1
$\begingroup$

Let $(X_1,X_2,\ldots,X_n)$ be iid, such that each $X_i$ has the uniform distribution on the interval $(a,b)$. Calculate $Cov(\min(X_1,\ldots,X_n),\max(X_1,\ldots,X_n))$.

The task seems very hard to me. So far I calculated $E(\min(X_1,\ldots,X_n))=\frac{an+b}{n+1}$, $E(\max(X_1,\ldots,X_n))=\frac{bn+a}{n+1}$. I also found the joint density of $(\min(X_1,\ldots,X_n),\max(X_1,\ldots,X_n))$ - it is as follows: $$f(x,y)=\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \frac{n!}{\left( n-2\right) !}\frac{\left(y-x\right)^{n-2}}{\left(b-a\right)^{n}} & \text{ if }a\leq x\leq y\leq b \\ 0 & \text{in other cases.}% \end{array}% \right. $$ So now the task is to calculate $E(\min(X_1,\ldots,X_n)\cdot\max(X_1,\ldots,X_n))$. How to do this effectively?

$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ hint : calculate probability that min is in [x, x+dx] and max is in [y, y+dy] and then use double integrals $\endgroup$
    – Thomas
    Feb 15, 2014 at 15:00
  • $\begingroup$ Thomas, I have obtained the density $f$ using this method. I am able to write the double integral $E(\min(X_1,\ldots,X_n)\cdot\max(X_1,\ldots,X_n))$, however I just can't calculate it effectively. I have written the integral as iterated integral and just can't calculte it. Can you help? $\endgroup$ Feb 15, 2014 at 15:56
  • $\begingroup$ Your joint density is wrong in two respects: first, the power on the $(b-a)$ term ... and second, why is the domain of support constrained to $0<x<y<1$, when you have defined the domain of support of the parent on $(a,b)$? $\endgroup$
    – wolfies
    Feb 15, 2014 at 16:52
  • $\begingroup$ @Almostsure The integral is not that complicated. As a variable of y it is a polynomial. The integrand is a polynomial in x too. (and you keep the factorized form) $\endgroup$
    – Thomas
    Feb 15, 2014 at 17:43

2 Answers 2

1
$\begingroup$

If you have to solve an integral like this $\int y(y-x)^{n}dy$ the more easy way is an integration by parts

$\int y(y-x)^{n}dy=\int y d\frac{(y-x)^{n+1}}{n+1}=y\frac{(y-x)^{n+1}}{n+1}-\int \frac{(y-x)^{n+1}}{n+1}dy=$

$=y\frac{(y-x)^{n+1}}{n+1}-\frac{(y-x)^{n+2}}{n+2}$

$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Kmitov! (1) Thanks for your remark. (2) The last fraction in your comment should be as follows: $\frac{\left( y-x\right) ^{n+2}}{\left( n+2\right) \left( n+1\right) }$. $\endgroup$ Feb 15, 2014 at 21:23
  • $\begingroup$ (2) above is of course wrong, sorry. $\endgroup$ Feb 15, 2014 at 21:36
1
$\begingroup$

Given: random variable $X \sim Uniform(a,b)$ with pdf $f(x)$:

where I am assuming, without loss of generality, that $0<a<b$.

Then, the joint pdf of the sample minimum $X_1$ and the sample maximum $X_n$, say $g(x_1,x_n)$, is:

where I am using the OrderStat function in the mathStatica add-on to Mathematica to automate the nitty-gritties for me.

Then, $Cov(X_1, X_n)$ is simply:

All done.

Notes

  1. The joint density $g(x_1,x_n)$ is different to that you have obtained manually ... note the power on the $(b-a)$ term.
  2. As disclosure, I should perhaps add that I am one of the authors of the software used above.
$\endgroup$
2

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .