variable(随机变数).pptVIP

Random Variables and Discrete probability Distributions Chapter 7 Random Variables A random variable（隨機變數） is a function or rule that assigns a number to each outcome of an experiment. Alternatively, the value of a random variable is a numerical event. A random variable reflects the aspect of a random experiment that is of interest for us. Instead of talking about the coin flipping event as {heads, tails} think of it as “the number of heads when flipping a coin” {1, 0} (numerical events) Two Types of Random Variables There are two types of random variables: Discrete random variable Continuous random variable. Discrete Random Variable（間斷、離散型隨機變數） – one that takes on a countable number of values – E.g. values on the roll of dice: 2, 3, 4, …, 12 Continuous Random Variable （連續型隨機變數） – one whose values are not discrete, not countable – E.g. time (30.1 minutes? 30minutes?) Analogy: Integers are Discrete, while Real Numbers are Continuous A random variable is discrete if it can assume a countable（可數） number of values. A random variable is continuous if it can assume an uncountable （不可數） number of values. Probability Distributions A probability distribution（機率分配） is a table, formula, or graph that describes the values of a random variable and the probability associated with these values. Since we’re describing a random variable (which can be discrete or continuous) we have two types of probability distributions: – Discrete Probability Distribution, (this chapter) and – Continuous Probability Distribution (Chapter 8) Probability Notation An upper-case letter will represent the name of the random variable, usually X. Its lower-case counterpart will represent the value of the random variable. The probability that the random variable X will equal x is: P(X = x) or more simply P(x) Discrete Probability Distributions A table, formula, or graph that lists all possible values a discrete random variable can assume, together with a