# Show random variables are mutually independent

Let $X_1$,$X_2$, $X_3$ denote a random sample from the distribution having p.d.f $$f(x) = e^{-x},\,\, 0<x <\infty,$$ zero elsewhere. Show that $$y_1 = \frac{x_1}{x_1 + x_2}$$ $$y_2 = \frac{x_1 +x_2}{x_1 + x_2 +x_3}$$

$$y_3 = {x_1 + x_2 +x_3}$$

are mutually stochastically indepedent.

According to the definition of continuous independent random variables, the joint pdf of these random variables is equal to the product marginal pdf of these variables

The joint can be can be calculated using the Jacobian, but first I have to solve the linear system of equations The answer is $$x_1 = {y_1y_2y_3}$$ $$x_2 = {y_2y_3}-{y_1y_2y_3}$$ $$x_3 = {y_3}-{y_2y_3}$$

and the determinant of the Jacobian is

$${y_2}{y_3^2}$$

How do I obtain the joint pdf of these functions? How do I obtain the marginal of each variable; which limits should I take to integrate?

• So, your question is how to apply the Jacobian method to this change of variables? 1. What is missing from the method in your answer? 2. Do you have a source on this method? – Did Oct 9 '15 at 5:46
• Yes I have this, do you know another one? www2.econ.iastate.edu/classes/econ671/hallam/documents/… – rommel Oct 9 '15 at 14:50
• Quote: "1. What is missing from the method in your answer?" – Did Oct 9 '15 at 21:21
• I do not know what the determinant mean, is that the joint pdf? and I do not know how compute the marginal pdf of the random variables, I need to show that are independent, and the best I could do was to follow the pdf link – rommel Oct 9 '15 at 21:28
• @rommel Both in the example following theorem 4 and in the answer I posted it is shown how to compute both the Jacobian determinant and the marginals. Not sure what exactly do you want to know about the Jacobian, it is a factor used when you make a change of variables. Here a general explanation and here one simpler. I have tried to solve the problem by using the joint CDF but without success until know, so no sure if there is an easier way to solve it. – Carlos Mendoza Oct 10 '15 at 2:53

Using theorem 4 in the source you posted,

$$f_{Y_1Y_2Y_3}(y_1,y_2,y_3) = f_{X_1X_2X_3}(x_1,x_2,x_3)\lvert J \rvert$$

where

$$J = \begin{vmatrix} \frac{\partial x_1}{\partial y_1} & \frac{\partial x_1}{\partial y_2} & \frac{\partial x_1}{\partial y_3}\\ \frac{\partial x_2}{\partial y_1} & \frac{\partial x_2}{\partial y_2} & \frac{\partial x_2}{\partial y_3}\\ \frac{\partial x_3}{\partial y_1} & \frac{\partial x_3}{\partial y_2} & \frac{\partial x_3}{\partial y_3} \end{vmatrix}$$

Asumming that $X_1$, $X_2$ and $X_3$ are independent,

$$f_{X_1X_2X_3}(x_1,x_2,x_3) = e^{-(x_1+x_2+x_3)} = e^{-y_3} \qquad \text{for }y_3>0$$

and as you said, $\lvert J \rvert = y_2y_3^2$. Therefore,

$$f_{Y_1Y_2Y_3}(y_1,y_2,y_3) = y_2y_3^2e^{-y_3} \qquad \text{for }y_3>0, 0\lt y_1,y_2 \lt 1$$

To better interpret this result, we can write

$$f_{Y_1Y_2Y_3}(y_1,y_2,y_3) = f_{Y_2Y_3\mid Y_1}(y_2,y_3\mid y_1)f_{Y_1}(y_1)$$

And from this we can see that

$$f_{Y_2Y_3\mid Y_1}(y_2,y_3\mid y_1) = f_{Y_2Y_3}(y_2,y_3) = y_2y_3^2e^{-y_3} \qquad \text{for }y_3>0, 0\lt y_2 \lt 1$$

and

$$f_{Y_1}(y_1) = 1\qquad \text{for }0\lt y_1 \lt 1$$

The marginal of $Y_3$ can be calculated by integrating $f_{Y_2Y_3}(y_2,y_3)$ over $y_2$,

$$f_{Y_3}(y_3) = \int_0^1y_2y_3^2e^{-y_3}dy_2 = \frac{1}{2}y_3^2e^{-y_3}\qquad \text{for }y_3>0$$

In the same way,

$$f_{Y_3}(y_3) = \int_0^\infty y_2y_3^2e^{-y_3}dy_3 = 2y_2\qquad \text{for }0\lt y_2 \lt 1$$

Informal note about the limits of integration:

For $Y_1$: By definition,

$$y_1 = \frac{x_1}{x_1 + x_2}.$$

Since $x_1,x_2 \gt 0$, $y_1 \gt 0$. In addition, the denominator is always greater than the numerator, then $y_1 \lt 1$, which give us $0 \lt y_1 \lt 1$.

For $Y_2$: Same argument than for $Y_1$

For $Y_3$: $y_3 \gt 0$ since it is the sum of positive numbers.

• sorry I do not understand the determinant of the jacobian, what it means? – rommel Oct 9 '15 at 14:53
• @rommel In this context, the Jacobian actually refers to the Jacobian determinant, and $\lvert J \rvert$ refers to the absolute value of the Jacobian. – Carlos Mendoza Oct 9 '15 at 18:27
• thanks for answering, is there an easier method to show that are independent? – rommel Oct 9 '15 at 21:36