5.120 Solar Eclipses. The World Almanac provides information on past and project

Question

5.120 Solar Eclipses. The World Almanac provides information on past and projected total solar eclipses from 1955 to 2015. Unlike to- tal lunar eclipses, observing a total solar eclipse from Earth is rare because it can be seen along only a very narrow path and for only a short period of time. a. Let X denote the duration, in minutes, of a total solar eclipse. Is X a discrete random variable? Explain your answer. b. Let Y denote the duration, to the nearest minute, of a total solar eclipse. Is Y a discrete random variable? Explain your answer.

Explanation / Answer

a) No, the duration in minutes is not a discrete random variable because it is continuous as time spent is not discrete and varies by fractions of minutes, or even seconds)

b) Yes, Y is a discrete variable because time is rounded to the nearest minute.

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