Re:Do not confuse a random variable with its distribution
by eru on Tuesday June 25, 2024 @11:54PM
(#40796224)
> Random variables are neither random nor variables! They are functions that map a space of random events onto the real number line![0]
They are functions that map from the space of random events to whatever other space you want. Why restrict yourself to the real number line?
Eg the 'moral character of the next stranger I encounter' is a random variable that maps from some abstract space of random events (we often used the Greek letter Omega for that) onto some space of moral characters.
And if you want to restrict yourself to numbers, why restrict yourself to reals? Why not complex numbers or p-adic numbers or numbers in F_5 or numbers in [0, 1] or 'natural numbers expect 17'?
They are functions that map from the space of random events to whatever other space you want. Why restrict yourself to the real number line?
Eg the 'moral character of the next stranger I encounter' is a random variable that maps from some abstract space of random events (we often used the Greek letter Omega for that) onto some space of moral characters.
And if you want to restrict yourself to numbers, why restrict yourself to reals? Why not complex numbers or p-adic numbers or numbers in F_5 or numbers in [0, 1] or 'natural numbers expect 17'?
EDIT: looks like you are right in English! See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40796146 and my reply there.