5.2 Probability distributions in R

R has a number of built-in distribution types, and there are random-number generators associated with most or all of these that will allow us to take random samples from a distribution (like picking numbers out of a hat!). This is useful for data simulation, but is also helpful for us to learn about probability distributions and how their parameters affect the shape, spread, scale, location, etc. of those distributions. We will briefly discuss concepts like skew because of how they can help us think about the assumptions that we are making (or breaking!) in the models that we use.

For this class, we will focus on one major family of distributions and then zero in on a few distributions within this family that you are guaranteed to encounter throughout your career.