normal random variable

plural normal random variables

1. mathematicsA random variable whose probability distribution is a normal distribution.

   Since this density function cannot be integrated directly, in order to find probabilities involving normal random variables, we must resort to tables giving us various percentile points of the distribution.

   1986, Mark C. K. Yang, David H. Robinson, Understanding and Learning Statistics by Computer, World Scientific, page 28

   2 more examples

   Although normal random variables are continuous, they are often used to model discrete quantities.[…]The probability density function of a normal random variable depends on two parameters, denoted μ and σ, which are, respectively, the mean and standard deviation of the random variable.

   2016, Geoffrey C. Berresford, Andrew M. Rockett, Applied Calculus, 7th edition, Cengage Learning, page 731

   A special type of continuous random variable, known as a normal random variable, is studied.[…]We present the additive property of normal random variables. The percentiles of normal random variables are studied.

   2017, Sheldon M. Ross, Introductory Statistics, 4th edition, Elsevier (Academic Press), page 263