Find the MGF of geometric,neg binomial dist.

[ArcanaNoir]

Homework Statement

Find the MGF (Moment generating function) of the
a. geometric distribution
b. negative binomial distribution

Homework Equations

geometric distribution: f(x)=p^x(1-p)^{x-1} where x=1,2,3...

negative binomial distribution: f(x)= \frac{(x-1)!}{(x-r)!(r-1)!}p^r(1-p)^{x-r} where x=r, r+1, r+2...

MGF= E(e^{tx})

The Attempt at a Solution

a. \sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}p^x(1-p)^{x-1}
let q=1-p
\sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}p^xq^{x-1}
\sum_{x=0}^{\infty}(pe^t)q^x
=\frac{pe^t}{1-q}
that's as close as I can get to approximating the solution,
but the book says the answer is \frac{pe^t}{1-qe^t}

b. \sum_{x=r}^{\infty}\frac{(x-1)!}{(x-r)!(r-1)!}e^{tx}p^rq^{x-r} where q=1-p

 

[I like Serena]

Let's first check the geometric distribution.
According to wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_distribution
it is either:
f(x)=(1-p)^{x-1}p
or
f(x)=(1-p)^{x}p

That doesn't look like your distribution...?

 

[micromass]

Homework Statement

Find the MGF (Moment generating function) of the
a. geometric distribution
b. negative binomial distribution

Homework Equations

geometric distribution: f(x)=p^x(1-p)^{x-1} where x=1,2,3...

negative binomial distribution: f(x)= \frac{(x-1)!}{(x-r)!(r-1)!}p^r(1-p)^{x-r} where x=r, r+1, r+2...

Those aren't the distributions I'm used to. Are you sure these formula's are correct??

For the geometric distribution, I got

f(x)=p^x(1-p)

and the negative binomial is

f(x)=\binom{x+r-1}{x}(1-p)^rp^x

Could you recheck this first?

 

[ArcanaNoir]

oh good god. I was looking at point binomial.
so here's what I get now,
\sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}p(1-p)^{x-1} letting q= (1-p)
= \frac{p}{q} \sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}q^{x}
= \frac{p}{q} \sum_{x=1}^{\infty}(e^{t}q)^x

 

[micromass]

oh good god. I was looking at point binomial.
so here's what I get now,
\sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}p(1-p)^{x-1} letting q= (1-p)
= \frac{p}{q} \sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}q^{x}
= \frac{p}{q} \sum_{x=1}^{\infty}(e^{t}q)^x

Yes, go on... You have a geometric series right now.

 

[ArcanaNoir]

the negative binomial I have as being : \binom{x-1}{r-1} p^r(1-p)^{x-r}
which I figured equals : \frac{(x-1)!}{(x-1-(r-1))!(r-1)!}p^r(1-p)^{x-r}
= \frac{(x-1)!}{(x-r)!(r-1)!}p^r(1-p)^{x-r}

 

[ArcanaNoir]

Yes, go on... You have a geometric series right now.

so, \frac{1}{1-r} ?
( \frac{p}{q} ) \frac{1}{1-e^{t}q} ?

 

[micromass]

so, \frac{1}{1-r} ?
( \frac{p}{q} ) \frac{1}{1-e^{t}q} ?

That's the sum of the geometrci series when you start summing from 0. But you start summing from 1 here.

 

[ArcanaNoir]

but if I sum from zero, won't I have \frac{p}{q} \sum_{x=0}^{\infty}(e^{t}q)^{x+1} oh wait. I see. hold on

 

[ArcanaNoir]

nevermind. I don't see. am I suppose to have x-1 at x=0 to do the sum?

 

[ArcanaNoir]

oop, there it is! found the answer to the geometric. thanks for the support on that.

 

[Ray Vickson]

Homework Statement

Find the MGF (Moment generating function) of the
a. geometric distribution
b. negative binomial distribution

Homework Equations

geometric distribution: f(x)=p^x(1-p)^{x-1} where x=1,2,3...

negative binomial distribution: f(x)= \frac{(x-1)!}{(x-r)!(r-1)!}p^r(1-p)^{x-r} where x=r, r+1, r+2...

MGF= E(e^{tx})

The Attempt at a Solution

a. \sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}p^x(1-p)^{x-1}
let q=1-p
\sum_{x=1}^{\infty}e^{tx}p^xq^{x-1}
\sum_{x=0}^{\infty}(pe^t)q^x
=\frac{pe^t}{1-q}
that's as close as I can get to approximating the solution,
but the book says the answer is \frac{pe^t}{1-qe^t}

b. \sum_{x=r}^{\infty}\frac{(x-1)!}{(x-r)!(r-1)!}e^{tx}p^rq^{x-r} where q=1-p

The negative binomial with parameters p and r is the distribution of a sum of r independent geometric random variables with parameter p. What do you know about the MGF of a sum of independent random variables?

RGV