Contents
Do random variables have to be numeric?
A discrete random variable is one which may take on only a countable number of distinct values such as 0,1,2,3,4,…….. Discrete random variables are usually (but not necessarily) counts. If a random variable can take only a finite number of distinct values, then it must be discrete.
Do random variables take on numerical or categorical values?
Discrete random variables have numeric values that can be listed and often can be counted. For example, the variable number of boreal owl eggs in a nest is a discrete random variable. Shoe size is also a discrete random variable. Blood type is not a discrete random variable because it is categorical.
Can a random variable be categorical?
Number of possible values Categorical random variables are normally described statistically by a categorical distribution, which allows an arbitrary K-way categorical variable to be expressed with separate probabilities specified for each of the K possible outcomes.
How many values can a random variable take?
A discrete random variable can take only a finite number of distinct values such as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, … and so on. The probability distribution of a random variable has a list of probabilities compared with each of its possible values known as probability mass function.
What kind of function is a random variable?
Figure 1: A (real-valued) random variable is a function mapping a probability space into the real line. As such, a random variable has a probability distribution. We usually do not care about the underlying probability space, and just talk about the random variable itself, but it is good to know the full formalism.
How to calculate the variance of a random variable?
The formula for the variance of a random variable is given by; Var(X) = σ 2 = E(X 2) – [E(X)] 2. where E(X 2) = ∑X 2 P and E(X) = ∑ XP. Functions of Random Variables. Let the random variable X assume the values x 1, x 2, …with corresponding probability P (x 1), P (x 2),… then the expected value of the random variable is given by:
When is a random variable said to be continuous?
If the random variable X can assume an infinite and uncountable set of values, it is said to be a continuous random variable. When X takes any value in a given interval (a, b), it is said to be a continuous random variable in that interval. Formally, a continuous random variable is such whose cumulative distribution function is constant throughout.