Is My Probability Mass Function Correct Given the MGF?

Tomp
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
Question
A moment-generating function of X is given by M(t) = 0.3e^t + 0.4e^(2t) + 0.2e^(3t) + 0.1e^(5t)

Find the pmf of X

My attempt
x f(x)
1 0.3
2 0.4
3 0.2
4 0
5 0.1

I am just wondering whether it is correct to say "0" for 4 or is it more correct to say

x f(x)
1 0.3
2 0.4
3 0.2
5 0.1

or is either acceptable
 
on Phys.org
I would prefer to see the second form.
 
I, on the other hand, prefer the first. I think if I were to look at the second I would wonder whether or not the "5" was a typo and "4" was meant. The first form makes it clear.

(Though my "inner typesetter" would prefer "4 0.0"!)
 
Typesetting preferences :)

HallsofIvy said:
I, on the other hand, prefer the first. I think if I were to look at the second I would wonder whether or not the "5" was a typo and "4" was meant. The first form makes it clear.

(Though my "inner typesetter" would prefer "4 0.0"!)

Understandable. My thought process was simple: in a small discrete distribution, if some integer value has probability zero, don't bother including it in a summary table.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K