BIET – MBA Programme, Davangere
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Prof. Vijay K S Business Statistics and Analytics
Random Variable
Random variables are really ways to map the outcome of random processes to numbers. It is a
process of quantifying the outcomes of the random experiment. If you have a random process like
flipping a coin or rolling a dice or you are measuring a rain that might fall tomorrow; here you are
measuring the outcomes of these random processes to numbers that means you are quantifying
the outcomes.
Random variable is a function which takes real values which are determined by the
outcomes of the random experiment
The random variables were denoted by the capital letters X, Y, Z
The actual values which events assumes is not a random variable.
The random is used to do further mathematical operation of the outcomes and for the
purpose of notation.
Example: A Random experiment where three coins are tossed simultaneously; then the
outcomes are
S = {(�,??????)��� (�,??????) ��� (�,??????)}, which can also be denoted as follows
S = {(�,??????) × (�,??????) × (�,??????)}
The total outcomes as follows
S = {���,��??????,�??????�,�????????????,��??????,�????????????,??????�??????,??????????????????}
Let us consider variable “X” to quantify the outcomes of the above experiment; If “X” is
the No of Head obtained, Then “X” takes any one of the value {0,1,2,3}
Outcomes: ���, ��??????, �??????�, �????????????, ��??????, �????????????, ??????�??????, ??????????????????
Values of X: 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 0
Hence the random variable is a function which takes real values which are determined by the
outcomes of the random experiment.
Discrete and Continuous Random Variable:
If “X” Assumes only a finite or countable infinite set of values, it is known as Discrete
Random Variable
Example: No of students in a college, Marks obtained by the students in a test, Number
of defective mangoes in a basket.
If “X” assumes infinite and uncountable set of values, it is set to be Continuous Random
Variable. Here we usually talk of the values in a particular interval and not at a point.
Example: Height or Weight of students in a classroom
Generally Discrete Random Variable represents counted data while Continuous Random
Variable represents measured data.