Marginal PMG of of 2 random variables with Joint PMF

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around two random variables, X and Y, with a joint PMF defined as PXY(k,l) = 1/(2k+l) for k, l = 1, 2, 3, ... The participants demonstrate that X and Y are independent by showing that the joint PMF can be expressed as the product of their marginal PMFs. To find the marginal PMFs, they discuss summing the probabilities over all possible values of the other variable. The conversation also touches on the necessity of proving independence for all possible events, not just specific cases. The thread emphasizes the importance of understanding the definitions and calculations of marginal and joint PMFs in probability theory.
whitejac
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Homework Statement


Consider two random variables X and Y with joint PMF given by:
PXY(k,L) = 1/(2k+l), for k,l = 1,2,3,...

A) Show that X and Y are independent and find the marginal PMFs of X and Y
B) Find P(X2 + Y2 ≤ 10)

Homework Equations


P(A)∩P(B)/P(B) = P(A|B)
P(A|B) = P(A) if independent

The Attempt at a Solution


Choosing two arbitrary numbers to show P(A|B) = P(A)

P(x<2) ∩ P(y≤1) / P(y≤1)
=P(1,1) + P(1,2) + P(1,3)... + P(1, L) ∩ P(1,1) + P(1,2) + P(1,3)...+ P(k,1) / P(y≤1)
=P(1,1) / P(1,1) + P(1,2) + P(1,3)... + P(k,1)
Note: Geometric series
=(1/4) / (1/2)(1/2^k)
=(1/4) / (1/4)(1 / (1 - (1/2)))
=(1/4) / 2
= 1/2

P(A) = P(x<2) = P(1,L) =
=1/4 (1/2L)
=1/4 (1 / (1 - (1/2)))
=1/4 (2)
= 1/2

X and Y are independent.

How does one find the Marginal PMF of this equation then? The ones I've seen before in discrete sections were pre-made and finite... meaning that they were a table of results for X =1,2,3... and Y = 1,2,3... for the range of each. Should I be finding a summation for each value of X + Y?

I haven't considered part B yet.
 
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whitejac said:

Homework Statement


Consider two random variables X and Y with joint PMF given by:
PXY(k,L) = 1/(2k+l), for k,l = 1,2,3,...

A) Show that X and Y are independent and find the marginal PMFs of X and Y
B) Find P(X2 + Y2 ≤ 10)

Homework Equations


P(A)∩P(B)/P(B) = P(A|B)
P(A|B) = P(A) if independent

The Attempt at a Solution


Choosing two arbitrary numbers to show P(A|B) = P(A)

P(x<2) ∩ P(y≤1) / P(y≤1)
=P(1,1) + P(1,2) + P(1,3)... + P(1, L) ∩ P(1,1) + P(1,2) + P(1,3)...+ P(k,1) / P(y≤1)
=P(1,1) / P(1,1) + P(1,2) + P(1,3)... + P(k,1)
Note: Geometric series
=(1/4) / (1/2)(1/2^k)
=(1/4) / (1/4)(1 / (1 - (1/2)))
=(1/4) / 2
= 1/2

P(A) = P(x<2) = P(1,L) =
=1/4 (1/2L)
=1/4 (1 / (1 - (1/2)))
=1/4 (2)
= 1/2

X and Y are independent.

How does one find the Marginal PMF of this equation then? The ones I've seen before in discrete sections were pre-made and finite... meaning that they were a table of results for X =1,2,3... and Y = 1,2,3... for the range of each. Should I be finding a summation for each value of X + Y?

I haven't considered part B yet.

The marginal pmf of ##X## is ##P_X(k) = P(X = k) = P(X = k \: \& \; Y= \text{anything})##. Note that for ##l = 1,2,3 \ldots## the different events ##\{ X = k, Y = l \}## are disjoint (mutually exclusive), so the probability of ##\{ X = k \: \& \; Y \in \{ 1,2,3, \ldots \} \} ## is just the sum of their probabilities for different ##l##.
 
Ray Vickson said:
The marginal pmf of ##X## is ##P_X(k) = P(X = k) = P(X = k \: \& \; Y= \text{anything})##. Note that for ##l = 1,2,3 \ldots## the different events ##\{ X = k, Y = l \}## are disjoint (mutually exclusive), so the probability of ##\{ X = k \: \& \; Y \in \{ 1,2,3, \ldots \} \} ## is just the sum of their probabilities for different ##l##.
How does this differ from PXY, because that's what it sounds like. If the marginal pmf is P(X = k and Y equals anything), it sounds like I'm looking for PXY(k,l)
 
whitejac said:
How does this differ from PXY, because that's what it sounds like. If the marginal pmf is P(X = k and Y equals anything), it sounds like I'm looking for PXY(k,l)
Sorry, it differs by definition. PXY(K,L) = PX(K)PY(L) which, in this case, equals:
1 / (2K) * 1 / (2L).
 
whitejac said:
Sorry, it differs by definition. PXY(K,L) = PX(K)PY(L) which, in this case, equals:
1 / (2K) * 1 / (2L).

Right: and ##P_X(k) = \sum_{l=1}^{\infty} P_{XY}(k,l)##, etc.

By the way, the fact that ##P_{XY}(k,l) = P_X(k) P_Y(l)## is what makes ##X## and ##Y## independent. You did not convincingly show independence in your previous post, because you only showed a few examples of ##P(X \in A \; \& \; Y \in B) = P(X \in A) \, P(Y \in B)## for one or two special cases of ##A## and ##B##. To prove independence, you need to establish this for all possible choices of ##A## and ##B##.
 
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