Teaching Random Variables

Gordana Jovanovic Dolecek

doi:10.24840/2183-6493_007.001_0003

Abstract

This paper presents demo program for teaching random variables dedicated to demonstration and visualization of behaviour of the product of m independent uniform random variables. The demo is used as a complementary tool in the teaching Random signals and processes curriculum at the graduate level. The demo is made in MATLAB and utilizes all benefits provided by MATLAB, such as simplicity, and good graphic environment, interactive use, among others. Additionally, this demo is used with other demo programs, also made in MATLAB, in teaching/learning process of random variables. Students were very satisfied with this demo program expressing that helped them understanding better the behaviour of the product of uniform random variables.

Highlights

Demo programs that illustrate concepts with visual aids have become one of the more important tools in the field of engineering education (Fu 2003)
This paper presents demo program for teaching random variables dedicated to demonstration and visualization of behaviour of the product of m independent uniform random variables
The goal is to show how the product of uniform independent variables approaches to a lognormal variable, and that this convergence depends on the choice of the range of independent uniform random variables, and the number of variables in product

Summary

Introduction

Demo programs that illustrate concepts with visual aids have become one of the more important tools in the field of engineering education (Fu 2003). Demo programs are especially beneficial in terms of saving time and effort for both teaching and learning. The use of demo programs gives students the visual and intuitive representation of the random variables which had traditionally been stated in terms of abstract mathematical description (Dolecek 2013b). In this work we present demo program in MATLAB environment, for the behaviour of the product of m=5 independent uniform variables, all in the same range, [1/2, 3/2].

Theoretical Background

Features of demo program

Discussion

Conclusions