# Adding two distributions with same moment generating function

## Homework Statement

I wanted to know what the result would be if you added two distributions with the same moment generating function.

For example, what would the result be of:

Mx(t) + My(t) if Mx(t) = (1/3 + 2/3et) and My(t) = (1/3 + 2/3et)

## The Attempt at a Solution

Would the solution be (1/3 + 2/3et)2?

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LCKurtz
Homework Helper
Gold Member

## Homework Statement

I wanted to know what the result would be if you added two distributions with the same moment generating function.

For example, what would the result be of:

Mx(t) + My(t) if Mx(t) = (1/3 + 2/3et) and My(t) = (1/3 + 2/3et)

## The Attempt at a Solution

Would the solution be (1/3 + 2/3et)2?
No. Denoting the mgf of X by $M_X(t)$ we have the relationship
$$M_{a+bX}(t) = E(e^{t(a+bX)}) = E(e^{at}e^{btX})=e^{at}E(e^{btX}) =e^{at}M_X(bt)$$

You are asking about the mgf of X + X = 2X. So using the above with a = 0 and b = 2 gives $M_{2X}(t) = M_X(2t)$.

Ray Vickson
Homework Helper
Dearly Missed

## Homework Statement

I wanted to know what the result would be if you added two distributions with the same moment generating function.

For example, what would the result be of:

Mx(t) + My(t) if Mx(t) = (1/3 + 2/3et) and My(t) = (1/3 + 2/3et)

## The Attempt at a Solution

Would the solution be (1/3 + 2/3et)2?
There is a difference between adding distributions (or mgf's) and adding random variables. Which do you mean? If you want to find the MGF of X+Y, and assuming X,Y are independent, you get (1/3 + 2/3*exp(t))^2. If you want to find the MGF of the sum of the distributions of X and Y, you get 2*(1/3 + 2/3*exp(t)), but this thing does not really have much meaning.

RGV