Functions of Random Variables
Functions of One Random Variable
Functions of Two Random Variables
The Moment Generating Function
Introduction
The main purpose of this chapter: Introducing methods
for finding the distribution of a function of the random
variable(s).
Suppose we are given a random variable X with density f X (x) . We apply a
function g to produce a random variable Y = g(X). We can think of X as the
input to a black box and Y the output. We wish to find the density or
distribution function of Y.
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Methods for finding distribution of function of one or
more random variables:
Distribution Function Technique
Transformation Technique
Moment Generating Function Technique
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Distribution Function Technique
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One Function of Two Random
Variables
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Transformation Technique: One Variable
The case of a continuous random variable
Definition (Change-of-Variable Technique)
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If the possible values of X are c1< x <c2, then the
possible values of Y are u(c1)< y <u(c2).
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Example
Let Y aX b. Determine the pdf of Y if X is a uniform random variable over (0,1)
The range is found as follows:
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The case of a Discrete random variable
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