JF

013 - Compute Sum Question

Probabilities and Valid Distributions

Understanding Probability Distributions

  • A probability distribution describes how probabilities are distributed over the possible outcomes of a random variable.

  • Each outcome must have a probability assigned to it, and the sum of all these probabilities must equal one.

The Requirement for Validity

  • For a distribution to be valid:

    • All probabilities must be non-negative.

    • The sum of all probabilities must equal 1.

The Problem Identified

  • The principle mentioned in your statement presents a concept or belief regarding probability distributions, but it encounters a fundamental issue:

    • Sum of Values Does Not Equal One: This indicates it's not a valid probability distribution.

Steps to Evaluating the Validity

  1. Calculate the sum of all given probability values.

  2. Check if the total equals one.

Conclusion

  • If the sum is not equal to one, the distribution cannot be considered valid. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure that all probabilities in a distribution sum up to one before proceeding with any application or further analysis.