Chapter 26: Independent Continuous RVs

Meike Niederhausen and Nicky Wakim

2023-11-15

Learning Objectives

  1. Show that a joint pdf consists of two independent, continuous RVs.

  2. Combine two independent RVs into one joint pdf or CDF.

How do we represent independent continuous RVs in a joint pdf?

What do we know about independence for events and discrete RVs?

For events: If \(A \perp B\)

\[P(A \cap B) = P(A)P(B)\] \[P(A|B) = P(A)\]

For discrete RVs: If \(X \perp Y\) \[p_{X,Y}(x,y) = p_{X}(x)p_{Y}(y)\] \[F_{X,Y}(x,y) = F_{X}(x)F_{Y}(y)\] \[p_{X|Y}(x|y) = p_{X}(x)\] \[p_{Y|X}(y|x) = p_{Y}(y)\]

What does it mean for continuous r.v.’s to be independent?

For continuous RVs: If \(X \perp Y\)

Constructing a joint pdf from two independent, continuous RVs

Example 1.1

Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be independent r.v.’s with \(f_X(x)= \frac12\), for \(0 \leq x \leq 2\) and \(f_Y(y)= 3y^2\), for \(0 \leq y \leq 1\).

  1. Find \(f_{X,Y}(x,y)\).

Constructing a joint pdf from two independent, continuous RVs

Example 1.2

Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be independent r.v.’s with \(f_X(x)= \frac12\), for \(0 \leq x \leq 2\) and \(f_Y(y)= 3y^2\), for \(0 \leq y \leq 1\).

  1. Find \(\mathbb{P}(0 \leq X \leq 1, 0 \leq Y \leq \frac12)\).

Showing independence from joint pdf

Example 2.1

Let \(f_{X,Y}(x,y)= 18 x^2 y^5\), for \(0 \leq x \leq 1, \ 0 \leq y \leq 1\).

  1. Are \(X\) and \(Y\) independent?

Showing independence from joint pdf

Example 2.2

Let \(f_{X,Y}(x,y)= 18 x^2 y^5\), for \(0 \leq x \leq 1, \ 0 \leq y \leq 1\).

  1. Find \(F_{X,Y}(x,y)\).

Example

Do this problem at home for extra practice. The solution is available in Meike’s video!

Example 3

Let \(f_{X,Y}(x,y)= 2 e^{-(x+y)}\), for \(0 \leq x \leq y\). Are \(X\) and \(Y\) independent?

Final statement on independence

  1. If \(f_{X,Y}(x,y)= g(x)h(y)\), where \(g(x)\) and \(h(y)\) are pdf’s, then \(X\) and \(Y\) are independent.

    • The domain of the joint pdf needs to be independent as well!!

       

  1. If \(F_{X,Y}(x,y)= G(x)H(y)\), where \(G(x)\) and \(H(y)\) are cdf’s, then \(X\) and \(Y\) are independent.

    • The domain of the joint CDF needs to be independent as well!!