3 Suppose XY Binomial Y p07 and Y Poisson 10 aWhat is the
3. Suppose X|Y ~ Binomial (Y, p=0.7) and Y ~ Poisson (=10)
(a)What is the expected value of X?
(b)What is the variance of X? (Hint: recall the iterated expectation and iterated variance formulae.)
Is the variance of X bigger or smaller than the variance of Z ~ Binomial (10, p=0.7)?
(c)What is the covariance of X and Y? Hint: you may use Cov(X,Y)=E(XY)-E(X)E(Y)
(d)What is the variance of X + Y? (careful: they are not independent!)
Solution
Given X|y ~ Bin(y, 0.7) where y is a realised value of Y ~ P(10)
(a)
E[x] = E[E(X|Y)]
=E[0.7Y] (Since if X~Bin(n,p), E[x]= np)
=0.7E[Y]
=0.7*10 (Since E[Y] = 10)
=7
(b)
Var(X)
=Var[E(X|Y)] + E[Var(X|Y)]
=Var[0.7Y] + E[Y*.7*(1-.7)] (Since if X~Bin(n,p), Var(x)=np(1-p) )
=.72 Var[Y] + .21 E[Y]
=.49*10 + .21*10 (Since Var(Y)=10 )
=4.9+2.1
=7
(c)
Z ~ Bin(10,0.7)
Var(Z) = 10*.7*.3 = 2.1
We find that Var(Z) < Var(X).
(d)
Cov (X,Y) = E[XY] – E[x]E[Y]
E[x]=7 (from part (a) )
E[Y]=10 (given)
E[XY] = E[E(XY|Y)]
= E[YE(X|Y)]
= E[Y*0.7Y]
= .7 E[Y2]
= .7 (Var(Y) + E2[Y]) (Since Var(Y) = E(Y2)-E2(Y))
= .7(10+102)
= 77
Then cov(X,Y) = 77-7*10 = 7
(e)
Var(X+Y)
=Var(X) + Var(Y) +2cov(X,Y)
=7+10+7
=24

