Changes

The terminology "random variable" has been criticized as being neither "random" nor "variable".  A random variable really consists of a sampling from a certain probability distribution.  It is not purely "random" because it is limited by the predefined probability distribution (e.g., "heads" or "tails" in the case of a coin toss, with a likelihood of each determined by the likelihood of each side appearing); it is not a "variable" because it is a sample value from that distribution.

The terminology "random variable" has been criticized as being neither "random" nor "variable".  A random variable really consists of a sampling from a certain probability distribution.  It is not purely "random" because it is limited by the predefined probability distribution (e.g., "heads" or "tails" in the case of a coin toss, with a likelihood of each determined by the likelihood of each side appearing); it is not a "variable" because it is a sample value from that distribution.

== Reference ==

== References ==

<references/>

<references/>

[http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/probability_distributions.html#randvar Statistics Glossary]

[http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/probability_distributions.html#randvar Statistics Glossary]

[[category:probability and Statistics]]

[[Category:Probability and Statistics]]