Help Solving Var(ax^2 - x): Negative Answer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter somecelxis
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Negative
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the variance of the expression Var(ax^2 - x), specifically focusing on part iii) of the problem. The original poster expresses confusion regarding their calculations, noting that their result appears negative, which they believe is incorrect.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of expected values E(X) and E(X^2) and how they relate to variance. There are inquiries about the meaning of variables in the probability density function (pdf) and the methods used to derive these expected values.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided their own calculations and results, indicating a shared exploration of the problem. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or outcome, but guidance on using integration for expected values has been mentioned.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the use of a piecewise function for the probability density function and the challenges of sharing mathematical expressions in the forum format. The original poster's calculations involve specific values derived from integration, which may be a point of contention in the accuracy of their variance result.

somecelxis
Messages
121
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Var(ax^2 - x )
can anyone please help me with part iii) ? i know that VAR (x) = E(X^2)- ( E(X) )^2 ... But I get my E(B^2) = 6875/4 , whereas my E(B) = 5125/12 , where my B= 3X^2 - X, i take E(B^2)- ( E(B) )^2, MY ANS IS NEGATIVE . WHICH IS WRONG! i have attached my working in the photo .

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 

Attachments

  • DSC_0082.jpg
    DSC_0082.jpg
    26.5 KB · Views: 458
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
What is h in the pdf?
How do you get E(x) and Var(x)? ehild
 
somecelxis said:

Homework Statement



Var(ax^2 - x )
can anyone please help me with part iii) ? i know that VAR (x) = E(X^2)- ( E(X) )^2 ... But I get my E(B^2) = 6875/4 , whereas my E(B) = 5125/12 , where my B= 3X^2 - X, i take E(B^2)- ( E(B) )^2, MY ANS IS NEGATIVE . WHICH IS WRONG! i have attached my working in the photo .

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



You are doing it again---posting a thumbnail instead of typing out your question. I cannot read that thumbnail now. When will you ever learn? Please read the thread on "advice for posters" at the very beginning of this Forum.
 
Ray Vickson said:
You are doing it again---posting a thumbnail instead of typing out your question. I cannot read that thumbnail now. When will you ever learn? Please read the thread on "advice for posters" at the very beginning of this Forum.

sorry. i can only post the thumbnail for this type of question. i really don't know to type the f(t) in 2 row using normal input method.
 
somecelxis said:
sorry. i can only post the thumbnail for this type of question. i really don't know to type the f(t) in 2 row using normal input method.

Now I am on a medium allowing me to read the thumbnail. However, I cannot write a reply and refer back to the thumbnail sumultaneously; I either have to be reading your posted picture (in non-reply mode) or else replying; I cannot do both. So, I cannot give your precise function here, but if I recall correctly you have a density function in piecewise form:
f(x) = \begin{cases} f_1(x), &amp; x \leq a\\<br /> f_2(x), &amp; a &lt; x \leq b<br /> \end{cases}
If you don't like to use LaTeX (which, BTW, is easy and works wonderfully) you can do it in plain text like this: f(x) = f1(x) if x <= a, and fx) = f2(x) if a < x <= b. It probably takes less time to actually type it out than to photograph it, convert the output, upload it and then attach it to a message.

To see how the above is typed in LaTeX, just right-click on the expression and choose "show math as as TeX commands". The whole expression is started with "[t e x]" (no spaces) and ended by "[/t e x]" (no spaces).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
Ray Vickson said:
Now I am on a medium allowing me to read the thumbnail. However, I cannot write a reply and refer back to the thumbnail sumultaneously; I either have to be reading your posted picture (in non-reply mode) or else replying; I cannot do both. So, I cannot give your precise function here, but if I recall correctly you have a density function in piecewise form:
f(x) = \begin{cases} f_1(x), &amp; x \leq a\\<br /> f_2(x), &amp; a &lt; x \leq b<br /> \end{cases}
If you don't like to use LaTeX (which, BTW, is easy and works wonderfully) you can do it in plain text like this: f(x) = f1(x) if x <= a, and fx) = f2(x) if a < x <= b. It probably takes less time to actually type it out than to photograph it, convert the output, upload it and then attach it to a message.

To see how the above is typed in LaTeX, just right-click on the expression and choose "show math as as TeX commands". The whole expression is started with "[t e x]" (no spaces) and ended by "[/t e x]" (no spaces).


$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathrm{Var}\,\left( 3X^2 - X \right) &= \mathrm{E}\,\left[ \left( 3X^2 - X \right) ^2 \right] - \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( 3X^2 - X \right) \right] ^2 \\ &= \mathrm{E}\,\left( 9X^4 - 6X^3 + X^2 \right) - \left[ 3\, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) - \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) \right] ^2 \\ &= 9\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^4 \right) - 6\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^3 \right) + \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) - \left\{ 9 \, \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \right] ^2 - 6 \, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \, \mathrm{E}\, \left( X \right) + \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) \right] ^2 \right\} \\ &= 9\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^4 \right) - 6\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^3 \right) + \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) - 9 \, \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \right] ^2 + 6 \, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) - \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) \right] ^2 \end{align*}$

my E(X^4) = integration of hx^ 4 from 0 to 5 , where h = 0.2 , so my E(X^4) = 125
by using the same method , i find E(X^3 ) , E(X^3)= integration of hx^ 3 from 0 to 5 , so my E(X^3)=125/4

by substituiting E(X^4) = 125 , E(X^3)=125/4 , E(X^2)=25/3 , E(X) = 5/2 , my ans if VAR(3X^2 - X) = 5275/12 , but the ans form book is 6025/12 . What's wrong with my working?
 
ehild said:
What is h in the pdf?
How do you get E(x) and Var(x)?


ehild

h = 0.2
 
somecelxis said:
$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathrm{Var}\,\left( 3X^2 - X \right) &= \mathrm{E}\,\left[ \left( 3X^2 - X \right) ^2 \right] - \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( 3X^2 - X \right) \right] ^2 \\ &= \mathrm{E}\,\left( 9X^4 - 6X^3 + X^2 \right) - \left[ 3\, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) - \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) \right] ^2 \\ &= 9\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^4 \right) - 6\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^3 \right) + \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) - \left\{ 9 \, \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \right] ^2 - 6 \, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \, \mathrm{E}\, \left( X \right) + \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) \right] ^2 \right\} \\ &= 9\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^4 \right) - 6\,\mathrm{E}\,\left( X^3 \right) + \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) - 9 \, \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \right] ^2 + 6 \, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X^2 \right) \, \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) - \left[ \mathrm{E}\,\left( X \right) \right] ^2 \end{align*}$

my E(X^4) = integration of hx^ 4 from 0 to 5 , where h = 0.2 , so my E(X^4) = 125
by using the same method , i find E(X^3 ) , E(X^3)= integration of hx^ 3 from 0 to 5 , so my E(X^3)=125/4

by substituiting E(X^4) = 125 , E(X^3)=125/4 , E(X^2)=25/3 , E(X) = 5/2 , my ans if VAR(3X^2 - X) = 5275/12 , but the ans form book is 6025/12 . What's wrong with my working?

I get your answer of 5275/12. Here is how I (or, rather, Maple) did it:
y:=3*x^2-x;
2
y := 3 x - x
Ey:=1/5*int(y,x=0..5);
Ey := 45/2
Ey2:=1/5*int(y^2,x=0..5);
Ey2 := 5675/6
Vy:=Ey2-(Ey)^2;
Vy := 5275/12

Note: rather than splitting things up, you can do it directly:
E(3 X^2-X)^2 = \frac{1}{5} \int_0^5 (3 x^2-x)^2 \, dx = 5675/12
Thus uses the so-called "Law of the Unconscious Statistician", which says that
E h(X) = \int f_X(x) h(x) \, dx
See, eg., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_unconscious_statistician .
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
2K