Home page for accesible maths 4 Univariate Transformations

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4.5 Key definitions and Relationships

Let X be a rv and let Y=g(X) where g is a real-valued function.

  1. 1.

    If X is discrete then so is Y, and pY(y)=x:g(x)=ypX(x).

  2. 2.

    Distribution function (cdf) method: FY(y)=𝖯(Yy)=𝖯(g(X)y). The right hand side must be evaluated from knowledge of X. If X is continuous then differentiation gives fY(y).

  3. 3.

    Density function (pdf) method: if X is continuous and g is 1-1 then Y is continuous and fY(y)=fX(x)|dx/dy|, where the right hand side is evaluated at x=g-1(y).

  4. 4.

    Be careful to also specify the range of Y.

  5. 5.

    PIT: if a continuous rv, V, has a cdf of F then F(V)𝖴𝗇𝗂𝖿(0,1); if U𝖴𝗇𝗂𝖿(0,1) and F is a cdf of a continuous rv then F-1(U) is a rv whose cdf is F.