# Given the pdf of independent RVs $I$ and $R$, how to find cdf of $W =I^2R$?

Given pdf of $I$ and $R$ (both $I$ and $R$ are independent RV's), how to find cdf of $W =I^2R$?

Where,

\begin{align} f_I(i)&=6i(1-i), &0 \leq i \leq 1 \\ f_R(r)&=2r, &0 \leq r\leq 1. \end{align}

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One approach is to use convolution: $\log(W) = 2\log(I) + \log(R)$. –  Shai Covo Apr 4 '11 at 19:10
@Shai: How would you back transform once you have pdf or cdf of log(W)? –  Pupil Apr 4 '11 at 21:08
Also note that $R$ is equal in distribution to $\sqrt{U}$, where $U$ is uniform$(0,1)$. Hence $\log(R)$ is distributed as $\log(U)/2$, and in turn as $-X/2$, where $X$ is exponential$(1)$. –  Shai Covo Apr 4 '11 at 21:15
Another approach: By the law of total probability (conditioning on $I$), for any $0 \leq x \leq 1$, $${\rm P}(W \le x) = \int_0^1 {{\rm P}(I^2 R \le x|I = s)6s(1 - s)\,{\rm d}s} = \int_0^1 {{\rm P}(R \le x/s^2)6s(1 - s)\,{\rm d}s}.$$ –  Shai Covo Apr 4 '11 at 21:54
You may also condition on $R$, getting $${\rm P}(W \le x) = \int_0^1 {{\rm P}(I^2 R \le x|R = s)2s \,{\rm d}s} = \int_0^1 {{\rm P}(I \leq \sqrt{x/s})2s \,{\rm d}s}.$$ –  Shai Covo Apr 4 '11 at 21:55

The simplest and surest way to compute the distribution density or probability of a random variable is often to compute the means of functions of this random variable. In the case at hand, one wants to write $\mathrm E(g(W))$ as $$\color{blue}{\mathrm E(g(W))=\int g(w)f(w)\mathrm{d}w},$$ for every bounded measurable function $g$, then one can be sure that $f$ is the density of the distribution of $W$. So, in a way, the functions $g$ play the role of a dummy variable and one wants the equality above to hold for every $g$.

Naturally $W=I^2R$ hence $\mathrm E(g(W))$ is a priori a double integral, but one can be sure that a change of variable will save the day. So, applying the definitions, $\mathrm E(g(W))=\mathrm E(g(I^2R))$ and $$\mathrm E(g(I^2R))=\iint g(x^2y)\cdot[0\leqslant x\leqslant 1]\cdot6x(1-x)\cdot[0\leqslant y\leqslant 1]\cdot2y\cdot\mathrm{d}x\mathrm{d}y,$$ where, for every property $\mathfrak{A}$, Iverson bracket $[\mathfrak{A}]$ denotes $1$ if $\mathfrak{A}$ holds and $0$ otherwise.

(Begin of rant: no, I do not like to put the limits of the domain of integration on the integral signs, and yes, I prefer to use the notation $[\mathfrak{A}]$ or its cousin $\mathbb{1}_\mathfrak{A}$ because they are more systematic and, at least to me, less error prone. End of rant.)

Now, what change of variable? For one of the two new variables, we want $w=x^2y$, of course. For the other, a sensible choice (but not the only one) is $z=x$. The new domain is $0\leqslant w\leqslant z^2\leqslant 1$ and the Jacobian is given by $\mathrm{d}x\mathrm{d}y=z^{-2}\mathrm{d}w\mathrm{d}z$, hence $$\mathrm E(g(W))=\int g(w)[0\leqslant w\leqslant 1]\left(\int [w\leqslant z^2\leqslant 1]\cdot6z(1-z)(2wz^{-2})z^{-2}\mathrm{d}z\right)\mathrm{d}w.$$ By identification, the density $f(w)$ is the quantity enclosed by the parenthesis, that is, for every $0\leqslant w\leqslant1$, $$f(w)=\int [w\leqslant z^2\leqslant 1]6z(1-z)(2wz^{-2})z^{-2}\mathrm{d}z=12w\int_{\sqrt{w}}^1 z^{-3}(1-z)\mathrm{d}z,$$ Finally, $$\color{red}{f(w)=6(1-\sqrt{w})^2\cdot[0\leqslant w\leqslant1]}.$$

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If ever I read a short and civil rant this one must have been it. +1 for so many reasons that I don't even try to enumerate them. –  t.b. Jun 4 '11 at 17:26
Maybe you need to add an Iverson bracket to the last displayed equation to remind the reader that $f(w) = 0$ if $w < 0$ or $w > 1$? –  Dilip Sarwate Apr 1 '12 at 13:58

Probability w = W is probability I^2 R = W.

$$f_W(w) = \int \delta(w - i^2 r) f_{I,R}(i, r) \, di \, dr$$

Independence means that $f_{I,R}(i, r) = f_I(i) f_R(r)$.

(I suggest doing the R integral first -- the delta function transformation is easier.)

Changing to the cumulative distribution function is just integration.

$$F_W(w_0) = \int_0^{w_0} f_W(w) dw.$$

Of course, you can plug the first one into the second, and do the W integral first. This is nice as it handles the delta function quite easily.

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@wnoise: Can you edit your equations to look clear. It doesn't looks readable to me. Thanks! –  Pupil Apr 4 '11 at 18:52
@H_S: Is this better? –  wnoise Apr 4 '11 at 19:14
@fabian: Heh. They do, but you have to be extremely careful with adjusting the limits of integration that the delta function picks out. –  wnoise Apr 4 '11 at 19:42
@fabian: Mathematica fails when doing the r integral first, but works fine for the i integral, the opposite of what I'd expect. –  wnoise Apr 4 '11 at 20:24
@fabian: The value really doesn't depend on the order -- Mathematica isn't exactly bug-free. It appears to be taking the wrong branch of a square root, even with Assumptions -> w > 0 && w < 1 && i > 0 && i < 0 && r > 0 && r < 1. The failure is that it gives a negative answer, even though all quantities are positive. (I had the order of the r and i backwards, so that actually is as I expect). –  wnoise Apr 4 '11 at 20:49
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\begin{align} {\rm P}\pars{W}&=\totald{}{W}\int_{0}^{W}{\rm P}\pars{t}\,\dd t= \totald{}{W}\int_{0}^{1}6I\pars{1 - I} \int_{0}^{1}2R\,\Theta\pars{W - I^{2}R}\,\dd R\,\dd I \\[3mm]&= 12\int_{0}^{1}I\pars{1 - I}\int_{0}^{1}R\,\delta\pars{W - I^{2}R}\,\dd R\,\dd I \\[3mm]&= 12\int_{0}^{1}I\pars{1 - I}\int_{0}^{1}R\,{\delta\pars{R - W/I^{2}} \over I^{2}} \,\dd R\,\dd I \\[3mm]&=12\int_{0}^{1}{1 - I \over I}\,{W \over I^{2}} \int_{0}^{1}\delta\pars{R - {W \over I^{2}}}\,\dd R\,\dd I \\[3mm]&=12W\int_{0}^{1}{1 - I \over I^{3}}\, \Theta\pars{1 - {W \over I^{2}}}\,\dd I =12W\int_{0}^{1}{1 - I \over I^{3}}\,\Theta\pars{I - \root{W}}\,\dd I \\[3mm]&=12W\,\Theta\pars{1 - W}\int_{\root{W}}^{1}{1 - I \over I^{3}}\,\dd I =12W\,\Theta\pars{1 - W}\,{\pars{1 - \root{W}}^{2} \over 2W} \end{align}

$$\color{#00f}{\large% {\rm P}\pars{W} = \Theta\pars{W}\Theta\pars{1 - W}6\pars{\root{W} - 1}^{2}}$$

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