# Homework Help: Joint Probability functions (finding marginals)

1. May 3, 2010

### Ryuuzakie

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
$$f\left(x,y\right)=\left\{\begin{array}{cc}\frac{1}{y} ,&\mbox{ if } 0 \leq x \leq y, 0 \leq y \leq 1 \\ 0,&mbox{ otherwise } \end{array}\right.$$

Find the marginal distributions (pdf and cdf) of X and Y

Find Pr(X+Y>0.5)

2. Relevant equations
N/A

3. The attempt at a solution

Finding the marginal distribution of X, I get,

$$f_X(x) = \int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{y} dx$$
$$f_X(x) = ln \left(y\right)\right|_0^1$$

But ln (0) does not exist, and ln (1) = 0... so I'm thinking I'm doing this wrong.

Also, with the second part of the problem, I get:
$$Pr(X+Y \geq 0.5)=1- \left[0.5 ln \left(y\right) - y\right]_0^1$$

And as before, I'm stuck with an ln(0).. any assistance would be appreciated :)!

2. May 3, 2010

### lanedance

note that [itex] f_{X,Y}(x,y) [\itex] is only non-zero for the triangle given by x = 0, y= 1 & y=x

so you may need to rethink your integration limits...