Mean and varince of Log(X) Where X~U[1,0]

  • Thread starter Thread starter rosh300
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Mean
rosh300
Messages
16
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



find the mean and varince of Log(X) Where X~U[1,0] (X is continuous Random variable)

Homework Equations


\mathbb{E}(X) = \int_{-\infity}^{\infity}{x f_X(x)} dx

\mathbb{E}(X^2) = \int_{-\infity}^{\infity}{x^2 f_X(x)} dx

Var(X) = \mathbb{E}(X^2) - (\mathbb{E}(X))^2

The Attempt at a Solution


\mathbb{E}[log(x)] = \int_0^1{xlog(x)} = \frac{-1}{4}
\mathbb{E}[log(x)^2] = \int_0^1{x^2log(x)} = \frac{-1}{9}
Var(X) = \mathbb{E}[log(x)^2] - \mathbb{E}[log(x)]^2 = \frac{-25}{144}

but i know variance can't be negative
 
Physics news on Phys.org
you're right, variance can't be negative

not too sure what you've done, but i think you've assumed f_{log(X)}(log(X)=x) = log(x) which doesn't make any sense... in fact over the given domain log(X) is negative, which doesn't make sense for a pdf, and isn't normalised

So first, define the random variable Y, related to X by
Y = log(X)

you then need to find the probabilty distrubution g(y).dy. It can be related to the original f(x), by

g(y).dy = f(x).dx
where the dy & dx are related

once you have that
E[log(X)] = E[Y] = \int{g(y)}dy

and so on, note the lmits of the pdf of y, g(y) wll be realte to the orginal x values, but not necessarily the same
 
Last edited:
i think i get it now
let:f(x) = 1 \mbox{(the pdf for U[0,1]), }g(y) = e^y = x \Rightarrow \frac{dx}{dy} = e^y, f(g(y)) = 1

this gives you f_x(x) = \int_0^1{1 dx} = \int_{log(0)}^{log(1)}{e^y dy} = \int^0_{-\infty}e^y dy
get the pdf fo y from that and use the def/formula for mean and varaince.

it seems so simple thanks
 
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...
Back
Top