# Homework Help: Random sums of rvs

1. Feb 10, 2012

### spitz

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

$Z=X_1+\ldots+X_N$, where:

$X_i\sim_{iid}\,\text{Exponential}(\lambda)$

$N\sim\,\text{Geometric}_1(p)$

For all $i,\,N$ and $X_i$ are independent.

Find the probability distribution of $Z$

2. Relevant equations

$$G_N(t)=\frac{(1-p)t}{1-pt}$$
$$M_X(t)=\frac{\lambda}{\lambda-t}$$

3. The attempt at a solution

$$M_Z(z)=G_N(M_X(z))=\frac{(1-p)\left(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda-z}\right)}{1-p\left(\frac{ \lambda}{\lambda-z}\right)}$$
$$Z\sim\,\text{Geometric}_1\left(p \frac{ \lambda}{\lambda-z}\right)$$

Is that even correct? Should I be looking for $E[Z]$ and $V[Z]$ ?

2. Feb 10, 2012

### Ray Vickson

Z is a continuous random variable, so does not have a discrete generating function M_Z(z). You should be looking at its MGF $M_Y(u) = E e^{u Y},$ or its Laplace transform $L_Y(s) = E e^{-s Y}.$ You almost had it right, but you switched the roles of the two types of transforms.

Another, perhaps more direct approach is to get the density $f_Y(t)$ of Y from
$$f_Y(t) dt = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} P\{N=n\} P\{ Y \in (t,t+dt) | N=n \},$$
and noting that given {N=n}, Y has an n-Erlang distribution.

RGV

3. Feb 11, 2012

### spitz

I'm still confused... this is what I was doing:
$$M_Z(z)=E(e^{zZ})=E[E(e^{zZ}|N)]=E[(Ee^{zX_1})(Ee^{zX_2})\ldots(Ee^{zX_N})]$$
$$=E[(Ee^{zX})^N]=E[(M_X(z))^N]=G_N(M_X(z))$$
Where am I going wrong? Should I be doing this:
$$M_Z(s)=M_X(G_N(s))$$

Last edited: Feb 11, 2012