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If a random variable X is continuous, i.e. it may take any value within a defined range (or sometimes ranges), the probability of X having any precise value within that range is vanishingly small because a total probability of 1 must be distributed between an infinite number of values. In other words, there is no probability mass associated with any specific allowable value of X. Instead, we define a probability density function f(x) as:


f(x)= \frac{d}{dx} F(x)


i.e. f(x) is the rate of change (the gradient) of the cumulative distribution function. Since F(x) is always non-decreasing, f(x) is always non-negative.


For a continuous distribution we cannot define the probability of observing any exact value. However, we can determine the probability of lying between any two exact values (a, b):


P(a \leq x \leq b)=F(b)-F(a)


where b > a

Example

Consider a continuous variable that is takes a Rayleigh (1) distribution. Its cumulative distribution function is given by:


F(x)=0 \qquad x<0 \\ F(x)=1-e^{-\frac{x^2}{2}} \qquad x>0


and its probability density function is given by:


f(x)=0 \qquad \; x<0 \\ f(x)=xe^{-\frac{x^2}{2}} \quad x>0


The probability that the variable will be between 1 and 2 is given by:



p(1<x<2)=F(2)-F(1)=\big(1-e^{-2}\big) -\big(1-e^{-0.5}\big) \approx 47.12 {\circ / \circ}



F(x) and f(x) for are plotted below:






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