# Expected value of normal distribution given that distribution is positive

Given $X \sim N(0, \sigma^2)$ (that is, $X:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ is a normal random variable with mean $0$ and variance $\sigma^2$), I'm trying to calculate the expected value of $X$ given that $X>0$. I thought that integrating $$\int_{0}^{\infty} x\cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 \pi \sigma^2}} e^{-\frac{x^2}{2\sigma^2}}dx$$ would do it, but the value, $\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{2\pi}}$, seems to be off by a factor of 2 based on some other information I have; I think the answer should be $\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\sigma$.

Question: How should the expected value of $X$, given that $X>0$, be computed?

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You computed $E(X\mathbf 1_A)$, where $A=[X\gt0]$, instead of $E(X\mid A)$. – Did Dec 3 '11 at 22:13
Wolfram gives the same answer as what you get. Why do you think your answer is off by factor of 2? – tards Dec 3 '11 at 22:14
@tards I know the computation of the integral is correct, I'm just don't think that the integral represents what I actually want, as Michael Lugo's answer confirms. – Quinn Culver Dec 3 '11 at 22:23
"Exact duplicate"? I think I posted the answer to this same question about two months or so ago. – Michael Hardy Dec 3 '11 at 22:38
Take a look at this: math.stackexchange.com/questions/71537/… – Michael Hardy Dec 3 '11 at 22:42

Let $f(x)$ be the density of $X$; let $F(x)$ be its CDF.
Then the density of $X$, conditional on it being positive, is $f(x)/P(X \ge 0)$ if $x \ge 0$, and $0$ otherwise.
Of course $P(X \ge 0) = 1/2$ by symmetry, so the density of $X$ conditional on $X \ge 0$ is $2f(x)$ (on $x \ge 0$).
So you need to do the integral $$\int_0^\infty 2xf(x) \: dx$$ which is twice the integral you've written.