Discrete or Continuous? Is the random variable given in the ta...

Question

Discrete or Continuous? Is the random variable given in the table from Exercise 1 discrete or continuous? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Hello, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together. A survey of office workers recorded the number of password reset requests made by each employee in a month. The data below represents the probability distribution for the number of reset requests. Where we have the number of reset requests, which is equal to X, and then we have E of X. Is the random variable for the number of reset requests discrete or continuous? Explain. Is it answer choice A discrete, because the number of reset requests can only be whole numbers? Answer choice B continuous, because it is possible to have fractional reset requests. Answer choice C continuous, because the values form a continuous range, or answer choice D discrete, because the number of reset requests can be any decimal value. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about discrete data versus continuous data to determine whether the random variable for the number of reset requests is discrete or continuous. So looking at the values in our table and recalling what we have learned about discrete versus continuous, starting with discrete variables we know are a type of random variable that takes on a finite or countably infinite. Number of specific values such as 012, and so on. And then for continuous variables, we know that they can take on any value within a given range, including decimal or fractional values. And so using this information and the data presented to us in the table, we have to identify the type of value in the table. And since we have to determine whether it is the random variable that is Discrete or continuous, we know that the random variable is the number of password reset requests, which is always a whole number. And then checking if the values are countable, we know that the values 0123, and 4 are countable and represent a finite set. So then determining whether fractional values are possible, we know that it does not make sense to have 2.3 or even 3.7. Set requests, therefore, fractional values are not possible. Therefore, we can identify that the random variable for the number of reset requests is discrete, which makes answer choice A the correct answer, as it is a discrete variable because the number of reset requests can only be whole numbers. So answer choice A is the correct answer, and all other answer choices are incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.

��app