AP Stat

Chapter 7
Random Variables
By Andrew Staniforth
Discrete and Intro
• Random variable – a variable whose value is a numerical outcome of a random
phenomenon
- Denoted by a Capital letter
• A discrete random variable X – countable number of possible values and how
probablities are assigned to those variables
• Probability distribution of X – lists the values and probabilities
• Probabilities are between 0 and 1; and must all add to 1
• Probability Histogram – a pictorial representation of the probability distribution of
a discrete variable; Outcome on X axis and Probability on Y axis
Continuous
• Continuous random variable X – takes all values in an interval of numbers
• Probability distribution of X – described by a density curve
• Probability of any event is the area under the density curve and above the values
of X that make up the event
• No histogram – Density Curve instead
Formula’s and Notation
μ = mean; σ = standard deviation
P^~N(μ, σ)
Z=(X-μ)/σ=(P^- P)/√(P(1-P)/n)
√Variance = Standard Deviation
X 1 2 3
P .1 .85 .05
X^2 1 4 9
E(x) 1*.1 2*.85 3*.05 Add these values for the mean(μ)
E(x^2) (1^2)*. (2^2)*.85 (3^2)*.05 Variance = E(X^2) – μ^2
1

The Law Of Large Numbers – the average results of many independent observations
are stable and predictable
• Draw Independent observations at random from a population with mean μ
• As “n” increases the statistical mean (from a sample) of the observed values
approach μ (from the population)
 • How Large is Large? – Depends on variation; more variation the larger “n” has to
be!

Rules for Means

Add the means
Rules for Variance
Square it then add! ALWAYS ADD! ALWAYS GETS LARGER!