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# Discrete probability distribution

By definition a discrete probability distribution exists if the following two requirements are met.

• It exists a set of random variables and each of these variables has a corresponding probability with

• All probabilities always sum up to 1

### Special cases

#### Arbitrary finite number of random variables

Any arbitrary function that maps a probability to an arbitrary set of random variables is a probability distribution if the above mentioned requirements are met. For instance for the set of random variables the set of probabilities are a discrete probability distribution as all these probabilities sum up to 1.

#### Two random variables

In this case, only one probability is needed as the other can be calculated by the sum which is always one.

This distribution is called Bernulli distribution.

#### One random variable

This is an exceptional case which is 100% certain. For instance the sun rises every morning. It might not be useful to consider such a case, as it has no practical consequences in statistics. It is however important to develop the fauceir abstraction of control.

#### Infinite number of random variables

The requirements are met if the sum of probabilities converges to 1 as in covergent series. Conclusively every series converging to 1 can be considered a random distribution whatever its practical implication.

#### Named discrete probability distributions

• Bernulli distribution
• Binomial distribution
• Poisson distribution
• Geometric distribution
• Zipf distribution

Tags: Statistics

Categories: Mathematics

(c) Mato Nagel, Weißwasser 2004-2013, Disclaimer