Math 2.0

Probability theory and stochastic processes Definition

Variance

Builds on Expected valueRandom variable

Definition

Let XX be an integrable real random variable with mean μ=E[X]\mu = E[X]. The variance of XX is Var⁡(X)=E[(X−μ)2]∈[0,∞].\operatorname{Var}(X) = E\left[(X - \mu)^2\right] \in [0, \infty].

Remarks

Other notations are V⁡(X)\operatorname{V}(X), σ2\sigma^2 and σX2\sigma_X^2. The variance is finite if and only if E[X2]<∞E[X^2] < \infty. For a discrete XX with values xix_i, Var⁡(X)=∑i(xi−μ)2P(X=xi)\operatorname{Var}(X) = \sum_i (x_i - \mu)^2 P(X = x_i). For XX with density ff, Var⁡(X)=∫(x−μ)2f(x) dx\operatorname{Var}(X) = \int (x - \mu)^2 f(x) \, dx. Var⁡(X)=0\operatorname{Var}(X) = 0 if and only if X=μX = \mu almost surely. For a fair die, μ=7/2\mu = 7/2 and Var⁡(X)=35/12\operatorname{Var}(X) = 35/12.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 44 pages in order. The foundations come first.

  1. Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
  2. Element definition
  3. Integers object
  4. Ordered field definition
  5. Proposition concept
  6. Random experiment concept
  7. Rational numbers object
  8. Real numbers object
  9. Set definition
  10. Ring of integers statement
  11. Disjunction definition
  12. Implication definition
  13. Predicate definition
  14. Ordered pair definition
  15. Union definition
  16. Sample space definition
  17. The rationals form a field statement
  18. Existential quantifier definition
  19. Universal quantifier definition
  20. Cartesian product definition
  21. Subset definition
  22. The rationals form an ordered field statement
  23. Uniqueness quantifier definition
  24. Binary relation definition
  25. Universal set definition
  26. Order on the reals definition
  27. Power set definition
  28. Complement definition
  29. Function definition
  30. Interval definition
  31. Injective function definition
  32. Preimage of a set definition
  33. Sigma-algebra definition
  34. Countable set definition
  35. Event definition
  36. Borel sigma-algebra definition
  37. Probability axioms concept
  38. Probability measure definition
  39. Probability space definition
  40. Random variable definition
  41. Discrete random variable definition
  42. Random variable with a density definition
  43. Expected value definition
  44. Variance definition

Where this leads

83 pages build on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variance, Definition
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