Questions tagged [moment-generating-function]
A description of a probability distribution which is related to the Laplace transform. Use also for its logarithm, the cumulant generating function.
287 questions
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Statistics – Linear Inference – What is the moment generating function of non-central t-distribution?
Non-central t-distribution, mgf.
What is the moment generating function of non-central t-distribution?
3
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Theoretical Applications of Combinants in Probability
I've recently come across the concept of combinants while reading about probability theory. The Wikipedia article on combinants provides a basic overview but doesn't go into much any detail about how ...
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Beta Distribution and the Moment Problem (citation needed)
As I understand it, the Beta Distribution is uniquely defined in terms of its moments (i.e. the Moment Problem has a unique solution on the values of its moments). The Wikipedia article of the Beta ...
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0
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On the finiteness of moments of a distribution
Consider a continuous random variable $X\equiv\log(Y)$. Assume that
$$
E(\exp(\alpha X))< \infty \quad \text{ for some $\alpha>0$}
$$
I would like to understand what does this assumption imply ...
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1
answer
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Proving that mgf determines distribution via Laplace transform
I am reading this question and the answer provided there about the moment generating function (mgf) and how its uniqueness can be proved via the uniqueness of Laplace transforms. In my book, Measure ...
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what is the formula for calculation of fourth raw moment (or central moment) from variance and 3rd central moment (or raw moment)?
Basically the title. I can't seem to find any solution for this.
I have the mean, variance or the second central moment and third central moment and third raw moment. I need to find the fourth raw ...
2
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2
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How to find probability from $E[X^n]$?
It is given that $E[X^n] = \frac{2}{5}(-1)^n + \frac{2^{n+1}}{5}+\frac{1}{5}$, where $n=1,2,3,\ldots.$
I need to find $P(|X-\frac{1}{2}| > 1)$.
What my approach is :
I have opened the modulus ...
8
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3
answers
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How do I compute a probability from the MGF?
I have a random variable $X$ with moment generating function:
$$m_X(t) = \frac{2}{9} + \frac{e^{-t}}{9} + \frac{e^{-2t}}{9} + \frac{2e^{t}}{9} + \frac{e^{2t}}{3}.$$
I want to find the probability $\...
3
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1
answer
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Zero variance but non-zero skewness
I was thinking of a hypothetical distribution where the mean(first cumulant) is non-zero, second cumulant(variance) is zero, and the third cumulant(skewness) is non-zero. The higher order cumulants ...
8
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How can we efficiently find the fourth moment of a Poisson distribution?
Suppose we have $X\sim \textrm{Poisson}(\lambda)$ and we know that moment generating function $M(t)=\mathbb{E}(e^{tX})$. How do we use the moment generating function property $M^k(0)=\mathbb{E}(X^k)$ ...
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Find PDF from approximated MGF
I have an array of values of MGF (it is evaluated at some points).
The plot of it is shown (blue curve): .
Is it possible to find PDF knowing MGF in such form?
I tried to fit MGF with some curve (you ...
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1
answer
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MGF of "generalised" Negative Binomial distribution
Would the "extended" Negative Binomial have the same MGF as Negative Binomial? (See the definition of "extended" Negative Binomial below by Wikipedia)
Could someone please help ...
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How to find the MGF of the max of a set of i.i.d. exponential random variables
As the title suggests, I would like to find the MGF of the max of iid exponential random variables. Assume $Z=\max(x_{1},...,x_{n})$, where $x_{i}$ is distributed as exponential($\beta$) and has pdf $\...
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2
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Proving relation between counts and arrival times via transforms
I'll state what I'm trying to prove below.
For a Poisson process $N(t) \sim \operatorname{Poisson}(\lambda t)$,
$$
P\left(S_n \leq t\right)=P\left(N(t) \geq n\right)=1-P(N(t)<n),
$$
where $S_n=\...
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1
answer
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Chernoff Bounds for Independent Bernoulli Sums
What is wrong with this proof? Can you notice that? or I am wrong? In my opinion, in the R.H.S. of the inequality (3.2), the index of 'e' is negative but it must be positive if we use the given proof ...
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Relationship between CDF and MGF?
Suppose
$X$ is a random variable $\in (0,1]$
$f(x)$ is the CDF of this random variable
$g(t)=\operatorname{mgf}(-t)$ where "mgf" is the moment generating function.
Can we infer the ...
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What distribution has CDF $\propto \psi ^{(1)}\left(x^{-\frac{1}{2}}\right)$
Is there a way to express random variable with the following CDF $g(x)$, $x\ge 0$, in terms of known named distributions? $$g(x)\propto \psi ^{(1)}\left(x^{-\frac{1}{2}}\right)$$ where $\psi^{(k)}$ is ...
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0
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Existence of moment generating function [closed]
Give a example of discrete random variable for which mgf $M(t)=E\left(e^{tx}
\right)$ does not exist . I have tried with geometric(p) distribution when $(1−p)e^t≥1$
, the mgf does not converge. Is it ...
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3
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Are linear combinations of independent random variables again independent?
Let $X_1,X_2,\ldots,X_n$ be (iid) Random variables and define $Y_n:=\sum_{j=1}^na_jX_j$ with $a_j\in \mathbb{R}$, can we then say that the $a_jX_j$ are independent aswell. Can we express the MGF than ...
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Double Expectation in Moment Generating Function
Context
Assume a game using a fair 6 sided dice ends when one rolls a 6. A random variable N is the total number of throws. N is distributed such that:
$p_N(n) = \frac{5}{6}^{n-1}\frac{1}{6}$
Assume ...
5
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2
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Upper Bound of MGF for a non-negative random variable with bounded variance
Let $X$ be a non-negative random variable with finite variance. It is obvious that its MGF $E[e^{-\lambda(X-E[X])}]$ exists for $\lambda > 0$.
How to prove that $E[e^{-\lambda(X-E[X])}] \le \exp(\...
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The distribution function of the min of two random variables which are dependent via a common term
Consider the following two random variables:
$$Z_1=U_1-X_1$$
and
$$Z_2=U_2-X_1,$$
where $U_1$ and $U_2$ are two i.i.d random variables following a general distribution, and $X_1$ is an exponential ...
1
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1
answer
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Confirmation of MGF of Shifted Exponential Distribution
Consider the probability distribution $D \sim X - a$ where $X \sim \text{Exp}(\lambda)$. My task is to find the MGF of probability distribution $D$. I think I have a solution but it contradicts what I ...
0
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1
answer
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Limiting value of the moment generating function
Suppose that the discrete random variable $X_{n}$has a geometric distribution given by
$$f_{X_n}(x_n)=P_n{(1-P_n)}^{x_n}$$ where $$x_n={0,1,2,3,}$$ and $$P_n\ =\ \frac{\lambda}{n}$$ for $0<\lambda&...
0
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1
answer
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Expected value of Y = (1/X) where X is Gamma Distribution [closed]
Let's suppose
$$E\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)=\int_{0}^{\infty}{M_X(-t)dt}$$
Could you please help me to find
$$E\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$$ where
$$X \sim\textrm{Gamma}(\alpha, \beta)$$ and $$E(X) = \...
3
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0
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Inequality on the moment generating function of a centered random variable which is bounded above
I am stuck on the first part of problem 8.2 of the book "A Probabilistic Theory of Pattern Recognition" by Luc Devroye:
Show that for any $s > 0$, and any random variable $X$ with $\...
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1
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Evaluating $E(x^{-1}). $
Could you please help me to prove the following equation:
$$E(x^{-1})=\int_{0}^{\infty}M_{x}(-t)dt$$
Where $M_{x}(-t)$ is the moment-generating function.
I think the following equation will be useful:
...
1
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2
answers
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Calculating the n-th moment of a RV, including negative fractional moments
I am stuck trying to solve the following exercise..
Let $X: \Omega\to [a,b] \subset \mathbb R$ be a uniformly distributed random variable. Compute the n-th moment of $X$, i.e. compute $\mathbb E[X^n]$ ...
2
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1
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Compound binomial distribution distributed as binomial
Suppose we have independent family of random variables $\{Y\}_{i\in\mathbb{N}}\cup\{N\}$, where $Y$s are identically distributed.
Next consider a sum of random number of random variables $W_N\equiv\...
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0
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Moment generating function interval on which is defined
I have a simple question about moment generating functions(MGFs).
Does the interval on which a MGF is defined corresponds to the support of the random variable?
For instance, considering a standard ...
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1
answer
385
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Expected value of Bernoulli variable from the moment generating function
I am studying the Moment Generating Functions of discrete random variables and I got an exercise asking to derive the mgf of a Bernoulli variable and its expected value.
I start from the definition of ...
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0
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How to find the moment generating function of a random variable X with PDF of 4x^3 for 0<x<1?
Let $X$ be a continuous random variable with PDF
\begin{equation}
\nonumber f_X(x) = \left\{
\begin{array}{l l}
4x^3 & \quad 0 < x \leq 1\\
0 & \quad \text{otherwise}
\end{array} \right.
\...
1
vote
0
answers
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Variance of inverse RV [closed]
I am trying to find variance of Y=1/(1+abs(x)) where X is Gaussian RV with mean m, var sigma^2To do that my initial step is to find MGF. can anyone give me ...
4
votes
1
answer
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Upper bound for m.g.f
$X$ is a discrete random variable from power series family (e.g., binomial, poisson etc.). is it possible to find an upper bound for the m.g.f of $X$?
N.B: from stack exchange I obtained the following ...
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0
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Moment generating function of a constant multiple of a random varaible
Let $Y$ be a random variable which is a function of another random variable $X$, such that $Y=aX$, where $a$ is a constant. Is it possible that the moment generating function (MGF) of $Y$, is given by,...
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0
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Sum of exponential of MVN dimensions
Consider drawing N random variables $x_{i}$ for $1\leq i \leq N$ from a multivariate normal with $\mu = (\mu_1, .. \mu_i, .. \mu_N)$ and $ \Sigma_{N \times N} = [\sigma_{ij}]$ (equivalently, N ...
3
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1
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If two distributions have the same moments, how different can they be? [duplicate]
Let us suppose we have two distribution functions $F$ and $G$ with shared domain and also shared moments but not necessarily shared moment-generating functions.
I have seen from "Whether ...
2
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1
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Generating function for Gamma distribution expectation
I encountered this formula in my assignment:
$$X\sim \Gamma(\alpha, \beta), 1\le k < \alpha$$
$$ E(X^{-k})=\frac{\beta^k}{\prod^k_{i=1}(\alpha-i)} $$
And I wonder what would happen if $k$ is ...
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0
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What are the moments of the Beckmann distribution?
Let $U=(u_1, u_2)$ and $V=(v_1, v_2)$ be two randomly distributed points on the Euclidean plane assuming bivariate normal distributions $U \sim N(\mu_u, \Sigma_u)$ and $V \sim N(\mu_v, \Sigma_v)$ with ...
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MGF of the product of a exponential and a bernoulli random variable
Let $𝑍=𝑋𝑌$ , where $X$ and $Y$ are independent, 𝑋 ~𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙(0.01) and 𝑌∼𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖(0.3)
Is there a way to find the m.g.f of 𝑍?
I know that I can find the C.D.F by doing as ...
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0
answers
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Determine the joint moment generating function $M_{V,W} (s_1, s_2)$ of V and W [closed]
So the initial question was:
Let X and Y be independent random variables with common moment generating function
$m_X(s) = m_Y (s) = e^{s^2/2}$.
a) Determine the moment generating function $M_V (s)$ of ...
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1
answer
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Moments of $\text{exp}(-|x|^{1/2})$
I'm supposed to show that all of the moments of the density $\text{exp}(-|x|^{1/2})$ are finite.
I'm not convinced this is true though. The $p$th moment is
\begin{align*}
\mathbb{E}[X^p] &= \int_{-...
4
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1
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Derivation of moment generating function for limiting distribution of sum of logbeta distributed variables
A sum of logbeta distributed variables occurs in this question Distribution with a given moment generating function
Let, $X_j \sim Beta(j\sigma, 1-\sigma)$, $Y_j = -\log(X_j)$ and $S_n = \sum_{j=1}^n ...
0
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0
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342
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MGF of sample mean of poisson distribution
Let $X_1,X_2,\dots,X_n\stackrel{iid}{\sim}Poiss(\lambda)$
Let mgf of $X_1$ is given by $M_X(t)=e^{\lambda(e^t-1)}$ and let $\bar{X_n}=\frac{1}{n}(X_1+X_2+\dots+X_n)$
Then, by Weak Law of Large Numbers ...
0
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1
answer
345
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MGF of the absolute Value of a Skellam RV
I am trying to derive the moment generating function for the absolute value of a Skellam random variable $Skellam(\lambda_1, \lambda_2)$
Suppose $X_1 \sim Pois(\lambda_1)$ and $X_2 \sim Pois(\lambda_2)...
1
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0
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124
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Finding the probability of sum of independent random variables given their Moment Generating Functions
Let $X_{1}$ and $X_{2}$ be independent random variables with respective moment generating functions as $$M_{X_{1}}(t) = (\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{4}e^t)^3 \ , \ M_{X_{2}}(t) = e^{2(e^{t}-1)}$$ , $$...
1
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0
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Generating function of a random walk
Consider a random walk with $S_n=\sum^n_{i=1}X_i$, where the random i.i.d. steps $X_i$ take values $-1,0,2$ with probabilities $1/9,1/9,7/9$ respectively. Set $S_0=1$.
I would like to calculate the ...
0
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1
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Exam question about compound distributions and MGFs
Studying for a test in course about stochastic processes, here's a test question that I can't fully understand:
An insurance company insures its policyholders against damages of a particular kind. ...
2
votes
1
answer
146
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Calculating the $M_X(t)$ of the pdf $f_X(x) = \frac{\sin(x)}{2}$
I am working on calculating the moment generating function for the pdf $f_X(x) = \frac{\sin(x)}{2}$ with the bounds $[0, \pi]$, and here is my attempt although I would like to know whether I have ...
1
vote
1
answer
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Calculate moment generating function of normal distribution [duplicate]
The moment generating function of a normal distribution is defined as
$M(t) = \int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{tx}\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi\sigma^2}} e^{-\frac{1}{2}(\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma})^2} dx$
In a book I’m ...