# Expected value of maximum of two random variables from uniform distribution

If I have two variables $X$ and $Y$ which randomly take on values uniformly from the range $[a,b]$ (all values equally probable), what is the expected value for $\max(X,Y)$?

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Here are some useful tools:

1. For every nonnegative random variable $Z$, $$\mathrm E(Z)=\int_0^{+\infty}\mathrm P(Z\geqslant z)\,\mathrm dz.$$
2. As soon as $X$ and $Y$ are independent, $$\mathrm P(\max(X,Y)\leqslant z)=\mathrm P(X\leqslant z)\,\mathrm P(Y\leqslant z).$$
3. If $U$ is uniform on $(0,1)$, then $a+(b-a)U$ is uniform on $(a,b)$.

If $(a,b)=(0,1)$, items 1. and 2. together yield $$\mathrm E(\max(X,Y))=\int_0^1(1-z^2)\,\mathrm dz=\frac23.$$ Then item 3. yields the general case, that is, $$\mathrm E(\max(X,Y))=a+\frac23(b-a)=\frac13(2b+a).$$

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I very muck liked Martin's approach but there's an error with his integration. The key is on line three. The intution here should be that when y is the maximum, then x can vary from 0 to y whereas y can be anything and vice-versa for when x is the maximum. So the order of integration should be flipped:

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Thanks for pointing that out. As your answer corrects the mistake, I'll simply delete mine. –  Martin Van der Linden Nov 28 '14 at 16:00
E(max(x,y)) should read E(max(X,Y)). –  Did Aug 22 at 22:24

did's excellent answer proves the result. The picture here

may help your intuition. This is the "average" configuration of two random points on a interval and, as you see, the maximum value is two-thirds of the way from the left endpoint.

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-1 Sorry for the down vote. I know what you mean, but I hate such examples, as it confuses the situation for those who do not fully understand what an "average" configuration means. –  Calvin Lin Jul 1 '13 at 2:57
I don't follow. In what sense is this an average configuration? –  Jonah Jul 9 '13 at 18:02