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Given a single stationary series $x_t$ with zero mean and autocovariance function $\gamma(h)$ and autocorrelation function $\rho(h)$

Show that if $x_{t+l}=Ax_t$, then $ \rho(l)=1$ if $A>0$, and $\rho(l)=−1$ if $A<0$.

What I have done is

$$ \text{By definition we know that}\quad \rho(l) = \frac{\gamma(l)}{\gamma(0)}$$

So for $x_{t+l}=Ax_t$ we have

$$\gamma(l) = cov(x_t, x_{t+l}) = cov(x_t, Ax_t) = A\gamma(0)$$

and it follows that

$$\rho(l) = A\frac{\gamma(0)}{\gamma(0)} = A$$

which is not what I want. Where did I go wrong?

EDIT: Can I say that because of stationarity that

$$\frac{x_{t+l}}{x_t} = \pm 1$$

EDIT 2: How about this?

Because of stationarity

$$Var(x_t) = Var(x_{t+l}) = Var(Ax_t) = A^2Var(x_t)$$

which implies that $A^2 = 1$, and thus

$$\rho(l) = \sqrt{1} = \pm 1$$

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    $\begingroup$ It's fine so far, but you're not finished. More explicitly, you should use the assumption of "stationary" to show $A^2=1$. $\endgroup$ Mar 11, 2021 at 17:13
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    $\begingroup$ To your last question (in the edit): Yes, but it's not automatic. Try evaluating $\operatorname{Var}(x_{t+l})$ in two ways. $\endgroup$ Mar 11, 2021 at 17:15
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for the help. $\endgroup$
    – Hasselhoff
    Mar 11, 2021 at 18:12

1 Answer 1

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$$ \text{By definition we know that}\quad \rho(l) = \frac{\gamma(l)}{\gamma(0)}$$

So for $x_{t+l}=Ax_t$ we have

$$\gamma(l) = cov(x_t, x_{t+l}) = cov(x_t, Ax_t) = A\gamma(0)$$

and it follows that

$$\rho(l) = A\frac{\gamma(0)}{\gamma(0)} = A$$

Because of stationarity

$$Var(x_t) = Var(x_{t+l}) = Var(Ax_t) = A^2Var(x_t)$$

which implies that $A^2 = 1$, and thus

$$\rho(l) = \sqrt{1} = \pm 1$$

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