Can You Think of a Random Variable as a Continuous Function

In this explainer, we will learn how to describe the probability density function of a continuous random variable and use it to find the probability for some event.

Continuous random variables take an infinite number of real number values in a continuum. The probability of a continuous random variable taking a particular value is zero: that is, for any value . The fact that the random variable has a zero probability of taking any one value is what distinguishes the continuous random variables from the discrete ones.

When working with a continuous random variable, boundary conditions of events can be neglected. In other words, strict and weak inequalities, and , describing different events are interchangeable. To see why this is the case, let us examine the probability for some real number . Since the events and are mutually exclusive, we have

But because for the continuous random variable , we have the equivalency . Similarly, for any upper bound and lower bound , we have the identity

A continuous random variable is characterized by its probability density function, which is a nonnegative function whose total area under the curve is 1. The area under the curve of the probability density function represents the probability of the whole sample space. We recall the rule of probability, which states that the probabilities of mutually exclusive events add up to 1. This rule necessitates the total area under the curve to be 1.

Definition: Probability Density Function

A function is a probability density function if

• for each in its domain,
• .

Consider a probability density function whose graph is given below.

We note that this function is never negative, and the total area under the curve is equal to 1. So this graph is a probability density function by the definition above.

When a probability density function contains an unknown constant, we can often identify the unknown constant using one of the conditions in the definition above. Any probability function satisfies the identity

Based on our previous discussion, we recall that this identity roots from the rule of probability.

Let us consider a few examples where we use the rule of probability to identify unknown constants within probability density functions.

Example 1: Using the Probability Density Function of a Continuous Random Variable to Evaluate an Unknown

Let be a continuous random variable with probability density function

Determine the value of .

Answer

The given probability density function has an unknown parameter . We remember that which can be used to find . We note that is only nonzero over the interval , where it takes the form . So it must be true that

Now, we evaluate the integral on the left side:

Then, we must have , which means .

Let us consider another example to apply the Rule of Probability to compute an unknown constant in the probability density function.

Example 2: Using the Probability Density Function of a Continuous Random Variable to Evaluate an Unknown

Let be a continuous random variable with probability density function

Find the value of .

Answer

This probability density function has an unknown parameter . To identify , we use the fact that

Evaluating the integral on the right side,

So, we must have which leads to .

Say that a continuous random variable has the probability density function in the following figure, and that is an interval. Then, the probability of an event for is equal to the area under the curve over the given interval . We recall that since is a nonnegative function, then the area under the curve is equal to the definite integral of over the interval . For instance, the probability for an upper bound is equal to the area under the curve over the interval , which is pictured below.

This is given by the integral

Likewise, to compute the probability for the upper and lower bounds and , we compute the area over the interval as pictured below.

This is given by the integral

In general, we have the following formulae.

How To: Computing the Probability of a Continuous Random Variable

Let be a continuous random variable with the probability density function . Given any real numbers and with ,

• ,
• ,
• .

Although the integral formulae above can always be used to compute probabilities, it may be more efficient sometimes to use geometry when possible. This is the case when the graph of the probability density function forms simple geometric shapes such as a triangle, a trapezoid, or a semicircle.

Let us consider an example where the graph of the probability density function is given as a trapezoid. In this example, we will use geometry to compute the probability.

Example 3: Computing the Probability of a Continuous Random Variable Using Graphs

Let be a continuous random variable with the probability density function represented by the following graph. Find .

Answer

We are given the probability density function as a graph, so we begin by highlighting the region under the curve over the interval . In particular, we can deduce that the height at is because it is precisely halfway between 4 and 6.

We recall that the area of a trapezoid is given by the formula

The provided graph of our probability density function is a trapezoid with base , top , and height 1. So, the area of the trapezoid is

Then, the probability . We note that this is a reasonable answer for probability since is between 0 and 1.

When the graphs of probability density functions are not provided, it is often easier to use the integral formulae to compute the required probabilities. In the next two examples, we will use the given probability density functions with the integral formulae to compute the probabilities.

Example 4: Using the Probability Density Function of a Continuous Random Variable to Find Probabilities

Let be a continuous random variable with the probability density function

Find .

Answer

The probability density function is given as a formula, so we can use an integral to find the probability. That is,

Since is a piecewise-defined function, we can split this integral into two regions:

We note that for , and for . So,

So, the probability . We note that this is a reasonable answer for probability since is between 0 and 1.

Let us consider another example using the integral formulae to become familiar with different contexts.

Example 5: Using the Probability Density Function of a Continuous Random Variable to Find Probabilities

Let be a continuous random variable with the probability density function

Find .

Answer

Since we are given the probability density function, we can write the integral

Over the interval , we have . So,

We note that this is a reasonable answer for probability since is between 0 and 1.

Key Points

• A continuous random variable takes any real number values in a continuum.
• For a continuous random variable , for any value . Strict and weak inequalities, and , in events are interchangeable.
• A continuous random variable is characterized by its probability density function , which must satisfy and .
• Given the probability density function of , the probability of an event for an interval is equal to the area under the graph over the interval .
• Let be a continuous random variable with the probability density function . Given any real numbers and with ,
  • ,
  • ,
  • .
• If the graph of is provided and takes a simple geometric shape (e.g., triangle, trapezoid, and semicircle), then we can use geometry to compute the probability more efficiently.

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Source: https://www.nagwa.com/en/explainers/504196353149/

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