# Proving ${\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}} E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}-E[Y_1]\right|\right]=0$

I have the following problem from my book about Markov processes:

Let $\{Y_n:n\geq 1\}$ be a sequence of mutually independent, identically distributed random variables satisfying $E[Y_1]<\infty$. Set $X_n=\sum_{m=1}^n Y_m$ for $n\geq 1$. The Weak Law of Large Numbers says that

$$P\left(\left|\frac{X_n}{n}-E[Y_1]\right|\geq \epsilon\right)\rightarrow 0\;\;\;\text{for all } \epsilon>0.$$

In fact,

$$\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}-E[Y_1]\right|\right]=0,\;\;\;\;\;\;(1.3.3)$$

from which the above follows as an application of Markov's inequality. Here are steps which lead to (1.3.3).

(a) First reduce to the case when $E[Y_1]=0$. Next, asume that $E[Y_1^2]<\infty$, and show that

$$E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}\right|\right]^2 \leq E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}\right|^2\right]=\frac{E[Y_1^2]}{n}.$$

Hence the result is proved when $Y_1$ has a finite second moment.

(b) Given $R>0$, set $Y_n^{(R)}=Y_n\textbf{1}_{[0,R)}(|Y_n|)-E[Y_n, |Y_n|<R]$ and $X_n^{(R)}=\sum_{m=1}^nY_m^{(R)}$ Note that, for any $R>0,$

$$E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}\right|\right]\leq E\left[\left|\frac{X_n^{(R)}}{n}\right|\right]+E\left[\left|\frac{X_n-X_n^{(R)}}{n}\right|\right]\leq\sqrt{E\left[\left(\frac{X_n^{(R)}}{n}\right)^2\right]}+2E[|Y_1|, |Y_1|\geq R]\leq \frac{R}{\sqrt{n}}+2E[|Y_1|, |Y_1|\geq R],$$

and use this, together with the Monotone Convergence Theorem, to complete the proof of $(1.3.3)$

I have succesfully solved part (a) but I'm stuck now in part (b). My question therefore is: how do I solve part (b)?

• What does $E[Y_n, |Y_n|<R]$ mean? – Jack Aug 30 '17 at 13:38
• I get to the following inequality: $E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}\right|\right]-\frac{R}{\sqrt{n}}-2E[|Y_1|, |Y_1|\geq R] \leq E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}-E[Y_1]\right|\right]\leq E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}\right|\right]+\frac{R}{\sqrt{n}}+2E[|Y_1|, |Y_1|\geq R]$, but now I don't know how to proceed. – jjepsuomi Aug 30 '17 at 13:38
• @Jack accroding to the book's author the notation $E[X,A]$ means: "The expected value of $X$ on the event $A$". – jjepsuomi Aug 30 '17 at 13:40
• @Jack "An Introduction to Markov Processess" by Daniel W. Stroock, 148.206.53.84/tesiuami/S_pdfs/… – jjepsuomi Aug 30 '17 at 13:42
• See the book link and check page 179 where author presents the notation list. – jjepsuomi Aug 30 '17 at 13:44

$$E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}\right|\right]\leq \frac{R}{\sqrt{n}} +2E[|Y_1|, |Y_1|\geq R],$$
take the $\limsup$ on both sides gives $$\limsup_n E\left[\left|\frac{X_n}{n}\right|\right]\leq 2E[|Y_1|, |Y_1|\geq R]\tag{1}$$ On the other hand, (1) is true for all $R>0$, and $$E[|Y_1|, |Y_1|\geq R]\to 0,\quad\hbox{as }R\to\infty$$ by the monotone convergence theorem.