 0.2 0.3
2 0.3 0.6
3 0.2 0.8
4 0.1 0.9
5 0.1 1.0
1

Note: P(X < 3) = F(3) = 0.8 = P(0) + P(1) + P(2) + P(3)

 3-16

Using Cumulative Probability

Distributions (Figure 3-8)

The probability that more than one switch will occur:

x P(x) F(x)
0 0.1 0.1
1 0.2 0.3
2 0.3 0.6
3 0.2 0.8
4 0.1 0.9
5 0.1 1.0
1

Note: P(X > 1) = P(X > 2) = 1 – P(X < 1) = 1 – F(1) = 1 – 0.3 = 0.7
 3-17

Using Cumulative Probability

Distributions (Figure 3-9)
The probability that anywhere from one to three
switches will occur:

x P(x) F(x)
0 0.1 0.1
1 0.2 0.3
2 0.3 0.6
3 0.2 0.8
4 0.1 0.9
5 0.1 1.0
1

Note: P(1 < X < 3) = P(X < 3) – P(X < 0) = F(3) – F(0) = 0.8 – 0.1 = 0.7
 3-18

3-2 Expected Values of Discrete

Random Variables
The mean of a probability distribution is a
measure of its centrality or location, as is the
mean or average of a frequency distribution. It is
a weighted average, with the values of the
random variable weighted by their probabilities. 0 1 2

2.3
3 4 5

The mean is also known as the expected value (or expectation) of a random
variable, because it is the value that is expected to occur, on average.
x P(x) xP(x)
The expected value of a discrete random 0 0.1 0.0
variable X is equal to the sum of each 1 0.2 0.2
2 0.3 0.6
value of the random variable multiplied by
3 0.2 0.6
its probability. 4 0.1 0.4
  E ( X )  xP ( x ) 5 0.1 0.5
all x 1.0 2.3 = E(X) = 
 3-19

A Fair Game

Supposeyou
Suppose youareareplaying
playingaacoin
cointoss
tossgame
gameininwhich
whichyouyouare
are
paid$1
paid $1ififthe
thecoin
cointurns
turnsup
upheads
headsand
andyou
youlose
lose$1
$1when
whenthe the
cointurns
coin turnsupuptails.
tails.The
Theexpected
expectedvalue
valueof
ofthis
thisgame
gameisis E(X)
E(X)==
0.0. AAgame
gameof ofchance
chancewith
withan
anexpected
expectedpayoff
payoffofof00isiscalled
calledaa
fairgame.
fair game.

x P(x) xP(x)
-1 0.5 -0.50
-1 1
1 0.5 0.50 0
1.0 0.00 =
E(X)=
 3-20

Expected Value of a Function of a

Discrete Random Variables
The expected value of a function of a discrete random variable X is:
E [ h ( X )]   h ( x ) P ( x )
all x

Example 3-3:
3-3 Monthly sales of a certain Number
product are believed to follow the given of items, x P(x) xP(x) h(x) h(x)P(x)
probability distribution. Suppose the 5000 0.2 1000 2000 400
6000 0.3 1800 4000 1200
company has a fixed monthly production
7000 0.2 1400 6000 1200
cost of $8000 and that each item brings 8000 0.2 1600 8000 1600
$2. Find the expected monthly profit 9000 0.1 900 10000 1000
h(X), from product sales. 1.0 6700 5400
E [ h ( X )]  h ( x ) P ( x ) 5400
all x Note: h (X) = 2X – 8000 where X = # of items sold

The expected value of a linear function of a random variable is:

E(aX+b)=aE(X)+b
In this case: E(2X-8000)=2E(X)-8000=(2)(6700)-8000=5400
 3-21

Variance and Standard Deviation of a

Random Variable

The variance of a random variable is the expected

squared deviation from the mean:
 2 V ( X )  E [( X   ) 2 ]   ( x   ) 2 P ( x )
all x
2
   
 E ( X )  [ E ( X )]    x 2 P ( x )     xP ( x ) 
2 2

 all x   all x 

The standard deviation of a random variable is the

square root of its variance:   SD( X )  V ( X )
 3-22

Variance and Standard Deviation of a

Random Variable – using Example 3-2
 2 V ( X )  E[( X  )2]
Table 3-8
Numberofof
Number
Switches,xx P(x) xP(x)
xP(x) (x-)
(x-) (x-)2 P(x-)
P(x-)2
  ( x  )2 P( x) 2.01
xx2P(x)
P(x)
2 2 2
Switches,
00
P(x)
0.1
0.1 0.0 -2.3
0.0 -2.3
(x-)
5.29 0.529
5.29 0.529 0.0
0.0
all x
11 0.2
0.2 0.2 -1.3
0.2 -1.3 1.69 0.338
1.69 0.338 0.2
0.2
22 0.3
0.3 0.6 -0.3
0.6 -0.3 0.09 0.027
0.09 0.027 1.2
1.2
33 0.2 0.6 0.7 0.49 0.098
0.098 1.8
 E( X 2 )  [ E( X )]2
0.2 0.6 0.7 0.49 1.8
44 0.1
0.1 0.4
0.4 1.7
1.7 2.89 0.289
2.89 0.289 1.6
1.6
55 0.1
0.1 0.5
0.5 2.7
2.7 7.29 0.729
7.29 0.729 2.5
2.5
2.3 2.010 7.3 2
2.3 2.010 7.3  2   
   x P( x)     xP( x) 
Recall:  = 2.3. all x  all x 

7.3  2.32 2.01

 3-23

Variance of a Linear Function of a

Random Variable
The variance of a linear function of a random variable is:
V (a X  b) a 2V ( X ) a 2 2
Example 3-
 2 V ( X )
3:
Number  E ( X 2 )  [ E ( X )]2
of items, x P(x) xP(x) x2 P(x) 2
   
5000 0.2 1000 5000000    x P ( x )     xP ( x ) 
2

6000 0.3 1800 10800000  all x   all x 

7000 0.2 1400 9800000  46500000  ( 67002 ) 1610000
8000 0.2 1600 12800000
9000 0.1 900 8100000   SD( X )  1610000 1268.86
1.0 6700 46500000 V (2 X  8000) (2 2 )V ( X )
( 4)(1610000)  6440000
 ( 2 x  8000 )  SD(2 x  8000)
2 x (2)(1268.86) 2537.72
 3-24

Some Properties of Means and

Variances of Random Variables
The mean or expected value of the sum of random variables
is the sum of their means or expected values:
 ( X Y )  E ( X  Y )  E ( X )  E (Y )   X   Y
For example: E(X) = $350 and E(Y) = $200
E(X+Y) = $350 + $200 = $550
The variance of the sum of mutually independent random
variables is the sum of their variances:
 2 ( X Y ) V ( X  Y ) V ( X )  V (Y )  2 X   2 Y
if and only if X and Y are independent.

For example: V(X) = 84 and V(Y) = 60 V(X+Y) = 144

 3-25

Some Properties of Means and

Variances of Random Variables
NOTE: EE((XX1XX 2......XX k))EE((XX1))EE((XX 2))......EE((XX k))
1 2 k 1 2 k

EE((aa1XX1aa2XX 2......aakXX k))aa1EE((XX1))aa2EE((XX 2))......aakEE((XX k))

1 1 2 2 k k 1 1 2 2 k k

The variance of the sum of k mutually independent random

variables is the sum of their variances:
V ( X  X ... X ) V ( X ) V ( X ) ...V ( X )
1 2 k 1 2 k
and

V (a X  a X ... a X ) a2V ( X )  a2V ( X ) ... a2V ( X )

1 1 2 2 k k 1 1 2 2 k k
 3-26

Chebyshev’s Theorem Applied to

Probability Distributions
Chebyshev’s Theorem applies to probability distributions just
as it applies to frequency distributions.
For a random variable X with mean standard deviation ,
and for any number k > 1:
1
P ( X    k )  1  2
k
1 1 3
1 1   75%
2
2
4 4 2

At 1  12 1  1  8 89% Lie Standard

3 9 9 3 deviations
least within
1 1 15 of the mean
1 1   94% 4
4
2
16 16
 3-27

3-3 Bernoulli Random Variable

• If an experiment consists of a single trial and the outcome of the

trial can only be either a success* or a failure, then the trial is
called a Bernoulli trial.
• The number of success X in one Bernoulli trial, which can be 1 or
0, is a Bernoulli random variable.
• Note: If p is the probability of success in a Bernoulli experiment,
the E(X) = p and V(X) = p(1 – p).

* The terms success and failure are simply statistical terms, and do not have
positive or negative implications. In a production setting, finding a
defective product may be termed a “success,” although it is not a positive
result.
 3-28

3-4 The Binomial Random Variable

Consider a Bernoulli Process in which we have a sequence of n

identical trials satisfying the following conditions:
1. Each trial has two possible outcomes, called success *and failure.
The two outcomes are mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
2. The probability of success, denoted by p, remains constant from trial
to trial. The probability of failure is denoted by q, where q = 1-p.
3. The n trials are independent. That is, the outcome of any trial does
not affect the outcomes of the other trials.
A random variable, X, that counts the number of successes in n Bernoulli
trials, where p is the probability of success* in any given trial, is said to
follow the binomial probability distribution with parameters n
(number of trials) and p (probability of success). We call X the
binomial random variable.
* The terms success and failure are simply statistical terms, and do not have positive or negative implications. In a
production setting, finding a defective product may be termed a “success,” although it is not a positive result.
 3-29

Binomial Probabilities (Introduction)

Suppose we toss a single fair and balanced coin five times in succession,
and let X represent the number of heads.

There are 25 = 32 possible sequences of H and T (S and F) in the sample space for this
experiment. Of these, there are 10 in which there are exactly 2 heads (X=2):

HHTTT HTHTH HTTHT HTTTH THHTT THTHT THTTH TTHHT TTHTH TTTHH

The probability of each of these 10 outcomes is p3q3 = (1/2)3(1/2)2=(1/32), so the

probability of 2 heads in 5 tosses of a fair and balanced coin is:

P(X = 2) = 10 * (1/32) = (10/32) = 0.3125

10 (1/32)
Number of outcomes Probability of each
with 2 heads outcome with 2 heads
 3-30

Binomial Probabilities (continued)

P(X=2) = 10 * (1/32) = (10/32) = .3125

Notice that this probability has two parts:

10 (1/32)
Number of outcomes Probability of each
with 2 heads outcome with 2 heads

In general:

1. The probability of a given sequence 2. The number of different sequences of n trials that
of x successes out of n trials with result in exactly x successes is equal to the number
probability of success p and of choices of x elements out of a total of n elements.
probability of failure q is equal to: This number is denoted:
 n n!
pxq(n-x) nCx   
 x x!( n  x)!
 3-31

The Binomial Probability Distribution

The binomial probability distribution: Number of

successes, x Probability P(x)
n!
 n x ( n  x ) n! 0 p 0 q (n 0)
P( x)   p q  p x q ( n x) 0 !(n  0)!
 x x!( n  x)! 1
n!
p 1 q ( n  1)
where : 1!(n  1)!
n!
p is the probability of success in a single trial, 2 p 2 q (n 2)
2 !(n  2)!
q = 1-p, n!
n is the number of trials, and 3 p 3 q ( n  3)
3!(n  3)!
x is the number of successes.  
n!
n p n q (n n)
n !(n  n)!
1.00
 3-32

The Cumulative Binomial Probability

Table (Table 1, Appendix C)
n=5
p
x 0.01 0.05 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 0.95 0.99
0 .951 .774 .590 .328 .168 .078 .031 .010 .002 .000 .000 .000 .000

1 .999 .977 .919 .737 .528 .337 .187 .087 .031 .007 .000 .000 .000
2 1.000 .999 .991 .942 .837 .683 .500 .317 .163 .058 .009 .001 .000

3 1.000 1.000 1.000 .993 .969 .913 .813 .663 .472 .263 .081 .023 .001

4 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 .998 .990 .969 .922 .832 .672 .410 .226 .049

h F(h) P(h)
Cumulative Binomial Deriving Individual Probabilities
Probability Distribution and 0 0.031 0.031
from Cumulative Probabilities
Binomial Probability 1 0.187 0.156
Distribution of H,the 2 0.500 0.313 F (x )  P ( X x )   P (i )
Number of Heads all i x
3 0.813 0.313 P(X) = F(x) - F(x - 1)
Appearing in Five Tosses of 4 0.969 0.156
a Fair Coin 5 1.000 0.031 For example:
1.000
P (3) F (3)  F (2)
.813 .500
.313
 3-33

Calculating Binomial Probabilities -

Example
60%of
60% of Brooke
Brookeshares
sharesareareowned
ownedbybyLeBow.
LeBow. AArandom
random
sampleof
sample of15
15shares
sharesisischosen.
chosen. What
Whatisisthe
theprobability
probabilitythat
that at
at
mostthree
most threeof
ofthem
themwill
willbe befound
foundto
tobe
beowned
ownedby byLeBow?
LeBow?

n=15
p

0
.50
.000
.60
.000
.70
.000
F ( x ) P ( X  x )   P(i)
alli x
1 .000 .000 .000
2 .004 .000 .000
F (3) P ( X 3) 0.002
3 .018 .002 .000
4 .059 .009 .001
... ... ... ...
 3-34

Mean, Variance, and Standard

Deviation of the Binomial Distribution

Meanofofaabinomial
Mean binomialdistribution:
distribution:

EE((XX))np
np For example, if H counts the number of
heads in five tosses of a fair coin :
Varianceofofaabinomial
Variance binomialdistribution:
distribution:
 E ( H ) (5)(.5) 2.5
H

 VV((XX))npq
npq
2
2

 V ( H ) (5)(.5)(.5) 1.25
2

Standarddeviation
deviationof
ofaabinomial
binomialdistribution:
distribution:
H

Standard

 SD( H )  1.25 1.118

==SD(X)
SD(X)== npq
npq H
 3-35

Shape of the Binomial Distribution

p = 0.1 p = 0.3 p = 0.5
Binomial Probability: n=4 p=0.1 Binomial Probability: n=4 p=0.3 Binomial Probability: n=4 p=0.5
0.7 0.7 0.7

0.6 0.6 0.6

0.5 0.5 0.5

n=4 0.4 0.4 0.4

P(x)

P(x)

P(x)
0.3 0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 0.0

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
x x x

Binomial Probability: n=10 p=0.1 Binomial Probability: n=10 p=0.3 Binomial Probability: n=10 p=0.5

0.5 0.5 0.5

0.4 0.4 0.4

n = 10
0.3 0.3 0.3
P(x)

P(x)

P(x)
0.2 0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 0.0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
x x

Binomial Probability: n=20 p=0.1 Binomial Probability: n=20 p=0.3 Binomial Probability: n=20 p=0.5

0.2 0.2 0.2

n = 20
P(x)

P(x)

P(x)
0.1 0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 0.0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
x x x

Binomial distributions become more symmetric as n increases and as p 0.5.

 3-36

3-5 The Poisson Distribution

The Poisson probability distribution is useful for determining the probability of a

number of occurrences over a given period of time or within a given area or
volume. That is, the Poisson random variable counts occurrences over a
continuous interval of time or space. It can also be used to calculate approximate
binomial probabilities when the probability of success is small (p 0.05) and the
number of trials is large (n 20).

Poisson Distribution:
 xe 
P( x)  for x = 1,2,3,...
x!
where  is the mean of the distribution (which also happens to be the variance) and
e is the base of natural logarithms (e=2.71828...).
 3-37

The Poisson Distribution - Example

Example 3-3:
Telephone manufacturers now offer 1000
different choices for a telephone (as
combinations of color, type, options, portability, 
.2 0 e .2
etc.). A company is opening a large regional P ( 0)  = 0.8187
0!
1  .2
office, and each of its 200 managers is allowed to .2 e
order his or her own choice of a telephone.
P (1)  = 0.1637
12 !  .2
Assuming independence of choices and that each .2 e
P (2 )  = 0.0164
of the 1000 choices is equally likely, what is the 2!
3  .2
probability that a particular choice will be made .2 e
P (3)  = 0.0011
by none, one, two, or three of the managers? 3!

n = 200 = np = (200)(0.001) = 0.2

p = 1/1000 = 0.001
 3-38

The Poisson Distribution (continued)

• Poisson assumptions:
The probability that an event will occur in a short interval of time or space is
proportional to the size of the interval.
In a very small interval, the probability that two events will occur is close to
zero.
The probability that any number of events will occur in a given interval is
independent of where the interval begins.
The probability of any number of events occurring over a given interval is
independent of the number of events that occurred prior to the interval.
 3-39

The Poisson Distribution (continued)

 = 1.0  = 1.5

0.4 0.4

0.3 0.3
P(x)

P( x)
0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
X X

 =4  = 10

0.2 0.15

0.10
P (x)
P(x)

0.1

0.05

0.0 0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
X X
 3-40

Discrete and Continuous Random

Variables - Revisited
• A discrete random variable: • A continuous random variable:

counts occurrences 
measures (e.g.: height, weight,

has a countable number of possible speed, value, duration, length)
values 
has an uncountably infinite number

has discrete jumps between of possible values
successive values 
moves continuously from value to

has measurable probability value
associated with individual values 
has no measurable probability

probability is height associated with individual values
For example:

probability is area
Binomial: n=3 p=.5
Binomial
0.4 For example: Minutes to Complete Task
n=3 p=.5
In this case, 0.3
0.3
the shaded
x P(x)
P(x)

0.2 area epresents 0.2

0 0.125

P(x)
the probability
1 0.375 0.1
that the task 0.1
2 0.375 0.0 takes between
3 0.125 0 1 2 3 0.0
C1 2 and 3
1.000 1 2 3 4 5 6
minutes. Minutes
 3-41

From a Discrete to a Continuous

Distribution
The time it takes to complete a task can be subdivided into:
Half-Minute Intervals Quarter-Minute Intervals Eighth-Minute Intervals
Minutes to Complete Task: By Half-Minutes Minutes to Complete Task: Fourths of a Minute Minutes to Complete Task: Eighths of a Minute
0.15

0.10
P(x)

P(x)

P(x)
0.05

0.00
0.0
. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Minutes Minutes Minutes

Or even infinitesimally small intervals:

Whenaacontinuous
When continuousrandom
randomvariable
variablehashasbeen
beensubdivided
subdividedinto
into
Minutes to Complete Task: Probability Density Function
infinitesimallysmall
infinitesimally smallintervals,
intervals,aameasurable
measurableprobability
probabilitycan
can
onlybe
only beassociated
associatedwith
withan
aninterval
intervalofofvalues,
values,and
andthe
the
probabilityisisgiven
probability givenby
bythe
thearea
areabeneath
beneaththetheprobability
probabilitydensity
density
functioncorresponding
correspondingtotothat
thatinterval.
interval. InInthis
thisexample,
example,the
the
f(z)

function
shadedarea
shaded arearepresents
representsP(2 X).
P(2X ).
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Minutes
 3-42

3-6 Continuous Random Variables

AAcontinuous
continuousrandom
randomvariable
variableisisaarandom
randomvariable
variablethat
thatcan
cantake
takeon
onany
anyvalue
valueininan
an
intervalofofnumbers.
interval numbers.

Theprobabilities
The probabilitiesassociated
associatedwith
withaacontinuous
continuousrandom
randomvariable
variableXXare
aredetermined
determinedbybythe
the
probabilitydensity
probability densityfunction
functionofofthe
therandom
randomvariable.
variable. The
Thefunction,
function,denoted
denotedf(x),
f(x),has
hasthe
the
followingproperties.
following properties.

1.1. f(x) 00for

f(x) forall
allx.x.
2.2. Theprobability
The probabilitythat
thatXXwill
willbe
bebetween
betweentwo twonumbers
numbersaaand andbbisisequal
equaltotothe
thearea
area
underf(x)
under f(x) between
betweenaaandandb.b.
3.3. Thetotal
The totalarea
areaunder
underthethecurve
curveofoff(x)
f(x)isisequal
equaltoto1.00.
1.00.

Thecumulative
The cumulativedistribution
distributionfunction
functionofofaacontinuous
continuousrandom
randomvariable:
variable:

F(x)==P(X
F(x) P(Xx)x)=Area
=Areaunder
underf(x)
f(x)between
betweenthe
thesmallest
smallestpossible
possiblevalue
valueofofXX(often
(often-)
-)
andthe
and thepoint
pointx.x.
 3-43

Probability Density Function and

Cumulative Distribution Function
F(x)

F(b)

F(a)
} P(a X b)=F(b) - F(a)

0
a b x
f(x)

P(a X b) = Area

under f(x) between a and b
= F(b) - F(a)

x
0 a b
 3-44

3-7 Uniform Distribution

The uniform [a,b] density:

{
1/(a – b) for a X b
f(x)=
0 otherwise

E(X) = (a + b)/2; V(X) = (b – a)2/12

Uniform [a, b] Distribution

The entire area under f(x) = 1/(b – a) * (b – a) = 1.00

f(x)

The area under f(x) from a1 to b1 =

P(a1Xb)
= (b1 – a1)/(b – a)

a a1 b1 b
x