Thread: CDF and Quartiles

I am given a probability density function -

f(x) = (1/2)(1-x), for -1 <= x <= 1

For finding the cdf, I distribute the (1/2) and integrate to

F(x) = (1/2)x - (1/4)x^2

My question is how am I able to use this to find the upper and lower quartiles? Every other problem I've done finding the quartiles has just been a linear F(x). Does having a quadratic mean I will have...two upper and low quartiles? That doesn't seem right to me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Originally Posted by SterlingM

I am given a probability density function -

f(x) = (1/2)(1-x), for -1 <= x <= 1

For finding the cdf, I distribute the (1/2) and integrate to

F(x) = (1/2)x - (1/4)x^2

My question is how am I able to use this to find the upper and lower quartiles? Every other problem I've done finding the quartiles has just been a linear F(x). Does having a quadratic mean I will have...two upper and low quartiles? That doesn't seem right to me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

You have the cumulative distribution function wrong.

What you shuold have is:



for and that .

Which makes

Now to find the first and third quartiles you solve the equations (which are quadratics and solvable using the quadratic formula):



and



for roots in

CB

The integration is definitely right, but how did you get it? Is there a quotient rule for integration?

Originally Posted by SterlingM

The integration is definitely right, but how did you get it? Is there a quotient rule for integration?

I got it in exactly the same way you did, I integrated the powers and then tidied up. You left off the constant of integration the value of which is determined by the end point conditions.

CB