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random variable

noun

Definition of random variable

: a variable that is itself a function of the result of a statistical experiment in which each outcome has a definite probability of occurrence

— called also variate

Examples of random variable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 This puzzling curve seemed to be the complex cousin of the familiar bell curve, or Gaussian distribution, which represents the natural variation of independent random variables like the heights of students in a classroom or their test scores. — Quanta Magazine, "At the Far Ends of a New Universal Law," 15 Oct. 2014 There are too many random variables at play -- including the crazy crowd noise -- to make this a consistently formful race. — Katia Porzecanski, Bloomberg.com, "Is Justify Worthy of Hype? Kentucky Derby Q&A With Papadopoulos," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'random variable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of random variable

1914, in the meaning defined above

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More from Merriam-Webster on random variable

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about random variable

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