Did I correctly find the probability density function?

r19ecua
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Homework Statement


A random variable x has a probability density function given by

fX(x) = e-x , x ≥ 0

and an independent random variable Y has a probability density function of

fY(y) = ey , y ≤ 0

using the characterisic functions, find the probability density function of Z = X + Y

Homework Equations



\PhiX(\omega) = E[ejωx] = ∫fX(x)ejωxdx

\PhiZ(ω) = \PhiX(\omega) * \PhiY(\omega)

fZ(z) = 1/ (2\pi) ∫ \PhiZ(ω) * e-jωz

the integrals within section 2 are from negative infinity to positive infinity . . .
also it's 1 over 2 pi . . didn't know how to make that into a fraction :confused:

The Attempt at a Solution



My attempt was scanned and uploaded via photobucket.. here's the scan!
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/r19ecua/scan0356.jpg

I'm wondering if Cauchy's was a good way to handle this..
 
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r19ecua said:

Homework Statement


A random variable x has a probability density function given by

fX(x) = e-x , x ≥ 0

and an independent random variable Y has a probability density function of

fY(y) = ey , y ≤ 0

using the characterisic functions, find the probability density function of Z = X + Y

Homework Equations



\PhiX(\omega) = E[ejωx] = ∫fX(x)ejωxdx

\PhiZ(ω) = \PhiX(\omega) * \PhiY(\omega)

fZ(z) = 1/ (2\pi) ∫ \PhiZ(ω) * e-jωz

the integrals within section 2 are from negative infinity to positive infinity . . .
also it's 1 over 2 pi . . didn't know how to make that into a fraction :confused:

The Attempt at a Solution



My attempt was scanned and uploaded via photobucket.. here's the scan!
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/r19ecua/scan0356.jpg

I'm wondering if Cauchy's was a good way to handle this..

Since ##Z## is a real-valued random variable its pdf ##f_Z(z)## cannot be complex for real ##z .## So your solution is incorrect.
 
I just realized that I did not replace the 1's with j's which led to my grand error! The j's are meant to cancel.. my answer should be:

ez / 2 .. .. Is that correct?
 
r19ecua said:
I just realized that I did not replace the 1's with j's which led to my grand error! The j's are meant to cancel.. my answer should be:

ez / 2 .. .. Is that correct?

No, obviously not. Does e^z have a finite integral when you integrate z from -∞ to +∞?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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