9.3: Probability Distributions
Learning Objectives
By the end of the class, students should be able to:
Define the terms random variable, probability distribution function, and expected value
Identify the appropriate distribution when given an example of a random variable
Class prep
SDS:
4.2 up to 4.2.1
4.3
4.4 up to the paragraph that begins with “In the following table we provide the mean…”
4.5
4.6
Some of this may seem quite technical depending on your background. If that’s the case, focus on the high-level ideas. By the end of the reading, you should be able to answer the following questions:
What is the input of a probability distribution function? What is the output?
What is the difference between a cumulative density function and a probability density function?
What am I describing if I refer to the expected value of a distribution?
How are discrete and continuous random variables similar and how are they different?