closely related concepts fgnievinski (talk) 15:36, 20 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I think a merger would be OK, as long as the distinction between the topics is clarified. My understanding is that a random variable is described by a probability distribution/measure, a realization is a procedure or model for producing a sample with that distribution, and a random variate is an outcome of a realization. For example, a Poisson distribution, a radioactive sample and Geiger counter, and an observed timing of clicks. A distribution may have many possible realizations and a realization may have many possible random variates. --{{u|Mark viking}} {Talk} 12:33, 21 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Mark viking: that's not what the article states: "a realization, observation, or observed value, of a random variable is the value that is actually observed (what actually happened)." I.e., realization = variate:

• "A random variate is a realization, or instantiation of a random variable, which is typically generated by a computer." [1]
• "A random variate is a realization of a random variable." [2]

fgnievinski (talk) 05:53, 26 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

For instance, "we must distinguish between our random variable X — a procedure — and a realization — application of the procedure to a particular instance to yield an outcome in our sample space. The outcome of a realization, also often referred to as simply the realization, is denoted a random variate;" [3] But agreed, it is also true that some sources do not differentiate between realization and random variate. --{{u|Mark viking}} {Talk} 06:12, 26 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Mark viking: Agreed there's a nuance between the process and the result; but I still think it'd be better to cover both in the same article. fgnievinski (talk) 01:15, 18 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]