Continuous Probability Distributions
(Classification of Histograms)
Distributions like the binomial or hypergeometric probability
distributions deal with discrete data. The possible values
of the random variable are natural numbers because they
arise from counting processes.
Many characteristics of a population, for example, the
height of humans, are continuous in nature and have
fractional or decimal values. These distributions can be
graphed as smooth curves.
Example  Identify each of the following as discrete or continuous distributions.
a)
Counting the number of outcomes when rolling two dice.
b)
Measuring the maximum distance in a long jump event.
c)
Measuring the time taken on data homework each evening.
A distribution may be symmetric (bell shaped).
f
mean
Example:
x
median
mode
A distribution that is not symmetric may be one of the following:

negatively skewed (tail pulled to the left)
f
mean
median
mode
median
mode
Example:
x

positively skewed (tail pulled to the right)
f
mean
Example:
x

bimodal (may be positively or negatively skewed)
f
Example:
x
Classification of Histograms
(Examples)
Using the following data sets, calculate the mean, median and mode.
Graph each data set on the grid provided. Label the shape of each graph.

MONTHLY RENT in $
{625, 750, 800, 650, 725, 1250, 625, 650, 850, 625}
SHAPE _______________________

mean
____________
median
____________
mode
____________
AGE OF COUSINS
{12, 15, 8, 12, 15, 10, 3, 14, 15}
SHAPE _______________________
mean
____________
median
____________
mode
____________

DRIVE THRU TIMES in MINUTES
{5, 5.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 7, 7, 5, 6.5, 5, 5, 8.5, 0.5, 4.5, 7}
SHAPE _______________________

mean
____________
median
____________
mode
____________
MARKS ON A PROJECT
{1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 6, 3, 6, 2, 3, 1, 5, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3, 3}
SHAPE _______________________
mean
____________
median
____________
mode
____________