In your own line of work, give one example of a discrete
and one example of a continuous random variable, and describe why each is continuous or discrete.
Number of people is discrete, because you cannot have a fraction of a person.
Heights can be in fractions, so it is continuous.
interesting....thank you for your example, it definitely helped me :)
In the field of probability and statistics, I can provide examples of both discrete and continuous random variables.
1. Discrete Random Variable:
An example of a discrete random variable is the number of heads obtained when flipping a fair coin three times. This variable can only take on finite, specific values: 0, 1, 2, or 3. It is discrete because there are only a limited number of possible outcomes.
To determine the probability of each value occurring, you can use the binomial probability formula. This formula involves counting the number of favorable outcomes and dividing it by the total number of possible outcomes.
2. Continuous Random Variable:
An example of a continuous random variable is the weight of oranges in a fruit basket. This variable can take on any value within a certain range, such as 100 grams to 200 grams. It is continuous because there are infinite possible outcomes within that range.
To analyze the probability distribution of the weight of oranges, you would need to use probability density functions (pdf) rather than discrete probabilities. The area under the pdf curve within a specific interval represents the probability of an outcome falling within that interval.
In summary, a discrete random variable only takes on specific, countable values, while a continuous random variable can take on any value within a certain range. The distinction between them determines the choice of probability calculation method - either by counting or integrating.