# $X$ is the random variable input, and is uniform on

$X$ is the random variable input, and is uniform on $[−20, 20]$. This is input to an “amplitude limiter”, whose output, a new random variable $Y$, relates to the input $X$ as follows: $$Y= \begin{cases} -5, \quad x\leq -5,\\ x,\quad x\in [-5,5],\\ 5,\quad x\geq 5 \end{cases}$$

1) Plot the PDF of $X$ and $Y$.
2) Find $E[X]$ and $E[Y]$.
3) Find $E[X^2]$ and $E[Y^2]$.
4) Find the distribution of $Y$ conditioned on $B=\{|x|<1\}$.

This is what I have tried to solve so far:

1) The PDF of $X$ $$=\begin{cases} \tfrac{1}{40},\quad -20<x<20,\\ 0,\qquad \text{otherwise}. \end{cases}$$ CDF of X

## 1 Answer

I will finish number 1 and give hints on the rest.

1. You correctly determined $\rho_X\left(x\right) = 1/40$ for $\left|x\right| \le 20$, and $0$ otherwise. The pdf for $Y$ is more complicated. For $\left|Y\right| < 5$, each value of $X$ corresponds to only one value of $Y$. So, for $\left|y\right| < 5$, $\rho_Y\left(y\right) = \rho_X\left(y\right) = 1/40$. At $Y = -5$, infinitely many values of $X$, from $-20$ to $-5$, correspond to a single value of $Y$. In other words, the integral of $\rho_Y\left(y\right)$ over an infinitesimally small interval around $y = -5$ must yield a finite number, namely the integral of $\rho_X\left(x\right)$ from $-20$ to $-5$, or $15/40 = 3/8$. The same goes for $Y = 5$. Both of these points must be represented using Dirac delta functions: $$\rho_Y\left(y\right) = \frac{1}{40} + \frac{3}{8} \left[ \delta\left(y+5\right) + \delta\left(y-5\right)\right]$$ for $\left|y\right| \le 5$, and $0$ otherwise.

2. Compute $$E\left[X\right] = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dx \ x \ \rho_X\left(x\right)$$ and $$E\left[Y\right] = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dy \ y \ \rho_Y\left(y\right),$$ remembering that $\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dx \ f\left(x\right) \delta\left(x-a\right) = f\left(a\right)$.

3. Compute $$E\left[X^2\right] = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dx \ x^2 \ \rho_X\left(x\right)$$ and $$E\left[Y^2\right] = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dy \ y^2 \ \rho_Y\left(y\right).$$
4. If $\left| X \right| < 1$, then each $X$ value corresponds to only one $Y$ value. So, since $X$ is uniformly distributed, $Y$ is uniformly distributed (constant) on $-1 < y < 1$.
• why is dirac delta function used with x instead of y? – math101 Oct 28 '12 at 15:14
• Can you take a look at my comment? – math101 Oct 28 '12 at 17:39
• That was a typo. I fixed it. – Eric Angle Oct 29 '12 at 0:48