Trouble with integral expressing $\mathbb E[X^2]$ where $X \sim N(0,1)$

Let $X \sim N(0,1)$

Then to find $E[X^2]$, we can do:

$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty x^2\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}e^{-\frac{x^2}{2}} dx$$

Let's say we didn't know this is an odd function, and decided to take the integral by splitting it into 2 pieces:

$$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} \left( \int_{-\infty}^0 x^2e^{-\frac{x^2}{2}} \, dx + \int_0^\infty x^2 e^{-\frac{x^2}{2}} \, dx \right)$$

Then substitute $t = \frac{x^2}{2}$, we get:

$$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} \left( \int_\infty^0 \sqrt{2t}e^{-t} \, dt + \int_0^\infty \sqrt{2t}e^{-t} \, dt \right) \\ = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} \left( - \int_0^\infty \sqrt{2t}e^{-t} \, dt + \int_0^\infty \sqrt{2t}e^{-t} \, dt \right) = 0$$

Which is $= 0$, but obviously it shouldn't be $0$. Those two integrals should be adding together instead of canceling each other out. Where did I make a mistake in my math? Thanks!

• The integrand is an even function. – poweierstrass Oct 21 '16 at 16:34
• Cause the integral is convergent and the integrand is an even function. – hamam_Abdallah Oct 21 '16 at 16:50
• Lots of complicated answers have been posted, missing the fact that the error was really simple: $\displaystyle \sqrt{\frac{x^2} 2} = \frac{|x|}{\sqrt2}.$ You simply wrote $x$ where you needed $|x|.\qquad$ – Michael Hardy Oct 21 '16 at 17:30

$$\sqrt t = \sqrt{\frac{x^2} 2 } = \underbrace{\frac{|x|} {\sqrt2} = \frac{-x}{\sqrt 2}}_{\text{when }x\,<\,0}.$$ You omitted the absolute value sign.

Then when $x<0$ you have $\dfrac{dt}{2\sqrt t} = \dfrac{-dx}{\sqrt 2},$ with a minus sign.

But the easier way is to observe that you are integrating an even function over an interval that is symmetric about $0$, so you have $$\int_{-\infty}^0 + \int_0^\infty = 2\int_0^\infty$$ and then go on from there.

$$\frac{dt}{dx} = x$$ then $$dx = {\frac{1}{\sqrt{2t}}dt}$$ so

$$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} ( \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}x^2e^{-\frac{x^2}{2}} dx)$$

$$= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} ( \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}e^{-t} dt) \\$$

Let \begin{align} I(a) &= \int\limits_{0}^{\infty} \mathrm{e}^{-ax^{2}} \mathrm{d}x \\ &= \frac{1}{\sqrt{a}} \int\limits_{0}^{\infty} \mathrm{e}^{-y^{2}} \mathrm{d}y \\ &= \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2} \frac{1}{\sqrt{a}} \mathrm{erf}(y) \Big|_{0}^{\infty} \\ &= \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2} \frac{1}{\sqrt{a}} \end{align} using the substitution $y^{2} = ax^{2}$.

Then \begin{align} I &= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 \pi}} \int\limits_{-\infty}^{\infty} x^{2} \mathrm{e}^{-x^{2}/2} \mathrm{d}x = \frac{2}{\sqrt{2 \pi}} \int\limits_{0}^{\infty} x^{2} \mathrm{e}^{-x^{2}/2} \mathrm{d}x \\ &= -\frac{2}{\sqrt{2 \pi}} \lim_{a \to 1/2} \frac{\partial I(a)}{\partial a} = \frac{2}{\sqrt{2 \pi}} \lim_{a \to 1/2} \int\limits_{0}^{\infty} x^{2} \mathrm{e}^{-ax^{2}} \mathrm{d}x = \frac{2}{\sqrt{2 \pi}} \int\limits_{0}^{\infty} x^{2} \mathrm{e}^{-x^{2}/2} \mathrm{d}x \\ &= -\frac{2}{\sqrt{2 \pi}} \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2} \lim_{a \to 1/2} \frac{\partial}{\partial a} a^{-1/2} = -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \left(-\frac{1}{2}\right) \lim_{a \to 1/2} a^{-3/2} \\ &= 1 \end{align}