Probability function of Y=max{X,m} for m positive integer when X is geometric distribution

Nina Bean

Nina Bean

Open question

2022-08-18

Probability function of Y = m a x { X , m } for m positive integer when X is geometric distribution
X has geometric distribution so f X ( x ) = p ( 1 p ) x . I wrote this:
f Y ( y ) = P ( Y = y ) = P ( m a x { X , m } = y )
So if y = m it means that X < m so f Y ( y ) = P ( X < m ) = 1 P ( X m ) = 1 ( 1 p ) m and if y = m + 1 , m + 2 , . . . then f Y ( y ) = p ( 1 p ) y
Is it right?

Answer & Explanation

Audrey Rosales

Audrey Rosales

Beginner2022-08-19Added 9 answers

Step 1
Assuming as correct your f X ( x ), that is X is a geometric rv counting the failures before the first success, your pmf f Y ( y ) does not sum up to 1...
Observe that Y = m when X m and this happens with probability 1 ( 1 p ) m + 1 thus
P [ Y = y ] = { 1 ( 1 p ) m + 1 , if  y = m   p ( 1 p ) y , if  y = m + 1 , m + 2 , m + 3 ,   0 , elsewhere 
Step 2
As you can see, this pmf works, being 1 ( 1 p ) m + 1 + p y = m + 1 ( 1 p ) y = 1 ( 1 p ) m + 1 + p ( 1 p ) m + 1 1 ( 1 p ) = 1

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