How is that possible to be $X$ discrete random variable

probabilityprobability distributionsrandom variables

Suppose that the cumulative distribution function of discreate random variable $X$ is given by,
$$F(x) =
\begin{cases}
0 & \text{$x$ < 0 } \\[1.5ex]
\dfrac{x}{4} & \text{$0 \leq x<1$}\\[1.5ex]
\dfrac{1}{2}+\dfrac{x-1}{4} & \text{$1 \leq x<2$}\\[1.5ex]
\dfrac{11}{12} &\text{$2 \leq x<3$}\\[1.5ex]
1 &\text{$3 \leq x$}\\
\end{cases}$$

Find $P(X=i),i=1,2,3$.

My problem is, how is that possible to be $X$ discrete random variable as I think it is mixed random variable(both discrete and continuous) since there are $x$ in $F(X)$. Can anyone help me to understand this?

Best Answer

It is neither discrete nor continuous. $P(X=1)=\frac 12 -\frac1 4=\frac 1 4$ (the jump at $x=1$) etc.

For any random variable $X$ we have $P(X=x)=F_X(x)-F_X(x-)$ where $F_X(x-)$ is the left hand limit of $F_X$ at $x$. In this case the right hand limit of $F$ at $1$ is $\frac 1 2$ and the left hand limit is $\frac 1 4$ so the difference is $\frac 1 4$.