Chapter 4: Problem 35
If \(Y\) is a continuous random variable such that \(E\left[(Y-a)^{2}\right]<\infty\) for all \(a,\) show that \(E\left[(Y-a)^{2}\right]\) is minimized when \(a=E(Y) .[\) Hint: \(\left.E\left[(Y-a)^{2}\right]=E\left(\\{[Y-E(Y)]+[E(Y)-a]\\}^{2}\right) .\right]\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The expression is minimized when \(a = E(Y)\).
Step by step solution
01
Express the variance formula
Using the hint, we rewrite the expression for mean squared error: \[ E[(Y-a)^2] = E\left(\{[Y-E(Y)]+[E(Y)-a]\}^{2}\right) \] This expands to: \[ E[(Y-a)^2] = E\left( (Y - E(Y))^2 + 2(Y-E(Y))(E(Y)-a) + (E(Y)-a)^2 \right) \]
02
Simplify using linearity of expectation
Due to the linearity of expectation, we can distribute the expectation operator: \[ E[(Y-a)^2] = E[(Y-E(Y))^2] + 2E\left((Y-E(Y))(E(Y)-a)\right) + E[(E(Y)-a)^2] \] Now we examine each term separately.
03
Evaluate the terms
1. **First term:** \[ E[(Y-E(Y))^2] = \text{Var}(Y) \] which is a constant.2. **Second term:** \[ 2(E(Y)-a)E[(Y-E(Y))] = 2(E(Y)-a)\cdot0 = 0 \] because \(E[Y-E(Y)] = 0\).3. **Third term:** \[ E[(E(Y)-a)^2] = (E(Y)-a)^2 \] as it does not depend on \(Y\) and is treated as a constant.
04
Finalize the expression and find the minimum
Putting it all together:\[ E[(Y-a)^2] = \text{Var}(Y) + 0 + (E(Y)-a)^2 \]Since \(\text{Var}(Y)\) is a constant, the expression is minimized when \( (E(Y)-a)^2 = 0 \), i.e., \( a = E(Y) \).
05
Conclusion
Thus, the value of \(a\) that minimizes \(E[(Y-a)^2]\) is indeed \(a = E(Y)\), as the proof confirms.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Mean Squared Error
Mean squared error (MSE) is a fundamental concept that often shows up in statistics and data analysis. MSE measures how much the values of a variable deviate from a chosen target or expected value, represented by \( a \).
To understand MSE, consider the formula \( E[(Y-a)^2] \). Here, \( Y \) is a continuous random variable, and \( a \) is a constant we are trying to adjust for minimum error. Essentially, MSE is about finding the average of the squared differences between actual values \( Y \) and the constant \( a \).
The squaring part serves two purposes:
To understand MSE, consider the formula \( E[(Y-a)^2] \). Here, \( Y \) is a continuous random variable, and \( a \) is a constant we are trying to adjust for minimum error. Essentially, MSE is about finding the average of the squared differences between actual values \( Y \) and the constant \( a \).
The squaring part serves two purposes:
- It transforms all deviations to non-negative values, eliminating issues with negative differences.
- It places greater emphasis on larger deviations, making it a more sensitive measure of error.
Linearity of Expectation
Linearity of expectation is a crucial rule in probability and statistics useful in simplifying complex expectation expressions.
This principle states that the expected value of a sum of random variables is the same as the sum of their individual expected values. Formally, it can be written as: \( E[X + Y] = E[X] + E[Y] \), regardless of whether \( X \) and \( Y \) are independent.
In the solution, linearity of expectation helps break down the expression:
This principle states that the expected value of a sum of random variables is the same as the sum of their individual expected values. Formally, it can be written as: \( E[X + Y] = E[X] + E[Y] \), regardless of whether \( X \) and \( Y \) are independent.
In the solution, linearity of expectation helps break down the expression:
- \( E[(Y-a)^2] = E[(Y-E(Y))^2] + 2E[(Y-E(Y))(E(Y)-a)] + E[(E(Y)-a)^2] \).
- Each component can be evaluated separately using this property.
Variance
Variance is another statistical measure, closely related to mean squared error, that quantifies the spread or variability of a set of data points.
The variance of a random variable \( Y \), denoted as \( \text{Var}(Y) \), is calculated using the formula \( E[(Y - E(Y))^2] \). This aligns directly with the first term in our expression \( E[(Y-a)^2] \).
Variance tells us how much the values of \( Y \) are expected to spread around their mean \( E(Y) \). When \( E[(Y-a)^2] \) is rewritten using variance, it highlights that:
The variance of a random variable \( Y \), denoted as \( \text{Var}(Y) \), is calculated using the formula \( E[(Y - E(Y))^2] \). This aligns directly with the first term in our expression \( E[(Y-a)^2] \).
Variance tells us how much the values of \( Y \) are expected to spread around their mean \( E(Y) \). When \( E[(Y-a)^2] \) is rewritten using variance, it highlights that:
- The portion related to variance \( \text{Var}(Y) \) remains constant because it does not depend on \( a \).
- The other terms are influenced solely by the choice of \( a \).
Minimization Problem
The minimization problem in this context involves determining the value of \( a \) that will minimize \( E[(Y-a)^2] \). This type of problem is central in optimization and statistical estimation tasks.
By setting the derivative of \( E[(Y-a)^2] \) with respect to \( a \) to zero, we identify that the minimum is achieved when \( a = E(Y) \). This is because:
By setting the derivative of \( E[(Y-a)^2] \) with respect to \( a \) to zero, we identify that the minimum is achieved when \( a = E(Y) \). This is because:
- The expression \( (E(Y)-a)^2 \) achieves its lowest value, zero, when \( a = E(Y) \).
- Consequently, \( E[(Y-a)^2] = \text{Var}(Y) + (E(Y)-a)^2 \) is minimized.