Obtaining a marginal PDF from a condtional PDF











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I was given that that $f_{X|Y}(x|y=1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$ and $f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$. $X$ is continuous. $Y$ is discrete and can only take on those two values, $1$ and $-1$, with probability $p$ and $1-p$ respectively. $lambda_1$ and $lambda_2$ are positive values. I am trying to get the marginal PDF, $f_x(x)$ for when $xgt 0$ and for when $xlt 0 $.



I got $f_x(x)$ = $sum_{y}P(Y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) = plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +(1-p)lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$, but after this , I am not sure how to interpret it for $xgt 0$ and $xlt 0 $. If I plot $f_{X|Y}(x|1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$, $f_{X|Y}(x|-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$, and $lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ on the same graph, I obtain the following:
plot for a fixed $lambda$, but even visualizing it doesn't help me understand it any better.










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    I was given that that $f_{X|Y}(x|y=1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$ and $f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$. $X$ is continuous. $Y$ is discrete and can only take on those two values, $1$ and $-1$, with probability $p$ and $1-p$ respectively. $lambda_1$ and $lambda_2$ are positive values. I am trying to get the marginal PDF, $f_x(x)$ for when $xgt 0$ and for when $xlt 0 $.



    I got $f_x(x)$ = $sum_{y}P(Y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) = plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +(1-p)lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$, but after this , I am not sure how to interpret it for $xgt 0$ and $xlt 0 $. If I plot $f_{X|Y}(x|1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$, $f_{X|Y}(x|-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$, and $lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ on the same graph, I obtain the following:
    plot for a fixed $lambda$, but even visualizing it doesn't help me understand it any better.










    share|cite|improve this question
























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      I was given that that $f_{X|Y}(x|y=1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$ and $f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$. $X$ is continuous. $Y$ is discrete and can only take on those two values, $1$ and $-1$, with probability $p$ and $1-p$ respectively. $lambda_1$ and $lambda_2$ are positive values. I am trying to get the marginal PDF, $f_x(x)$ for when $xgt 0$ and for when $xlt 0 $.



      I got $f_x(x)$ = $sum_{y}P(Y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) = plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +(1-p)lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$, but after this , I am not sure how to interpret it for $xgt 0$ and $xlt 0 $. If I plot $f_{X|Y}(x|1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$, $f_{X|Y}(x|-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$, and $lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ on the same graph, I obtain the following:
      plot for a fixed $lambda$, but even visualizing it doesn't help me understand it any better.










      share|cite|improve this question













      I was given that that $f_{X|Y}(x|y=1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$ and $f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$. $X$ is continuous. $Y$ is discrete and can only take on those two values, $1$ and $-1$, with probability $p$ and $1-p$ respectively. $lambda_1$ and $lambda_2$ are positive values. I am trying to get the marginal PDF, $f_x(x)$ for when $xgt 0$ and for when $xlt 0 $.



      I got $f_x(x)$ = $sum_{y}P(Y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) = plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +(1-p)lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$, but after this , I am not sure how to interpret it for $xgt 0$ and $xlt 0 $. If I plot $f_{X|Y}(x|1)=lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}$ for $xgeq 0$, $f_{X|Y}(x|-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ for $xleq 0$, and $lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x} +lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}$ on the same graph, I obtain the following:
      plot for a fixed $lambda$, but even visualizing it doesn't help me understand it any better.







      probability exponential-function conditional-probability






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      asked Nov 18 at 10:55









      ChocolateChip

      33




      33






















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          To better keep track of the conditional statements you can rewrite the conditional densities as functions over $mathbb{R}$ using indicator functions, so
          $$
          f_{X|Y}(x|y=1) = lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0}, qquad f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
          $$

          we haven't added any new information, but it might help to keep track of everything. So now when you carry out your marginalisation you have
          $$
          begin{align}
          f_X(x) &= sum_{y in {-1, 1}} f_Y(y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) \
          &= plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0} + (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
          end{align}
          $$

          again nothing new, but hopefully now it should be just a little clearer how to interpret it, so you could also rewrite the density as
          $$
          f_X(x) =
          begin{cases}
          plambda_1 e^{-lambda_1 x} & x geq 0 \
          (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x} & mbox{otherwise}.
          end{cases}
          $$



          So on the sets ${ x < 0 }$ and ${ x > 0 }$ you are going to have a graph that looks like the density function of an exponential random variable weighted by the probabilities $p$ or $(1-p)$ and you will have a discontinuity at $0$.



          A good thing to do next for your own understanding is to probably rewrite the density function in terms of the absolute value of $x$, $| x |$, and see if you can realise the Laplace distribution as a special case of this setup.






          share|cite|improve this answer





















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            1 Answer
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            active

            oldest

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            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

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            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            1
            down vote



            accepted










            To better keep track of the conditional statements you can rewrite the conditional densities as functions over $mathbb{R}$ using indicator functions, so
            $$
            f_{X|Y}(x|y=1) = lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0}, qquad f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
            $$

            we haven't added any new information, but it might help to keep track of everything. So now when you carry out your marginalisation you have
            $$
            begin{align}
            f_X(x) &= sum_{y in {-1, 1}} f_Y(y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) \
            &= plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0} + (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
            end{align}
            $$

            again nothing new, but hopefully now it should be just a little clearer how to interpret it, so you could also rewrite the density as
            $$
            f_X(x) =
            begin{cases}
            plambda_1 e^{-lambda_1 x} & x geq 0 \
            (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x} & mbox{otherwise}.
            end{cases}
            $$



            So on the sets ${ x < 0 }$ and ${ x > 0 }$ you are going to have a graph that looks like the density function of an exponential random variable weighted by the probabilities $p$ or $(1-p)$ and you will have a discontinuity at $0$.



            A good thing to do next for your own understanding is to probably rewrite the density function in terms of the absolute value of $x$, $| x |$, and see if you can realise the Laplace distribution as a special case of this setup.






            share|cite|improve this answer

























              up vote
              1
              down vote



              accepted










              To better keep track of the conditional statements you can rewrite the conditional densities as functions over $mathbb{R}$ using indicator functions, so
              $$
              f_{X|Y}(x|y=1) = lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0}, qquad f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
              $$

              we haven't added any new information, but it might help to keep track of everything. So now when you carry out your marginalisation you have
              $$
              begin{align}
              f_X(x) &= sum_{y in {-1, 1}} f_Y(y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) \
              &= plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0} + (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
              end{align}
              $$

              again nothing new, but hopefully now it should be just a little clearer how to interpret it, so you could also rewrite the density as
              $$
              f_X(x) =
              begin{cases}
              plambda_1 e^{-lambda_1 x} & x geq 0 \
              (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x} & mbox{otherwise}.
              end{cases}
              $$



              So on the sets ${ x < 0 }$ and ${ x > 0 }$ you are going to have a graph that looks like the density function of an exponential random variable weighted by the probabilities $p$ or $(1-p)$ and you will have a discontinuity at $0$.



              A good thing to do next for your own understanding is to probably rewrite the density function in terms of the absolute value of $x$, $| x |$, and see if you can realise the Laplace distribution as a special case of this setup.






              share|cite|improve this answer























                up vote
                1
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                1
                down vote



                accepted






                To better keep track of the conditional statements you can rewrite the conditional densities as functions over $mathbb{R}$ using indicator functions, so
                $$
                f_{X|Y}(x|y=1) = lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0}, qquad f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
                $$

                we haven't added any new information, but it might help to keep track of everything. So now when you carry out your marginalisation you have
                $$
                begin{align}
                f_X(x) &= sum_{y in {-1, 1}} f_Y(y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) \
                &= plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0} + (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
                end{align}
                $$

                again nothing new, but hopefully now it should be just a little clearer how to interpret it, so you could also rewrite the density as
                $$
                f_X(x) =
                begin{cases}
                plambda_1 e^{-lambda_1 x} & x geq 0 \
                (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x} & mbox{otherwise}.
                end{cases}
                $$



                So on the sets ${ x < 0 }$ and ${ x > 0 }$ you are going to have a graph that looks like the density function of an exponential random variable weighted by the probabilities $p$ or $(1-p)$ and you will have a discontinuity at $0$.



                A good thing to do next for your own understanding is to probably rewrite the density function in terms of the absolute value of $x$, $| x |$, and see if you can realise the Laplace distribution as a special case of this setup.






                share|cite|improve this answer












                To better keep track of the conditional statements you can rewrite the conditional densities as functions over $mathbb{R}$ using indicator functions, so
                $$
                f_{X|Y}(x|y=1) = lambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0}, qquad f_{X|Y}(x|y=-1)=lambda_2e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
                $$

                we haven't added any new information, but it might help to keep track of everything. So now when you carry out your marginalisation you have
                $$
                begin{align}
                f_X(x) &= sum_{y in {-1, 1}} f_Y(y)f_{X|Y}(x|y) \
                &= plambda_1e^{-lambda_1 x}mathbb{1}_{x geq 0} + (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x}mathbb{1}_{x < 0},
                end{align}
                $$

                again nothing new, but hopefully now it should be just a little clearer how to interpret it, so you could also rewrite the density as
                $$
                f_X(x) =
                begin{cases}
                plambda_1 e^{-lambda_1 x} & x geq 0 \
                (1-p)lambda_2 e^{lambda_2 x} & mbox{otherwise}.
                end{cases}
                $$



                So on the sets ${ x < 0 }$ and ${ x > 0 }$ you are going to have a graph that looks like the density function of an exponential random variable weighted by the probabilities $p$ or $(1-p)$ and you will have a discontinuity at $0$.



                A good thing to do next for your own understanding is to probably rewrite the density function in terms of the absolute value of $x$, $| x |$, and see if you can realise the Laplace distribution as a special case of this setup.







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered Nov 18 at 12:55









                Nadiels

                2,350413




                2,350413






























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