Math 225 Course Notes

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Chapter 4

Contents


Big Picture

The possible values of discrete random variables can be listed. The sum of the probabilities of these possible values is one. The binomial distribution, the random variable that comes from counting heads while flipping coins, is the most useful discrete random variable and is a model for random sampling from a population with two types of individuals.

The distribution of a continuous random variable is described by its probability density function. Probabilities correspond to areas under the curve. The normal distribution is the most important example of a continuous random variable. This is the distribution of the mean from moderate to large random samples, and also the distribution of random variables in many other examples.



Last modified: Jan 22, 1996

Bret Larget, larget@mathcs.duq.edu