IEE 475: Simulating Stochastic Systems
IEE 475: Simulating Stochastic Systems
Theodore P. Pavlic
Lecture D1 (2025-09-18): Probability and Random Variables
1 seconds Posted Sep 18, 2025 at 8:03 pm.
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In this lecture, we introduce the measure-theoretic concept of a random variable (which is neither random nor a variable) and related terms, such as outcomes, events, probability measures, moments, means, etc. Throughout the lecture, we use the metaphor of probability as mass (and thus probability density as mass density, and a mean as a center of mass). This allows us to discuss the "statistical leverage" of outliers in a distribution (i.e., although they happen infrequently, they still have the ability to shift the mean significantly, as in physical leverage). This sets us up to talk about random processes and particular random variables in the next lecture.