Sum/differences of two normal variables

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the mean and variance of the expression Bt+s + Bt+s - Bs - Bs, where Bt+s ~ N(0, t+s) and Bs ~ N(0, s). The mean is established as 0, while the variance is derived using properties of independent normal distributions. The final variance is confirmed to be 2t + 4s, as the negative sign in front of Bs does not affect the variance calculation, allowing for the summation of variances directly.

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Homework Statement



I have Bt+s ~ N (0, t+s) and Bs ~ N(0,s).
I want to find the mean and variance of Bt+s + Bt+s - Bs - Bs.

Homework Equations



(i) I know that the sum of independent normals is again normal with mean = sum of means and variance = sum of variances.

(ii) I also know that cX ~ N(cμ, c2σ2)

The Attempt at a Solution



Obviously the mean is easy to calculate since it is 0 all round, but I'm having problems with the variance.

If I wanted to find distribution of:
Bt+s + Bt+s it would be ~N(0,t+s+t+s)
No issues here

But now since I have a negative infront of the Bs, how will that come into effect? Notice how property (i) above is regarding the sum of independent normals, what about the difference between two independent normals?

Do I change -Bs (by property (ii) above) so that it has a distribution ~ N ((-1)0, (-1)2(s))

Does this change the negative out the front of Bs to a positive?

i.e, -Bs ~ N (0, s) and then sum the variances so that:

Bt+s + Bt+s - Bs - Bs ~ N (0, (t+s)+(t+s)+(s)+(s))

i.e. Bt+s + Bt+s - Bs - Bs ~ N (0, 2t+4s)?

hope it all makes sense
 
Last edited:
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If [itex]X[/itex] is [itex]n(\mu, \sigma^2)[/itex]

then [itex]aX[/itex] is [itex]n(a\mu, a^2 \sigma^2)[/itex]

If [itex]X, Y[/itex] are independent, then

[tex] \sigma^2_{aX+bY} = a^2 \sigma^2_X + b^2\sigma^2_Y[/tex]

and both of these hold regardless of the sign of [itex]a[/itex] and [itex]b[/itex].
 

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