Definition:Random Variable

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Informal Definition

A random variable is a number whose value is determined unambiguously by an experiment.


Formal Definition

General Definition

Let $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ be a probability space.

Let $\struct {S, \Sigma'}$ be a measurable space.


A random variable on $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$, taking values in $\struct {S, \Sigma'}$, is a $\Sigma \, / \, \Sigma'$-measurable mapping $X : \Omega \to S$.


Real-Valued Random Variable

Let $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ be a probability space.

A real-valued random variable on $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ is a $\Sigma$-measurable function $X : \Omega \to \R$.


That is, a function $X : \Omega \to \R$ is a real-valued random variable if and only if:

$X^{-1} \sqbrk {\hointl {-\infty} x} = \set {\omega \in \Omega : \map X \omega \le x} \in \Sigma$

for each $x \in \R$, where:

$\hointl {-\infty} x$ denotes the unbounded closed interval $\set {y \in \R: y \le x}$
$X^{-1} \sqbrk {\hointl {-\infty} x}$ denotes the preimage of $\hointl {-\infty} x$ under $X$.


Discrete Random Variable

Let $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ be a probability space.

Let $\struct {S, \Sigma'}$ be a measurable space.

A discrete random variable on $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ taking values in $\struct {S, \Sigma'}$ is a mapping $X: \Omega \to S$ such that:

$(1): \quad$ The image of $X$ is a countable subset of $S$
$(2): \quad$ $\forall x \in S: \set {\omega \in \Omega: \map X \omega = x} \in \Sigma$


Alternatively, the second condition can be written as:

$(2): \quad$ $\forall x \in S: X^{-1} \sqbrk {\set x} \in \Sigma$

where $X^{-1} \sqbrk {\set x}$ denotes the preimage of $\set x$.


Continuous Random Variable

Let $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ be a probability space.

Let $X$ be a real-valued random variable on $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$.


We say that $X$ is a continuous random variable on $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ if and only if:

the cumulative distribution function of $X$ is continuous.


Absolutely Continuous Random Variable

Let $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ be a probability space.

Let $X$ be a real-valued random variable on $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$.

Let $P_X$ be the probability distribution of $X$.

Let $\map \BB \R$ be the Borel $\sigma$-algebra of $\R$.

Let $\lambda$ be the Lebesgue measure on $\struct {\R, \map \BB \R}$.


We say that $X$ is an absolutely continuous random variable if and only if:

$P_X$ is absolutely continuous with respect to $\lambda$.


Singular Random Variable

Let $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$ be a probability space.

Let $X$ be a continuous random variable on $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$.

Let $\map \BB \R$ be the Borel $\sigma$-algebra on $\R$.

Let $\lambda$ be the Lebesgue measure on $\struct {\R, \map \BB \R}$.


We say that $X$ is singular if and only if:

there exists a $\lambda$-null set $B$ such that $\map \Pr {X \in B} = 1$.


Also known as

Other words used to mean the same thing as random variable are:

stochastic variable
chance variable
variate.


The image $\Img X$ of $X$ is often denoted $\Omega_X$.


Sources


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