Education Technology


VIC: Linear Transformations of a Random Variable

by Texas Instruments

Objectives

Understand linear combinations of random variables including:

  • E(aX+b)=a.E(X)+b
  • Var(aX+b)=a2.Var(X)

Vocabulary

Expected value, mean, variance, standard deviation, random variable, translation, transformation

About the Lesson

Students use their intuition to reason what would happen to the expected value for a regular die if two extra dots were added to each side. This intuition is then backed up by performing the calculations by hand and then generalised using an interactive slider that generates the updated computations, followed by the general solution with the assistance of CAS. Interactive graphs are also used to help visualise the process.