# Math Help - Probability help please

If X has generating function G, then the expectation(X) = G'(1) and variance(X) = G''(1) + G'(1) - G'(1)^2.

Use this to prove that if X and Y are independent, then variance(X+Y) = variance(X) + variance(Y).

2. Originally Posted by clockingly
If X has generating function G, then the expectation(X) = G'(1) and variance(X) = G''(1) + G'(1) - G'(1)^2.

Use this to prove that if X and Y are independent, then variance(X+Y) = variance(X) + variance(Y).
Let $X$ have generating function $G$, and $Y$ have generating function $H$.

Then as $X$ and $Y$ are independent the generating function of $X+Y$ is:

$F(z)=H(z)G(z).$

and as these are probability generating functions $H(1)=G(1)=1$.

You should now be able to complete this yourself, if not let us know and
we will finnish this off for you.

RonL

3. Thanks - but I'm still a little confused. I get that H(1) = G(1) = 1, but I'm not sure how to relate that to the variance of X and Y.

4. Originally Posted by clockingly
Thanks - but I'm still a little confused. I get that H(1) = G(1) = 1, but I'm not sure how to relate that to the variance of X and Y.
variance(X+Y) = F''(1) + F'(1) - F'(1)^2

Now use the product rule repeatedly on F(z)=H(z)G(z) to get F'(z) and F''(z)
in terms of H''(z), H'(z), H(z), G''(z), G'(z) an G(z). Now put z=1 and
substitute into the equation for the variance of X+Y and the result drops out.

RonL

5. okay so

F'(z) is H(z)G'(z) + G(z)H'(z).

F''(z) is 2*(H'(z)G'(z)) + H(z)G"(z) + G(z)H"(z)

so variance(X+Y) = F"(1)+ F'(1) - F'(1)^2

so it is the same as:

2*(H'(1)G'(1)) + H(1)G"(1) + G(1)H"(1) +

H(1)G'(1) + G(1)H'(1) +

(H(1)G'(1) + G(1)H'(1))^2

however, how do i reduce this?

6. Originally Posted by clockingly
okay so

F'(z) is H(z)G'(z) + G(z)H'(z).

F''(z) is 2*(H'(z)G'(z)) + H(z)G"(z) + G(z)H"(z)

so variance(X+Y) = F"(1)+ F'(1) - F'(1)^2

so it is the same as:

2*(H'(1)G'(1)) + H(1)G"(1) + G(1)H"(1) +

H(1)G'(1) + G(1)H'(1) +

(H(1)G'(1) + G(1)H'(1))^2

however, how do i reduce this?
First replace all the G(1)'s and H(1)'s by 1, so:

2*(H'(1)G'(1)) + H(1)G"(1) + G(1)H"(1) + H(1)G'(1) + G(1)H'(1) - (H(1)G'(1) + G(1)H'(1))^2

.... = 2*(H'(1)G'(1)) + G"(1) + H"(1) + G'(1) + H'(1) - (G'(1) + H'(1))^2

.... = 2*(H'(1)G'(1)) + G"(1) + H"(1) + G'(1) + H'(1) - (G'(1))^2 - (H'(1))^2 -2*(H'(1)G'(1))

.... = G"(1) + H"(1) + G'(1) + H'(1) - (G'(1))^2 - (H'(1))^2

.... = G"(1) + G'(1) - (G'(1))^2 + H"(1) + H'(1) - (H'(1))^2

.... = var(X) + var(Y)

RonL