In math, there is a concept called random variable, and for convenience people usually just write r.v. I have some questions regarding writing the abbreviation r.v. in a sentence.
Would a native speaker read (in their mind) r.v. as the two letters "R V" or as its original spelling "random variable"? In other words, should I write
Consider an r.v.
or
Consider a r.v.
Should the plural form be
r.v.'s
If not, then what?
I'd also appreciate a general rule not specific to this particular example.