Continuous Random Variables

Review of Discrete Random Variables

Continuous Random Variables
Probability Density Function
Standard Normal Distribution
Empirical Rule
References
 Discrete Random Variables take on
Review specific values

Probability Distribution for one roll of

Discrete Random the die:
Variables
P(X=1) 1/6

P(X=2) 1/6

P(X=3) 1/6

P(X=4) 1/6

P(X=5) 1/6

P(X=6) 1/6

Total =
1
Image source: https://pixabay.com/en/dice-red-two-game-rolling-chance-
Continuous
Random A Continuous Random Variable
can take on any value in an
Variables interval.

Examples: Weight and Height

Other examples?
 The Probability Density Function gives:
Probability Density
Function All possible values for the variable

Probability of seeing those values

Area under the curve = 1

Geogebra https://www.geogebra.org/probability

Probability
Calculator

Image Created using Geogebra

Open or Closed P(X=0)=0

Intervals P ( X < 0 ) = 0.5

P ( X 0) = 0.5

Image Created using Geogebra

Probability of a P( -2 < X < 1 )

Continuous P(X < 2)

Random Variable P(X > 1)

P( X = 3 )
Standard Normal N~(0,1)

(Gaussian) Mean = 0
Distribution Standard Deviation = 1

Like any Normal Distribution:

Bell-Shaped

Symmetrical

Continuous Random Image Created using Geogebra

Empirical Rule This rule works only with a Normal Distribution,
otherwise known as a Bell Shaped Distribution

(68-95-99.7) Properties of Rule (Triola, 2014, p. 104):

68% of all values fall within 1 standard deviations

of the mean

95% of all values fall within 2 standard deviations

of the mean

99.7% of all values fall within 3 standard

deviations of the mean

Image Source: Khan Academy

 Use the Probability Calculator in Geogebra -
https://www.geogebra.org/probability

Practice with the 1. From Triola (2014, p. 103): Example 6

Empirical Rule IQ scores have a bell-shaped distribution with a mean of 100

and a standard deviation of 15. What percentage of IQ scores

(68-95-99.7)
are between 70 and 130?

1. From Triola (2014, p. 111): Problem 41

Based on Data Set 1 in Appendix B, blood platelet counts of

women have a bell-shaped distribution with a mean of 280 and
a standard deviation of 65. Using the empirical rule, what is the
approximate percentage of women with platelet counts a)
within 2 standard deviations of the mean or between 150 and
410; and b) between 215 and 345?

1. From Triola (2014, p. 111): Problem 42

Based on Data Set 3 in Appendix B, body temperatures of

Image Source: (Triola, 2014, p. 104)
healthy adults have a bell-shaped distribution with a mean of
98.20 and a standard deviation of 0.62. Using the empirical
rule, what is the approximate percentage of healthy adults with
body temperatures a) within 1 standard deviations of the mean
or between 97.58 and 98.82; and b) between 96.34 and
100.06?
Example The average salary for a musician is
$40,000 per year with a standard
deviation of $10,000. What is the
probability that a randomly selected
musician will have a salary between
$30,000 and $50,000?
Example The average salary for a musician is
$40,000 per year with a standard
deviation of $10,000. What is the
probability that a randomly selected
musician will have a salary between
$30,000 and $50,000?

P ( 10,000 < X < 40,000 ) = 0.68

Example The mean number for M&Ms in a small
bag is 21.2 with a standard deviation
of 1.3. What is the probability you will
get a bag with more than 24 M&Ms?
Example The mean number for M&Ms in a small
bag is 21.2 with a standard deviation
of 1.3. What is the probability you will
get a bag with more than 24 M&Ms?

P ( X > 24 ) = 0.0156
Probabilities for
Normally
Distributed
Random Variables
on your TI-84
graphing calculator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H
KzZwX7oeDM
 Something to Note: Due to aircraft cabin designs and other
Example considerations, British Airways and many other carriers
have a cabin crew height requirement between 5 ft 2 in.
and 6 ft 1 in. For aesthetic reasons, Rockette dancers at
New York Citys Radio City Music Hall must be between
66.5 in and 71.5 in. tall. For practical reasons , the U.S.
Army requires that women must be between 58 in. and 80
in. tall (Triola, 2014, p. 243).

Question to ponder: What percentages of men and women

satisfy the flight cabin crew requirement of having a height
between 5 ft. 2 in. and 6 ft. 1in. (Triola, 2014, p. 244)?

What other examples can you think of?

In-Class Practice Get in small groups of your choice

Each individual: Create a problem similar to

the ones we have been working on. Your
problem should give the mean and standard
deviation and ask for the probability on an
interval.

After solving your own problem, practice

solving problems created by others in your
group.

You can use the internet to find known

statistics for things you are interested in.

Ask Questions!
References
Triola, M. F. (2014). Elementary Statistics (12th ed.). New York, NY:
Pearson Education.
Homework
Homework
Homework
Homework