Random variable conv. in prob. to c. How to find c?

SithsNGiggles
Messages
183
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Let ##Y_1,...Y_n## be independent standard normal random variables.

What is the distribution of ##\displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^n{Y_i}^2## ?

Let ##W_n=\displaystyle\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^n {Y_i}^2##. Does ##W_n\xrightarrow{p}c## for some constant ##c##? If so, what is the value of ##c##?

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution



In response to the first question, I say that ##W_n## has a Chi Square distribution with ##n## degrees of freedom.

For the second, I use a theorem stated in my book that says if ##\text{Var}(\hat{\theta}_n)\to 0##, then ##\hat{\theta}_n\xrightarrow{p}\theta##.

I have that ##\text{Var}(W_n)=\dfrac{1}{n^2}\text{Var}\left(\displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^n {Y_i}^2\right)=\dfrac{2n}{n^2}=\dfrac{2}{n}##, which approaches ##0## as ##n\to\infty##. Thus ##W_n## indeed converges in probability to ##c##.

The problem I'm having now is with finding the value of ##c##. There don't appear to be any examples in my text that describe the process to finding the limiting probability (if that's the right term). Any help is appreciated
 
Physics news on Phys.org
SithsNGiggles said:

Homework Statement



Let ##Y_1,...Y_n## be independent standard normal random variables.

What is the distribution of ##\displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^n{Y_i}^2## ?

Let ##W_n=\displaystyle\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^n {Y_i}^2##. Does ##W_n\xrightarrow{p}c## for some constant ##c##? If so, what is the value of ##c##?

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution



In response to the first question, I say that ##W_n## has a Chi Square distribution with ##n## degrees of freedom.

For the second, I use a theorem stated in my book that says if ##\text{Var}(\hat{\theta}_n)\to 0##, then ##\hat{\theta}_n\xrightarrow{p}\theta##.

I have that ##\text{Var}(W_n)=\dfrac{1}{n^2}\text{Var}\left(\displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^n {Y_i}^2\right)=\dfrac{2n}{n^2}=\dfrac{2}{n}##, which approaches ##0## as ##n\to\infty##. Thus ##W_n## indeed converges in probability to ##c##.

The problem I'm having now is with finding the value of ##c##. There don't appear to be any examples in my text that describe the process to finding the limiting probability (if that's the right term). Any help is appreciated

What is ##E(W_n)##?
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
Judging by ##W_n##'s distribution, that would be ##n##. Does that mean ##c=n##, and if so, is that always the case (that the mean is the constant I'm supposed to find)?
 
SithsNGiggles said:
Judging by ##W_n##'s distribution, that would be ##n##. Does that mean ##c=n##, and if so, is that always the case (that the mean is the constant I'm supposed to find)?
No, E(Wn) is not n.
 
haruspex said:
No, E(Wn) is not n.

Oh right, I forgot that ##W_n=\frac{1}{n}\sum\cdots##. Thanks! I meant to say ##E(W_n)=1##.
 
SithsNGiggles said:
Oh right, I forgot that ##W_n=\frac{1}{n}\sum\cdots##. Thanks! I meant to say ##E(W_n)=1##.
Right - so all done here?
 
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