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Basic Question 1 of 10

For x, a normal random variable, which of the following is (are) false?

I. The parameters are N and p.
II. The parameters are the mean and standard deviation.
III. The graph is a bell-shaped curve.
IV. The probability x is equal to a particular value (say, 55) is zero.

User Contributed Comments 7

User Comment
standaert why is anser IV correct?
kevin IV is correct as you can only calculate the probability of x when it falls in a range, such as 56 > x > 54. The probability of x equaling to one exact value is definitely 0.
surob It is because it is continuous distribution
bobert Because in a continuous distribution there are unlimited potential outcomes between the ranges, say -infinity to +infinity. so if you have a value of X = 55 like the example, it would be X/infinity or 55/infinity. This is mathematically impossible though because infinity is not a real number. It would be successively smaller and smaller, but how do you calculate an always decreasing number? Simply put, you cant. 0 would be the limit to which it can go because as infinity increases in the denominator, the probability would get smaller and smaller. As I had said however, infinity is a concept, a word, therefore do not think that x/infinity = 0. Sorry for the long winded explanation, just hope to make it clear.
Yurik74 bobert - mathematician?
Dsatti But its not EQUAL to zero, it tends to zeros as n tends to infinity does it not? So mathematically you can't say it equals zero?!
johntan1979 Prove it, Mr Wiseguy.
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I am using your study notes and I know of at least 5 other friends of mine who used it and passed the exam last Dec. Keep up your great work!
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Learning Outcome Statements

explain the key properties of the normal distribution;

contrast a multivariate distribution and a univariate distribution, and explain the role of correlation in the multivariate normal distribution;

calculate the probability that a normally distributed random variable lies inside a given interval;

CFA® 2024 Level I Curriculum, Volume 1, Module 4.