Random variable: Difference between revisions

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m The use of random variables is most common in probability and statistics, where they are used to quantify outcomes of random occurrences.
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===Extensions===
 
The term "random variable" in statistics is traditionally limited to the [[real number|real-valued]] case (<math>E=\mathbb{R}</math>). In this case, the structure of the real numbers makes it possible to define quantities such as the [[expected value]] and [[variance]] of a random variable, its [[cumulative distribution function]], and the [[moment (mathematics)|moment]]s of its distribution. The use of random variables is most common in probability and statistics, where they are used to quantify outcomes of random occurrences.
 
However, the definition above is valid for any [[measurable space]] <math>E</math> of values. Thus one can consider random elements of other sets <math>E</math>, such as random [[Boolean-valued function|Boolean value]]s, [[categorical variable|categorical value]]s, [[Covariance matrix#Complex random vectors|complex numbers]], [[random vector|vector]]s, [[random matrix|matrices]], [[random sequence|sequence]]s, [[Tree (graph theory)|tree]]s, [[random compact set|set]]s, [[shape]]s, [[manifold]]s, and [[random function|function]]s. One may then specifically refer to a ''random variable of [[data type|type]] <math>E</math>'', or an ''<math>E</math>-valued random variable''.