Uniform Distribution
Some Examples Are Provided for
Clarification
For-Computer Sceince
What is Uniform Distribution?
A type of probability distribution in which all results are equally likely. A
deck of cards has within it uniform distributions because the likelihood of
drawing a heart, a club, a diamond or a spade is equally likely. A coin also
has a uniform distribution because the probability of getting either heads or
tails in a coin toss is the same.
The uniform distribution can be visualized as a straight horizontal line, so
for a coin flip returning a head or tail, both have a probability p = 0.50 and
would be depicted by a line from the y-axis at 0.50.
Function and Mathematical Equations
A uniform distribution, sometimes also known as a rectangular distribution,
is a distribution that has constant probability.
The probability density function and cumulative distribution function for
a continuous uniform distribution on the interval are
These can be written in terms of the Heaviside step function H (x) as
The latter of which simplifies to the expected D (x) = (x-a) / (b-a) for a <x
<b.
The continuous distribution is implemented as Uniform Distribution [a, b].
For a continuous uniform distribution, the characteristic function is
If a = 0 and b = 1, the characteristic function simplifies to
The moment-generating function is
The moment-generating function is not differentiable at zero, but the
moments can be calculated by differentiating and then taking lim_ (t-> 0).
The raw moments are given analytically by
The first few are therefore given explicitly by
The central moments are given analytically by
The first few are therefore given explicitly by
The mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis excess are therefore
Applications
There are two types of uniform distributions: discrete and continuous. The
possible results of rolling a die provide an example of a discrete uniform
distribution: it is possible to roll a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, but it is not possible to
roll a 2.3, 4.7 or 5.5. Therefore, the roll of a die generates a discrete
distribution with p = 1/6 for each outcome.
Some uniform distributions are continuous rather than discrete. An idealized
random number generator would be considered a continuous uniform
distribution. With this type of distribution, every point in the continuous
range between 0.0 and 1.0 has an equal opportunity of appearing, yet there
are an infinite number of points between 0.0 and 1.0
Example1:
Suppose in a quiz there are 30 participants. A question is given to
all 30 participants and the time allowed to answer it is 25 seconds. Find the
probability of participants responds within 6 seconds?
Solution:
Given
Interval of probability distribution = [0 seconds, 25 seconds]
1 1
Density of Probability = 25−0 =
25
interval of probability distribution of successful event = [0
seconds, 6 seconds]
The probability P(x<6)
6
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
25
There are 3030 participants in the quiz
6
Hence the participants likely to answer it in 6 seconds = × 30 ≈ 7
25
Example 2:
Suppose a flight is about to land and the announcement says that the
expected time to land is 30 minutes. Find the probability of getting flight
land between 25 to 30 minutes?
Solution:
Given
Interval of probability distribution = [0 minutes, 30 minutes]
1 1
Density of probability = =
30−0 30
Interval of probability distribution of successful event = [0 minutes, 5
minutes]
The probability (25 <x <30)
5 1
The probability ratio = =
30 6
Hence the probability of getting flight land between 25 minutes to 30
minutes = 0.16
Reference
Uniform Distribution of Sequences. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2020, from
https://books.google.iq/books?id=mnY8LpyXHM0C
Uniform Distribution Examples. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2020, from
https://probabilityformula.org/uniform-distribution/uniform-distribution-
examples.html
Chen, J. (2020, May 27). Uniform Distribution Definition. Retrieved June 22, 2020, from
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/uniform-distribution.asp
