Scribd
Upload
39 views

Random Variables and Probability Distributions Honors 281

The document discusses random variables and probability distributions. It defines discrete and continuous random variables and describes how to calculate probabilities for different types of distributions. It also covers the normal distribution and how to approximate the binomial distribution with the normal. Key concepts covered include mean, standard deviation, variance, and the properties of discrete, continuous, and binomial probability distributions.

Uploaded by

Jennifer Haddon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
39 views

Random Variables and Probability Distributions Honors 281

The document discusses random variables and probability distributions. It defines discrete and continuous random variables and describes how to calculate probabilities for different types of distributions. It also covers the normal distribution and how to approximate the binomial distribution with the normal. Key concepts covered include mean, standard deviation, variance, and the properties of discrete, continuous, and binomial probability distributions.

Uploaded by

Jennifer Haddon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 27

Chapter 6

Random Variables and Probability Distributions


Honors 281
What is a random variable
• Random variable a numerical variable whose value depends on the
outcome of a chance experiment. A random variable associates a
numerical value with each outcome of a chance experiment.
• discrete if its possible values are isolated points along a number line.
• continuous if its possible values are all points in some interval.
• probability distribution of a discrete random variable x gives the
probability associated with each possible x value.
Properties of Discrete Probability
Distributions
•  For every possible x value, 1.
6

• =
5

• p(x)
4

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Probability Distributions of Continuous
Random Variables (6.3)
•  Defined by a probability density curve, f(x)
• f(x)
• The total area under the curve is equal to 1.
•
• Calculating P(a < x < b) = P(x < b) – P(x< a)
Section 6.4 Mean and Standard Deviation
of a Random Variable
•The
  mean value of a random variable x, denoted by ,
describes where the probability distribution of x is centered.
It is calculated by first multiplying each possible x value by the
probability of observing that value and then adding the
resulting quantities. Symbolically,
=
 
The term expected value is sometimes used in place of mean
value, and E(x) is another way to denote .
Standard Deviation of a Random Variable x
•The
  standard deviation of a random variable x, denoted by , describes
variability in the probability distribution.

When the value of is small , observed values of x will tend to be close


to the mean value. The larger the value of the more variability there
will be in observed x values.
Variance of a random variable x
•The
  variance of a random variable x, denoted by , is found by …
 
p(x)
 
The standard deviation of x, denoted by , is the square root of the
variance.
Ch. 6.5 Normal Distribution
•On  pg. 299, the standard normal distribution is the normal distribution
with
 
=0 and =1
 
The standard normal curve is sometimes called the z curve.

• Recall z transform
•z
•On  pg. 300, for any number between – 3.89 and 3.89 and rounded to
two decimal places, Appendix Table 2 gives
 
(area under z curve to the left of ) = P( z < ) = P( z )

where the letter z is used to represent a random variable whose


distribution is the standard normal distribution. Note it is symmetric
and the divides the distribution in half.
Look up
• Find P(z<-1.76) using this table
• The letter z is reserved for the standard normal distribution.
• Can standardize x values to probabilities.
Example
•  From prior research we know that the population mean height
inches and the standard deviation is inches.
• What is the probability that a student’s height is between 54 and 58
inches?
• What is the maximum height to be in the minimum 5% of the class?
Section 6.6 – Checking for Normality-
Mostly Skipping
• Gives a tool (normal probability plot) for seeing if data is normally
distributed – useful in higher level statistics and data science courses
Binomial Distribution
Properties of a Binomial Experiment:
A binomial experiment consists of a sequence of trials with the
following conditions:

1. There is a fixed number of trials.  


2. Each trial can result in one of only two possible outcomes, labeled
Success (S) and Failure (F) .
3. Outcomes of different trials are independent.
4. The probability of success is the same for each trial.
Binomial Random Variable
• X  =number of successes observed when a binomial experiment is
performed
• The probability distribution of x is called the binomial probability
distribution.
• n = number of independent trials in a binomial experiment
• p = constant probability that any particular trial results in a success.
• p(x) = P(x successes among the n trials) =

x = 0, 1, 2, …, n
Normal Approximation to Binomial
•  Check if appropriate to do normal approximation to binomial:
• If n and p are such that np 10 and n(1 – p) 10 , then the distribution is
approximately normal.
• and
• Continuity Correction
• Add .5 or 1/2 if we are finding the probability using a right endpoint
• Subtract .5 or 1/2 if we are finding the probability using a left endpoint.

You might also like