Given two geometric random variables: X_j for j=1, 2 with probability mass function P(X_1=m)=P(X_2=m)=(1-q)^{m-1} cdot q where m=1,2,… and 0<q<1. Find the probability mass function max(X_1, X_2).

Kayla Mcdowell

Kayla Mcdowell

Answered question

2022-10-22

Geometric probability mass function
Given two geometric random variables: X j for j = 1 , 2 with probability mass function P ( X 1 = m ) = P ( X 2 = m ) = ( 1 q ) m 1 q where m = 1 , 2 , and 0 < q < 1.. Find the probability mass function max ( X 1 , X 2 ) ..
First, can we assume that these random variables are independent? If so, is the probability mass function max ( X 1 , X 2 ) equal to the following product max ( ( 1 q ) 2 m 2 q 2 ) ?

Answer & Explanation

plomet6a

plomet6a

Beginner2022-10-23Added 20 answers

Step 1
I'd go this way: say Z = m a x ( X 1 , X 2 ).
Then for m N , P ( Z = m ) =
P ( ( X 1 = m a n d X 2 < m ) o r ( X 2 = m a n d X 1 < m ) o r ( X 1 = m a n d X 2 = m ) )
Step 2
These three events are disjoints, so P ( Z = m ) =
P ( ( X 1 = m a n d X 2 < m ) ) + P ( ( X 2 = m a n d X 1 < m ) ) + P ( ( X 1 = m a n d X 2 = m ) )
Step 3
If X 1 and X 2 are independant, we have P ( Z = m ) = 2 P ( X = m ) P ( X < m ) + P ( X = m ) 2 .
The term P ( X < m ) is easy to compute (sum of the terms of a geometric sequence)

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