EXAMPLE 4.7

Using software. Most statistical software has a function that will generate a random number between 0 and 1. The sample space is

S = {all numbers between 0 and 1}

This S is a mathematical idealization. Any specific random number generator produces numbers with some limited number of decimal places so that, strictly speaking, not all numbers between 0 and 1 are possible outcomes. For example, Minitab generates random numbers like 0.736891, with six decimal places. The entire interval from 0 to 1 is easier to think about. It also has the advantage of being a suitable sample space for different software systems that produce random numbers with different numbers of digits.