# Math Help - show that V(X) = lambda

1. ## show that V(X) = lambda

I have a problem and I don't really want the solution just a push in the right direction.

given that $\Pr(X=r) = \frac{e^{\lambda}\cdot{\lambda ^{r}}}{r!}$ r = 0,1,.....

show that Varience of X equals $\lambda$.

2. Hello,
Originally Posted by Animalxxv
I have a problem and I don't really want the solution just a push in the right direction.

given that P(X=r) = $\frac{e^{lambda}\cdot{lambda ^{r}}}{r!}$ r = 0,1,.....

show that Varience of X equals lambda.

Note that $\mathbb{E}(f(X))=\sum_{r=0}^\infty \mathbb{P}(X=r) f(r)$
where $\mathbb{E}$ is the expectation.

We know that the variance V is given by this formula :
$V(X)=\mathbb{E}(X^2)-\mathbb{E}(X)^2$

$V(X)=\sum_{r=0}^\infty \mathbb{P}(X=r) r^2-\left(\sum_{r=0}^\infty \mathbb{P}(X=r)r\right)^2$

Can you do it ?

Edit : there are other ways such as using generating functions. This was the most basic one that came in my mind ><

3. Yep thank you very much for your help

4. Originally Posted by Animalxxv
I have a problem and I don't really want the solution just a push in the right direction.

given that $\Pr(X=r) = \frac{e^{\lambda}\cdot{\lambda ^{r}}}{r!}$ r = 0,1,.....

show that Varience of X equals $\lambda$.