# Joint and marginal distributions of independent uniformly distributed variables

Suppose that $X_1$ and $X_2$ are independently uniformly distributed on the interval (0,1). Find the joint and marginal distributions of $U=X_1X_2$ and $V=X_1/X_2$.

I think that $f_U(u) = \int^1_0f_{X_1}(x_1)f_{X_2}(u/x_1){1\over{|x_1|}} dx_1$

I'm not sure if that is right. If it is right, would the marginal distribution just be $\int^1_0 X_1X_2 dx_1$ and $\int^1_0 X_1X_2 dx_2$?

• HINT : $$X_1=\sqrt{UV}\quad\text{ and }\quad X_2=\sqrt{\frac{U}{V}},$$ then you find the Jacobian. – Tunk-Fey Apr 12 '14 at 15:04
• Thanks, I found the Jacobian to be $-{\sqrt {U/V}}\over 2\sqrt{UV}$ is that right? – user123965 Apr 13 '14 at 10:33
• Yep, it's almost correct but you can simplify that into $\dfrac{1}{2V}$ and Jacobian is always positive. Now, you obtain the regions of $U$ and $V$ based on the regions of $X_1$ and $X_2$. – Tunk-Fey Apr 13 '14 at 11:29
• $0<UV<1$ and $0<U/V<1$, so $0<U<V$? – user123965 Apr 13 '14 at 17:40
The joint PDF of $U$ and $V$ is $$f_{U,V}(u,v)=f_{X_1,X_2}(x_1,x_2)\cdot|J|=\frac1{2v}.$$ Now for the regions. You have $0\le x_1\le1$, this region is corresponding to $$0\le \sqrt{uv}\le1\;\Rightarrow\;0\le uv\le 1\;\Rightarrow\;0\le v\le \frac1u.$$ It's due to $X_1=\sqrt{UV}$. You also have $0\le x_2\le1$, this region is corresponding to $$0\le \sqrt{\dfrac uv}\le1\;\Rightarrow\;0\le \dfrac uv\le1\;\Rightarrow\;0\le u\le v.$$ It's due to your transformation $X_2=\sqrt{\dfrac UV}$. If you plot those regions (check the plot here), you can obtain the marginal PDFs of $U$ and $V$ as follow \begin{align} f_U(u)&=\int_{v=u}^{\frac1u}f_{U,V}(u,v)\ dv\ ;\quad\text{the region is bounded by v=u and v=\frac1u if you see it from u-axis}\\ &=\int_{v=u}^{\frac1u}\frac1{2v}\ dv\\ &=\left.\frac 12\ln v\right|_{v=u}^{\frac1u}\\ &=\frac 12\ln \left(\frac1u\right)-\frac 12\ln u\\ &=-\ln u\;;\quad\text{ for } 0\le u\le1. \end{align} and \begin{align} f_V(v)&=\int_{u=0}^{v}f_{U,V}(u,v)\ du\ ;\quad\text{the region is bounded by u=0 and u=v if you see it from v-axis}\\ &=\int_{u=0}^{v}\frac1{2v}\ du\\ &=\left.\frac u{2v}\right|_{u=0}^{v}\\ &=\frac12\;;\quad\text{ for } 0\le v\le1, \end{align} and \begin{align} f_V(v)&=\int_{u=0}^{\frac1v}f_{U,V}(u,v)\ du\ ;\quad\text{the region is bounded by u=0 and u=\frac1v if you see it from v-axis}\\ &=\int_{u=0}^{\frac1v}\frac1{2v}\ du\\ &=\left.\frac u{2v}\right|_{u=0}^{\frac1v}\\ &=\frac 1{2v^2}\;;\quad\text{ for } 1\le v\le\infty. \end{align} It can also be written as $$f_V(v)= \left\{ \begin{array}{l l} \frac12&\;;\quad\text{ for } 0\le v\le1,\\\\ \frac 1{2v^2}&\;;\quad\text{ for } 1\le v\le\infty. \end{array} \right.$$