MGF of Normal Dist

Discussion in 'CT3' started by kartik_newpro, Jun 28, 2011.

  1. kartik_newpro

    kartik_newpro Member

    I am not able to derive E(X^2) from the MGF of Normal Distribution.

    I get that that E(X) = mu which is the co-efficient of t/1! in the second term of the series.

    But how is E(X^2) = (sigma)^2 + (mu)^2 ??

    Am i supposed to expand the third term of the series?

    I feel as if I am missing some point here.

    Thanks.
     
  2. DevonMatthews

    DevonMatthews Member

    No what you quoted is the standard Var(X) = E(X^2) - [E(X)]^2 result .. so the coefficient of (t^2)/2! is the 2nd moment [EX^2], and you can re-arrange to find sigma using the standard identity. The third term would be used to find skewness.
     
  3. kartik_newpro

    kartik_newpro Member

    Sorry but I still dont get it. Lets say, mean = m and variance = v^2, the series goes -

    M(t) = 1 + [mt + 1/2*(vt)^2] + {[mt + 1/2*(vt)^2]^2}/2! + ..........

    Can you help evaluate 1st and 2nd moment from this because the study material (Chp 5 Pg 18) says,

    E[X^2] = co - efficient of t^2/2! = v^2 + m^2.

    How do i re-arrange to get the above step?

    Apologies if my mathematics is poor :)
     
  4. manish_rex

    manish_rex Member

    hey, just calculate the second derivative of MGF, wrt t, and evaluate it at t = 0. This will give you the E(X^2).

    Otherwise, just see, that as you take second derivate, the first term in series expansion will disappear, and you are left with series with second term onwards. Then set t = 0. All other terms except first will disappear. Remaining expression is you E(X^2)..
     
  5. kartik_newpro

    kartik_newpro Member

    i have done all that .... i am just curious about the series method which i couldnt derive .... thanks anyway ....
     
  6. John Lee

    John Lee ActEd Tutor Staff Member

    You get ½v²t² from the 1st bracket and m²t²/2! from the 2nd bracket (all the other terms have difference powers of t).

    So you have ½(v² + m²)t² hence E(X²) = v² + m²
     

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