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The following problem is from the book "Probability and Statistics" which is part of the Schaum's outline series. It can be found on page 71 and is problem number 2.74. It is under the section Convolutions. Therefore, I want to solve it using a convolution.
Problem:
Let $X$ and $Y$ be identically distributed independent random variables with density function $$ f(x) = \begin{cases} 1, & \text{for } 0 \leq t \leq 1 \\ 0, & \text{otherwise } \end{cases} $$ Find the density function of $X + Y$ and check your answer.
Answer:
Let $u = x + y$. Let $g$ be the density function we seek. This gives us: \begin{align*} g(u) &= \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(v)f(u-v) \, dv \end{align*} Now for $v > 1$ we have $f(v) = 0$ so we can rewrite the integral. \begin{align*} g(u) &= \int_{-\infty}^{1} f(v)f(u-v) \, dv \end{align*} Now for $v < 0$ we have $f(v) = 0$ so we can rewrite the integral. \begin{align*} g(u) &= \int_{0}^{1} f(v)f(u-v) \, dv \\ g(u) &= \int_{0}^{1} f(u-v) \, dv \end{align*} Now, I am stuck. How do I complete the problem? Am I right so far?

Here is an updated solution based on comments from the group. We want: $$ 0 \leq u - v \leq 1 $$ Now we solve for $v$ $$ -u \leq -v \leq 1 - v $$ $$ u -1 \leq v \leq u $$ Now we have the following integral:

\begin{align*} g(u) &= \int_{u-1}^{u} 1 \, dv\\ g(u) &= dv \Big|_{v = u - 1}^{v = u} \\ g(u) &= u - (u - 1) \\ g(u) &= 1 \end{align*} Where did I go wrong?

Bob
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2 Answers2

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You can now apply the same idea to $f(u-v).$ For which values of $v$ is this $0$ and for which values is it $1$? Note that $u$ here is fixed. Can you now solve it yourself?

Dasherman
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  • I think I cannot solve it from here. However, I have an idea on how to solve it, I will post my updated solution. – Bob Jun 02 '20 at 22:56
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We have $f(t)= \mathbf 1_{0\leq t\leq 1}$, so therefore $$\begin{align}g(u)&=\int_\Bbb R f(v)~f(u-v)~\mathrm d v\\&=\int_\Bbb R\mathbf 1_{0\leq v\leq 1}~\mathbf 1_{0\leq u-v\leq 1}~\mathrm d v\\&=\int_\Bbb R \mathbf 1_{0\leq u\leq 2}~\mathbf 1_{\max(0,u-1)\leq v\leq\min(1,u)}~\mathrm d v\\&=\int_{\max(0,u-1)}^{\min(1,u)}\mathbf 1_{0\leq u\leq 2}~\mathrm d v\end{align}$$

Graham Kemp
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