Tell me more ×
Mathematics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people studying math at any level and professionals in related fields. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite
1

This question isn't the same as this

I don't want a mathematical proof or something of the sort. I want a verbal explanation that intuitively will convince me why this is true.

The way I see it, when you plot a continuous function like say the weight of all the people in the world. This will be continuous, right? Now for any given weight w, there will have to be some number of people who have that particular weight right? So why will the probability of someone having that weight w be zero?

share|improve this question
1  
This will be continuous, right? No, this will not be, and this cannot be since all the people in the world is a finite set. – Did Oct 3 '12 at 6:47
I'd say any function on a finite set is continuous – when equipped with discrete topology. – K. Stm. Oct 3 '12 at 6:48
"Why is the probability $\ldots$ zero?" vs. "I don't want a mathematical proof or something of the sort.": You can not eat the cake and have it. – Christian Blatter Oct 3 '12 at 7:48
You shouldn't expect intuitive explanations where the reals are involved. They are unlike anything in our day-to-day experience, so our intuition serves us poorly. – AakashM Oct 3 '12 at 9:07
@K.Stm. Quite true and quite off-the-point. – Did Oct 6 '12 at 15:12

2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

The distribution of the weights of people in the world is of course discrete: there is only a finite number of distinct weights associated with the finite number of people that exist. However, you can certainly consider a continuous probability distribution, like the bell curve, which approximates the probability that a randomly chosen person has a given weight. In this idealized world, a random person's weight may be an arbitrary real number, and this number can be known to arbitrary accuracy.

Now there is some finite probability that our random weight lies between 70 kg and 80 kg. Then the probability that it lies between 70 and 71 kg is roughly a tenth of that, because we're considering only one-tenth of the interval, right? And the probability between 70.0 and 70.1 kg is a tenth further, and between 70.00 and 70.01 kg a tenth still. What do you suppose that leaves the probability that the weight is exactly 70.000... kg?

share|improve this answer
In fact, if you consider all the weights of all the people in the world in the past year, it is a continuous distribution if weights changes continuously, and you might consider their weights right now as a sample from this distribution. – Henry Oct 3 '12 at 7:12
But there have got to be some people whose weights are exactly 70 right? It just logically doesn't make sense to be. The math is fine but intuitively I find it difficult to digest. – Programming Noob Oct 3 '12 at 13:53
@ProgrammingNoob: Do you think there also have to be some people whose weights are exactly 70.010000..., or 71.666666..., or 73.141592...? – Rahul Narain Oct 3 '12 at 21:56
up vote 0 down vote

This is because you have a finite amount of people to check this. The requirement for a distribution on a finite set to be continuous isn't a requirement at all, since in any function on a finite set (equipped with the discrete topology) is continuous. But this wouldn't give you a continuous distribution in the sense of your statement. This would require the range to be some sort of continuum.

Rather consider saying "now" in a particular moment in time, measured 100% accurately (if that was possible). Or maybe throwing a dart at a wall, hitting a particular spot on it.

Hope that helps.

Actually, it depends if you distribute weight over the people in the world or people of the world over possible weights they have. If you do the latter, the answer from Rahul would be the right one.

share|improve this answer
Where is Rahul's answer? He explained that the probability of someone to have exactly weight 70.000...kg is $0$. – K. Stm. Oct 3 '12 at 6:59
I deleted and undeleted it. – Rahul Narain Oct 3 '12 at 7:08

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.