Let X and Y be real valued random variables with joint pdf. f_{X,Y} (x,y)={(1/4(x+y),0<=x<=y<=2,,,),(0,otherwise,,,):}. Calculate the probability P{Y<2X}.

MMDCCC50m

MMDCCC50m

Answered question

2022-11-09

Interpreting probability question in terms of measure theory
Let X and Y be real valued random variables with joint pdf
f X , Y ( x , y ) = { 1 4 ( x + y ) , 0 x y 2 0 ,  otherwise 
Calculate the probability P { Y < 2 X }
I am trying to view this problem in a measure-theoretic perspective and I am wondering if I am thinking about this properly.
Let ( Ω , F , P ) be a probability space on which we define two random variables (measurable functions) X and Y. We then consider their joint distribution, the pushforward measure of the random variable T ( ω ) = ( X ( ω ) , Y ( ω ) ) on ( R 2 , B × B ) defined by
T P ( A ) = P ( T 1 ( A ) ) = P ( ( X ( ω ) , Y ( ω ) ) A ) .
Then by the question, we have that d T P d λ = f X , Y i.e. the Radon-Nikodym derivative of the pushforward of T with respect to the Lebesgue measure is the pdf of (X,Y).
How can I then calculate P { Y < 2 X }? Somehow I have to relate the probability of this set to the pushforward measuere of which I know the density. What is the theorem that allows me to relate these two measures?
Essentially, im looking for the measure of the set { ω : Y ( ω ) < 2 X ( ω ) } Ω. I know the density of a measure on R 2 which is a different set than Ω. How do I know that { ( x , y ) : y < 2 x } R 2 is the subset of R2 with which I need to integrate over?

Answer & Explanation

Savion Chaney

Savion Chaney

Beginner2022-11-10Added 14 answers

Step 1
How do I know that { ( x , y ) : y < 2 x } R 2 is the subset of R 2 with which I need to integrate over?
This follows from the definition of the term "density" under the measure-theoretic framework. See, for example, Probability and Measure (Section 20, equation (20.9)), which I quote as follows:
A random variable and its distribution have density f with respect to Lebesgue measure if f is a nonnegative Borel function on R 1 and
P [ X A ] = μ ( A ) = A f ( x ) d x , A R 1 .
Although this (fundamental) definition applies to a single random variable, it clearly can be generalized to random vectors, as the author later sketched in the same section:
The distribution (of a random vector) may as for the line be discrete in the sense of having countable support. It may have density f with respect to k-dimensional Lebesgue measure: μ ( A ) = A f ( x ) d x. As in the case k = 1, the distribution μ is more fundamental than the distribution function F, and usually μ is described not by F but by a density or by discrete probabilities.
In your case, your A is clearly the two-dimensional Borel set { ( x , y ) : y < 2 x }, whence, according to the definition above,
P [ ( X , Y ) A ] = μ ( A ) = A f ( x , y ) d x d y .
Kayden Mills

Kayden Mills

Beginner2022-11-11Added 2 answers

Step 1
In probability space ( Ω , F , P ) with variables X,Y with joint distribution measure μ X , Y :
P { Y < 2 X } = Ω I y < 2 x d P = R 2 I y < 2 x d μ X , Y
Step 2
The definition of a joint density function is the nonnegative Borel measurable f X , Y ( x , y ) such that:
μ X , Y ( C ) = I C ( x , y ) f X , Y ( x , y ) d y d x C B ( R 2 )
Step 3
Then d μ X , Y = f X , Y d x d y, so plugging that in:
P { Y < 2 X } = R 2 I y < 2 x f X , Y d x d y = R 2 I y < 2 x I 0 x y 2 1 4 ( x + y ) d x d y = 0 2 y / 2 y 1 4 ( x + y ) d x d y = 0 2 7 32 y 2 d y = 7 12

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