The term "discrete distribution" refers to a probability distribution that consists of a finite or countably infinite set of possible outcomes. Its spelling may be confusing, as it contains several tricky letter combinations. The initial "dis" is pronounced as /dɪs/, while "crete" is pronounced as /kriːt/. The final "e" is silent and indicates that the stress is placed on the first syllable. The word "distribution" is pronounced as /dɪstrɪˈbjuːʃ(ə)n/, with the stress on the second syllable.
A discrete distribution refers to a probability distribution that involves outcomes that are distinct and separate from each other. It represents the probability of occurrence for each individual outcome in a given set of possibilities. This type of distribution is characterized by a finite or countable number of possible outcomes, where each outcome has a specific likelihood associated with it.
In a discrete distribution, the probabilities assigned to each outcome are well-defined and do not overlap. This means that the probability mass function can be determined for each outcome. The set of probabilities assigned to all possible outcomes in the distribution must sum up to 1.
The discrete distribution is often depicted using a probability mass function, which represents the probabilities of each possible outcome. This function maps the outcomes to their respective probabilities, allowing for the calculation of various statistical measures, such as expected values, variances, and standard deviations.
Some common examples of discrete distributions include the binomial distribution, Poisson distribution, and geometric distribution. The binomial distribution models the number of successes in a fixed number of independent Bernoulli trials, while the Poisson distribution models the number of events occurring in a fixed interval of time or space. The geometric distribution represents the number of trials required to achieve the first success in a sequence of independent Bernoulli trials.
Understanding discrete distributions is essential in various fields of study, including probability theory, statistics, and data analysis, as it helps analyze and predict the likelihood of specific outcomes within a given set of possibilities.
The word "discrete" in "discrete distribution" originates from the Latin word "discretus", which means separate or distinct. It was derived from the verb "discernere", meaning to separate or to distinguish. In the context of mathematics and statistics, a discrete distribution refers to a probability distribution that only takes on distinct values, typically associated with counting. The term "discrete" is used to emphasize the individual, separate values that the distribution can assume, as opposed to continuous distributions which can take on any value within a range.