Chapter 12: Problem 6
Find the expected value and variance for each random variable whose probability density function is given. When computing the variance, use formula (5). \(f(x)=\frac{3}{2} x-\frac{3}{4} x^{2}, 0 \leq x \leq 2\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
Expected value is 1 and the variance is 0.
Step by step solution
01
- Verify the Probability Density Function (PDF)
Ensure the given function is a valid probability density function. Integrate the PDF over the possible values of the random variable and ensure it equals 1: \[\int_{0}^{2} \left( \frac{3}{2} x - \frac{3}{4} x^2 \right) dx = 1\]
02
- Integrate the PDF
Compute the integral of the PDF to ensure it equals 1: \[\int_{0}^{2} \left( \frac{3}{2} x - \frac{3}{4} x^2 \right) dx = \left[ \frac{3}{4} x^2 - \frac{1}{4} x^3 \right]_{0}^{2} = \left( \frac{3}{4} \cdot 4 - \frac{1}{4} \cdot 8 \right) = 1\]
03
- Calculate the Expected Value
Determine the expected value (mean) by integrating \(x\) times the PDF over the possible values of the random variable: \[E(X) = \int_{0}^{2} x \left( \frac{3}{2} x - \frac{3}{4} x^2 \right) dx\]Compute the integral: \[E(X) = \int_{0}^{2} \left( \frac{3}{2} x^2 - \frac{3}{4} x^3 \right) dx = \left[ \frac{1}{2} x^3 - \frac{3}{16} x^4 \right]_{0}^{2} = \left( 4 - 3 = 1 \right)\]
04
- Calculate the Expected Value of \(X^2\)
Determine \(E(X^2)\) by integrating \(x^2\) times the PDF over the possible values of the random variable: \[E(X^2) = \int_{0}^{2} x^2 \left( \frac{3}{2} x - \frac{3}{4} x^2 \right) dx\]Compute the integral: \[E(X^2) = \int_{0}^{2} \left( \frac{3}{2} x^3 - \frac{3}{4} x^4 \right) dx = \left[ \frac{3}{8} x^4 - \frac{1}{4} x^5 \right]_{0}^{2} = 3 - 2 = 1\]
05
- Calculate the Variance
Use the formula for variance: \[Var(X) = E(X^2) - (E(X))^2\]Insert the previously calculated values: \[Var(X) = 1 - (1)^2 = 0\]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Probability Density Function
The probability density function (PDF) is a key concept in statistics and probability. It describes the likelihood of a continuous random variable taking on a particular value. For a function to qualify as a valid PDF, it must meet two criteria:
- The function must be non-negative across its entire range.
- The total area under the function, when integrated over all possible values, must equal 1.
Expected Value
The expected value, or mean, of a random variable provides a measure of the 'central' value of a probability distribution. It's like the weighted average of all possible values that the random variable can take on, weighted by their probabilities. To calculate the expected value of a continuous random variable with a given PDF, we use the integral: \[ E(X) = \int_{a}^{b} x f(x) dx \] In the step-by-step solution, we determined the expected value by integrating the product of \(x\) and the PDF over the range from 0 to 2. The calculation yielded \( E(X) = 1 \), indicating that the mean value of the random variable is 1.
Variance
Variance measures the dispersion or spread of a set of values around their mean. It gives us an idea of how much the values deviate from the expected value. For a continuous random variable, the variance is calculated using the formula: \[ Var(X) = E(X^2) - (E(X))^2 \] Here, \( E(X^2) \) is the expected value of the square of the random variable. In our solution, we first computed \( E(X^2) \), then used the variance formula to find: \[ Var(X) = 1 - 1^2 = 0 \] This result tells us that there is no spread around the mean, indicating that all possible values of the random variable are concentrated at the mean value.
Integration
Integration is a fundamental concept in calculus, crucial for calculating quantities like area, volume, and in this case, probabilities and expected values. When calculating the integral of a function over a specific interval, you essentially sum up an infinite number of infinitesimally small quantities. In probability, we use integration to:
- Verify that a PDF sums to 1 over its interval.
- Calculate expected values and higher moments like \( E(X^2) \).
Random Variable
A random variable is a variable whose values depend on the outcomes of a random phenomenon. There are two main types of random variables:
- Discrete Random Variables: These take on a countable number of values (e.g., the roll of a dice).
- Continuous Random Variables: These take on an uncountable range of values, often over an interval (e.g., the temperature on a given day).