Probability Density Functions

In summary: Again, since X is chosen at random between 0 and 1, this probability is just the value itself. So we can rewrite it as w for 0 < or = w < or = (1 / 4).Taking the derivative to find the PDF, we get 1 for 0 < w < (1 / 4). However, since W can only take on values from 0 to (1 / 4), the PDF is 0 for w > (1 / 4). Therefore, the final PDF of W is:f(w) = 1 for 0 < w < (1 / 4) and 0 otherwise.In summary
  • #1
Fuquan22
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Homework Statement


The number X is chosen at random between 0 and 1. Determine the probability density function of each of the random variables v=X/(1-X) and W=X(1-x).


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


The solution in the back of the book says "The random Variable V satisfies P(V< or = v) = P(X< or = v/(1+v)) = v/(1+v) for v > or = 0. Its density function is equal to 1/((1+v)^2) for v>0 and 0 otherwise. The random variable W satisfies P(W < or = w) = 1-sqrt(1-4w) for 0< or = w< or = (1/4) and its density function is equal to 2(1-4w)^(-1/2) for 0<w<(1/4) and 0 otherwise. Can someone walk me through the steps to get to this solution?
 
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First, let's define the random variables v and W mathematically:

v = X / (1 - X)
W = X (1 - X)

To find the probability density function (PDF) of v, we need to find the probability that v takes on a certain value. This can be written as P(v < or = x) where x is the value that v takes on.

Using the definition of v, we can rewrite this as P(X / (1 - X) < or = x). This can be further simplified to P(X < or = x(1 + v)).

Since X is chosen at random between 0 and 1, we know that the probability of it being less than or equal to a certain value is just that value. So we can rewrite the above expression as x(1 + v) for 0 < or = x(1 + v) < or = 1.

Now, we can solve for v in terms of x and write it as v = x / (1 - x). This is the same as our original definition of v, so we can substitute it in to get P(v < or = x) = x / (1 + x) for 0 < or = x < or = 1.

This is the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of v. To find the PDF, we can take the derivative of this with respect to x. This gives us 1 / (1 + x)^2 for 0 < or = x < or = 1.

However, the probability of v taking on a negative value is 0, so the PDF is 0 for v < 0. Therefore, the final PDF of v is:

f(v) = 1 / (1 + v)^2 for v > 0 and 0 otherwise.

To find the CDF and PDF of W, we can use a similar approach. First, we write the CDF as P(W < or = w) = P(X(1 - X) < or = w). This can be rewritten as P(X < or = (1 + sqrt(1 - 4w)) / 2) since X is positive and less than 1.

We can now solve for w in terms of X and write it as w = (1 - X)^2 / 4. Substituting this in gives us P(W < or = w) = P(X < or
 

What is a probability density function?

A probability density function (PDF) is a mathematical function that describes the likelihood of a continuous random variable falling within a particular range of values. It is used to represent the distribution of the values of a random variable.

How is a probability density function different from a probability distribution function?

A probability density function gives the probability of a continuous random variable falling within a specific range of values, while a probability distribution function gives the probability of a discrete random variable taking on a specific value.

What is the area under a probability density function curve?

The area under a probability density function curve represents the total probability of all possible outcomes. It must always equal 1, as the probability of some outcome occurring is certain.

What is the relationship between a probability density function and a cumulative distribution function?

A cumulative distribution function (CDF) is the integral of a probability density function. It represents the probability that a random variable will take on a value less than or equal to a given value. In other words, the CDF is the accumulation of the probabilities given by the PDF.

How are probability density functions used in statistics and data analysis?

Probability density functions are used to model and analyze data in various fields, including statistics, economics, physics, and engineering. They are used to make predictions, estimate probabilities, and understand the likelihood of certain outcomes. They also play a crucial role in hypothesis testing and statistical inference.

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