English Reference
Compound

probability function

compound.
C1 Advanced

compound.a mathematical rule that tells you how likely different results are in an experiment or event.

compound.a mathematical function that provides the probabilities of occurrence of different possible outcomes in an experiment. It is a technical term used in statistics and probability theory to describe the distribution of a random variable.


SIMPLE

We use a probability function to predict the dice roll.

CONTEXTUAL

The researcher calculated the probability function to determine the likelihood of the drug working for different age groups.

COMPLEX

In quantum mechanics, the wave function acts as a probability function that describes the likelihood of finding a particle in a specific region of space.

Usage

primarily used in mathematics, statistics, and data science contexts.

Teaching tip

contrast this with 'probability' as a general concept; the 'function' part implies a systematic mapping of all possible outcomes rather than a single chance.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Updated