# Binomial distribution with Uniform parameter

I have a problem with following exercise (it comes from Geoffrey G. Grimmett, David R. Stirzaker, Probability and Random Processes, Oxford University Press 2001, page 155, ex. 6):

Let $X$ have the binomial distribution bin($n$, $U$), where $U$ is uniform on $(0,1)$. Show that $X$ is uniformly distributed on $\{0,1,\ldots,n\}$.

So far I have this: $$P(X=k | U) = {n \choose k} U^k (1-U)^{n-k}$$ $$P(X=k) = \int_0^1 {n \choose k} u^k (1-u)^{n-k} f_U(u) \text{ d}u$$

where $f_U(u)$ is density function of random variable $X$, of course $\forall u \in (0,1)\ \ f_U(u) = 1$.

$$P(X=k) = {n \choose k} \int_0^1 u^k (1-u)^{n-k} \text{d}u$$ And I don't know what to do next... How to calculate this integral? Am I solving it right so far?

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A way to avoid using pre-knowledge about Beta integrals (for a more conceptual explanation, see the second part of this post) is to compute the generating function of $X$, that is, $$\mathbb E(s^X)=\sum_{k=0}^ns^k\mathbb P(X=k)=\int_0^1\sum_{k=0}^n\binom{n}ku^k(1-u)^{n-k}s^k\mathrm du.$$ By the binomial theorem, $$\sum_{k=0}^n\binom{n}k(su)^k(1-u)^{n-k}=(1-(1-s)u)^n,$$ hence $$\mathbb E(s^X)=\int_0^1(1-(1-s)u)^n\mathrm du\stackrel{[v=1-(1-s)u]}{=}\frac1{1-s}\int_s^1v^n\mathrm dv=\frac{1-s^{n+1}}{(n+1)(1-s)},$$ that is, $$\mathbb E(s^X)=\frac1{n+1}\sum_{k=0}^ns^k.$$ This formula should make apparent the fact that $X$ is uniform on $\{0,1,2,\ldots,n\}$...

...But the "real" reason why $X$ is uniform might be the following.

First, the distribution of a sum of i.i.d. Bernoulli random variables is binomial. Second, if $V$ is uniform on $[0,1]$, the random variable $\mathbf 1_{V\leqslant u}$ is Bernoulli with parameter $u$. Hence, if $(U_i)_{1\leqslant i\leqslant n}$ is i.i.d. uniform on $[0,1]$, the random variable $\sum\limits_{i=1}^n\mathbf 1_{U_i\leqslant u}$ is binomial with parameter $(n,u)$.

Thus, $X$ may be realized as $X=\sum\limits_{i=1}^n\mathbf 1_{U_i\leqslant U_{n+1}}$ where $(U_i)_{1\leqslant i\leqslant n+1}$ is i.i.d. uniform on $[0,1]$. The event $[X=k]$ occurs when $U_{n+1}$ is the $(k+1)$th value in the ordered sample $(U_{(i)})_{1\leqslant i\leqslant n+1}$. By exchangeability of the distribution of $(U_i)_{1\leqslant i\leqslant n+1}$, $U_{n+1}$ has as much chances to be at each rank from $1$ to $n+1$. This fact means exactly that $X$ is indeed uniform on $\{0,1,2,\ldots,n\}$.

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That's a cool solution! –  Alex Jan 19 '13 at 23:53

The integral $$\int_0^1 x^\alpha (1 - x)^\beta dx$$ has a well-know representation in terms of $\Gamma$ functions. In the integer case, it boils down to factorials.

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Hint: Integrating by parts:

$$\int_0^1 u^k (1-u)^{n-k} \text{d}u = \frac{n-k}{k+1}\int_0^1 u^{k+1} (1-u)^{n-k-1} du$$
so repeat until the exponent of $(1-u)$ reduces to $0$ and you have $$\frac{1}{n \choose k} \int_0^1 u^{n} \text{d}u$$

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