Chapter 9: Problem 18
Let \(X\) be a r.v. with mean \(\mu\) and variance \(\sigma^{2}\), both finite. Show
that
$$
P\\{\mu-d \sigma
Short Answer
Expert verified
Use Chebyshev's inequality to show \(P(\mu - d\sigma < X < \mu + d\sigma) \geq 1 - \frac{1}{d^2}\).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
We are asked to show that the probability of a random variable \(X\) being within \(d\) standard deviations of the mean \(\mu\) is at least \(1-\frac{1}{d^{2}}\). This is a result derived from Chebyshev's inequality.
02
Chebyshev's Inequality Statement
Recall Chebyshev's inequality which states that for any random variable \(X\) with mean \(\mu\) and variance \(\sigma^2\), the probability that \(X\) deviates from \(\mu\) by more than \(k\sigma\) is at most \(\frac{1}{k^2}\). That is: \[ P(|X - \mu| \geq k\sigma) \leq \frac{1}{k^2}. \]
03
Applying Chebyshev's Inequality
To find the probability that \(X\) is within \(d\) standard deviations of \(\mu\), we use the complement of Chebyshev's result: \[ P(|X - \mu| < d\sigma) = 1 - P(|X - \mu| \geq d\sigma) \geq 1 - \frac{1}{d^2}. \]
04
Rewriting the Probability
The probability \(P(|X - \mu| < d\sigma)\) can be expressed as \(P(\mu - d\sigma < X < \mu + d\sigma)\), which matches the given condition in the problem statement.
05
Conclusion
Thus, by applying Chebyshev’s inequality, we have shown that \[ P(\mu - d\sigma < X < \mu + d\sigma) \geq 1 - \frac{1}{d^2} \] for \(d > 1\), which concludes our solution. This confirms that \(X\) is within \(d\) standard deviations of the mean with at least the stated probability.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Random Variable
A random variable is a variable whose value depends on the outcome of a random event. It represents numerical outcomes as a result of probabilistic experiments. There are two main types of random variables: discrete and continuous.
- Discrete random variables take on a countable number of values. For instance, rolling a die can result in one of six outcomes.
- Continuous random variables can take on any value within a range. An example would be the exact time it takes for a computer to complete a task.
Mean and Variance
Mean and variance are two key statistical measures that describe different properties of a random variable. The mean, often represented by \(\mu\), is the average or expected value of a random variable. It provides a measure of the central tendency of the variable's probability distribution.
- The mean is calculated by taking the sum of all possible values of the random variable, each multiplied by its respective probability, for discrete cases.
- For continuous random variables, it is the integral of the variable multiplied by its probability density function.
- Variance provides insights into the variability within the data.
- A small variance indicates that the data points are close to the mean, while a large variance indicates more spread out data points.
Probability Distribution
A probability distribution describes how the values of a random variable are distributed. It provides a complete description of the likelihood of different outcomes. There are several types of probability distributions, each suited to different types of data.
- Discrete probability distributions, like the binomial distribution, are used for variables that take on a finite number of values.
- Continuous probability distributions, such as the normal distribution, apply to variables that can take on any value within a range.
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation is a statistical measure that quantifies the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values. It is the square root of the variance, denoted as \(\sigma\). Standard deviation is essential because it expressively illustrates how much the values in a data set deviate from the mean.
- A small standard deviation indicates that the data points are generally close to the mean.
- A large standard deviation suggests that there is a greater spread of data around the mean.