Introduction to Continuous Random Variables

The image shows radish plants of various heights sprouting out of dirt.

The heights of these radish plants are continuous random variables. (Credit: Rev Stan)

Continuous random variables have many applications. Baseball batting averages, IQ scores, the length of time a long distance telephone call lasts, the amount of money a person carries, the length of time a computer chip lasts, and SAT scores are just a few. The field of reliability depends on a variety of continuous random variables.

Note

The values of discrete and continuous random variables can be ambiguous. For example, if X is equal to the number of miles (to the nearest mile) you drive to work, then you count the miles and X is a discrete random variable. If X is the distance you drive to work, then you measure values of X and X is a continuous random variable. For a second example, if X is equal to the number of books in a backpack, then X is a discrete random variable. If X is the weight of a book, then X is a continuous random variable because weights are measured. How the random variable is defined is very important.

Properties of Continuous Probability Distributions

The graph of a continuous probability distribution is a curve. Probability is represented by area under the curve.

The curve is called the probability density function (abbreviated as pdf). We use the symbol f(x) to represent the curve. f(x) is the function that corresponds to the graph. We use the density function f(x) to draw the graph of the probability distribution.

Area under the curve is given by a different function called the cumulative distribution function (abbreviated as cdf). The cumulative distribution function is used to evaluate probability as area.

  • The outcomes are measured, not counted.
  • The entire area under the curve and above the x-axis is equal to one.
  • Probability is found for intervals of x values rather than for individual x values.
  • [latex]P(cX is in the interval between the values c and d. [latex]P(cx-axis, to the right of c and the left of d.
  • [latex]P(x=c)=0[/latex] The probability that x takes on any single individual value is zero. The area below the curve, above the x-axis, and between [latex]x=c[/latex] and [latex]x=c[/latex] has no width, and therefore no area (area[latex]=0[/latex]). Since the probability is equal to the area, the probability is also zero.
  • [latex]P(c

We will find the area that represents probability by using geometry, formulas, technology, or probability tables. In general, calculus is needed to find the area under the curve for many probability density functions. When we use formulas to find the area in this textbook, the formulas were found by using the techniques of integral calculus. However, because most students taking this course have not studied calculus, we will not be using calculus in this textbook.

There are many continuous probability distributions. When using a continuous probability distribution to model probability, the distribution used is selected to model and fit the particular situation in the best way.

The following graphs illustrate three common distributions: uniform, exponential and normal.

This graph shows a uniform distribution. The horizontal axis ranges from 0 to 10. The distribution is modeled by a rectangle extending from x = 2 to x = 8.8. A region from x = 3 to x = 6 is shaded inside the rectangle. The shaded area represents P(3 x < 6).

The graph shows a Uniform Distribution with the area between [latex]x=3[/latex] and [latex]x=6[/latex] shaded to represent the probability that the value of the random variable X is in the interval between three and six.

P(2<x<4)

The graph shows an Exponential Distribution with the area between [latex]x=2[/latex] and [latex]x=4[/latex] shaded to represent the probability that the value of the random variable X is in the interval between two and four.

This graph shows an exponential distribution. The graph slopes downward. It begins at a point on the y-axis and approaches the x-axis at the right edge of the graph. The region under the graph from x = 2 to x = 4 is shaded to represent P(2 < x < 4).

The graph shows the Standard Normal Distribution with the area between [latex]x=1[/latex] and [latex]x=2[/latex] shaded to represent the probability that the value of the random variable X is in the interval between one and two.