Random Variables

Abstract

If our atomic events are people, such as survey participants who might walk by our corner, then the height of the next person is a random variable. So are and eye color. If our atomic events are complex numbers, then the real part of the next complex number is a random variable. If our atomic events are cards that we draw from a deck, then the number of pips on the next card is a random variable; so are the suit and whether the card is a face card. If our atomic events are pairs of people (say, the next two participants in our survey), then we can make a random variable by testing whether they have the same birthday, or by squaring the difference between the lengths of their left thumbs.