On the Distribution of the Sum of n Non-Identically Distributed Uniform Random Variables

The distribution of the sum of independent identically distributed uniform random variables is well-known. However, it is sometimes necessary to analyze data which have been drawn from different uniform distributions. By inverting the characteristic function, we derive explicit formulae for the distribution of the sum of n non-identically distributed uniform random variables in both the continuous and the discrete case. The results, though involved, have a certain elegance. As examples, we derive from our general formulae some special cases which have appeared in the literature.     

Conditional distribution of heavy tailed random variables on large deviations of their sum

It is known that large deviations of sums of subexponential random variables are most likely realised by deviations of a single random variable. In this article we give a detailed picture of how subexponential random variables are distributed when a large deviation of the sum is observed.     

Bounds for some general sums of random variables

Rogers and Shi (1995) have used the technique of conditional expectations to derive approximations for the distribution of a sum of lognormals. In this paper we extend their results to more general sums of random variables. In particular we study sums of functions of dependent random variables that are multivariate normally distributed and also derive results for sums of functions of dependent random variables from the additive exponential dispersion family. The usefulness of our results for practical applications is also discussed.     

Large deviations for product of sums of random variables

In this paper, we obtain sample path and scalar large deviation principles for the product of sums of positive random variables. We study the case when the positive random variables are independent and identically distributed and bounded away from zero or the left tail decays to zero sufficiently fast. The explicit formula for the rate function of a scalar large deviation principle is given in the case when random variables are exponentially distributed.     

A note on a dependent risk model with constant interest rate

For a dependent risk model with constant interest rate, in which the claim sizes form a sequence of upper tail asymptotically independent and identically distributed random variables, and their inter-arrival times are another sequence of widely lower orthant dependent and identically distributed random variables, we will give an asymptotically equivalent formula for the finite-time ruin probability. The obtained asymptotics holds uniformly in an arbitrarily finite-time interval.     

On areas of random triangles

By using a representation of powers of the area of a triangle as integral of Bessel functions involving its sides, we present some results on the distribution of the area of triangles possibly formed by given three positive independent and identically distributed random variables, taken to be as the sides.     

Asymptotic Properties of Random Multidimensional Assignment Problems

The multidimensional assignment problem (MAP) is a NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem, occurring in many applications, such as data association. In this paper, we prove two conjectures made in Ref. 1 and based on data from computational experiments on MAPs. We show that the mean optimal objective function cost of random instances of the MAP goes to zero as the problem size increases, when assignment costs are independent exponentially or uniformly distributed random variables. We prove also that the mean optimal solution goes to negative infinity when assignment costs are independent normally distributed random variables.     

Recurrence relations among moments of order statistics from two related sets of independent and non-identically distributed random variables

Some recurrence relations among moments of order statistics from two related sets of variables are quite well-known in the i.i.d. case and are due to Govindarajulu (1963a, Technometrics, 5, 514–518 and 1966, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc., 61, 248–258). In this paper, we generalize these results to the case when the order statistics arise from two related sets of independent and non-identically distributed random variables. These relations can be employed to simplify the evaluation of the moments of order statistics in an outlier model for symmetrically distributed random variables.     

Estimates in the invariance principle in terms of truncated power moments

We obtain estimates for the distributions of errors which arise in approximation of a random polygonal line by a Wiener process on the same probability space. The polygonal line is constructed on the whole axis for sums of independent nonidentically distributed random variables and the distance between it and the Wiener process is taken to be the uniform distance with an increasing weight. All estimates depend explicitly on truncated power moments of the random variables which is an advantage over the earlier estimates of Komlos, Major, and Tusnady where this dependence was implicit.     

An algebra of Stein operators

We build upon recent advances on the distributional aspect of Stein's method to propose a novel and flexible technique for computing Stein operators for random variables that can be written as products of independent random variables. We show that our results are valid for a wide class of distributions including normal, beta, variance-gamma, generalized gamma and many more. Our operators are kth degree differential operators with polynomial coefficients; they are straightforward to obtain even when the target density bears no explicit handle. As an application, we derive a new formula for the density of the product of k independent symmetric variance-gamma distributed random variables.     

Computing the moments of order statistics from nonidentically distributed phase-type random variables

In this paper, we derive a recurrence relation for the single moments of order statistics (o.s.) arising from n independent nonidentically distributed phase-type (PH) random variables (r.v.’s). This recurrence relation will enable one to compute all single moments of all o.s. in a simple recursive manner.     

The characterizations of a semicircle law by the certain freeness in a C*-probability space

In usual probability theory, various characterizations of the Gaussian law have been obtained. For instance, independence of the sample mean and the sample variance of independently identically distributed random variables characterizes the Gaussian law and the property of remaining independent under rotations characterizes the Gaussian random variables. In this paper, we consider the free analogue of such a kind of characterizations replacing independence by freeness. We show that freeness of the certain pair of the linear form and the quadratic form in freely identically distributed noncommutative random variables, which covers the case for the sample mean and the sample variance, characterizes the semicircle law. Moreover we give the alternative proof for Nica's result that the property of remaining free under rotations characterizes a semicircular system. Our proof is more direct and straightforward one. Received: 12 February 1997 / Revised version: 16 June 1998     

Relationships between moments of two related sets of order statistics and some extensions

Govindarajulu expressed the moments of order statistics from a symmetric distribution in terms of those from its folded form. He derived these relations analytically by dividing the range of integration suitably into parts. In this paper, we establish these relations through probabilistic arguments which readily extend to the independent and non-identically distributed case. Results for random variables having arbitrary multivariate distributions are also derived.The first author would like to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this research.     

On sums of independent random variables without power moments

In 1952 Darling proved the limit theorem for the sums of independent identically distributed random variables without power moments under the functional normalization. This paper contains an alternative proof of Darling’s theorem, using the Laplace transform. Moreover, the asymptotic behavior of probabilities of large deviations is studied in the pattern under consideration.     

On the condensed density of the zeros of the Cauchy transform of a complex atomic random measure with Gaussian moments

An atomic random complex measure defined on the unit disk with normally distributed moments is considered. An approximation to the distribution of the zeros of its Cauchy transform is computed. Implications of this result for solving several moment problems are discussed.     

Stochastic Ordering of Multivariate Normal Distributions

We show an interesting identity for Ef(Y) – Ef(X), where X, Yare normally distributed random vectors and f is a function fulfilling some weak regularity condition. This identity will be used for a unified derivation of sufficient conditions for stochastic ordering results of multivariate normal distributions, some well known ones as well as some new ones. Moreover, we will show that many of these conditions are also necessary. As examples we will consider the usual stochastic order, convex order, upper orthant order, supermodular order and directionally convex order.     

Quantifying the error of convex order bounds for truncated first moments

The concepts of convex order and comonotonicity have become quite popular in risk theory, essentially since Kaas et al. [Kaas, R., Dhaene, J., Goovaerts, M.J., 2000. Upper and lower bounds for sums of random variables. Insurance: Math. Econ. 27, 151-168] constructed bounds in the convex order sense for a sum S of random variables without imposing any dependence structure upon it. Those bounds are especially helpful, if the distribution of S cannot be calculated explicitly or is too cumbersome to work with. This will be the case for sums of lognormally distributed random variables, which frequently appear in the context of insurance and finance.In this article we quantify the maximal error in terms of truncated first moments, when S is approximated by a lower or an upper convex order bound to it. We make use of geometrical arguments; from the unknown distribution of S only its variance is involved in the computation of the error bounds. The results are illustrated by pricing an Asian option. It is shown that under certain circumstances our error bounds outperform other known error bounds, e.g. the bound proposed by Nielsen and Sandmann [Nielsen, J.A., Sandmann, K., 2003. Pricing bounds on Asian options. J. Financ. Quant. Anal. 38, 449-473].     

Real linear Kronecker product operations

The Kronecker product in the real linear matrix analytic setting is studied. More versatile operations are proposed. Such generalizations are of interest for the same reasons the standard Kronecker product is. To give an example, new preconditioning ideas are suggested. In connection with this, several formulae for the inverse are devised. Orthogonal decompositions of real-entried matrices are derived through introducing new Kronecker product SVDs. Matrix equations are given to illustrate how the Kronecker product structures introduced can arise.     

A heuristic algorithm for a chance constrained stochastic program

A chance constrained stochastic program is considered that arises from an application to college enrollments and in which the objective function is the expectation of a linear function of the random variables. When these random variables are independent and normally distributed with mean and variance that are linear in the decision variables, the deterministic equivalent of the problem is a nonconvex nonlinear knapsack problem. The optimal solution to this problem is characterized and a greedy-type heuristic algorithm that exploits this structure is employed. Computational results show that the algorithm performs well, especially when the normal random variables are approximations of binomial random variables.     

Likelihood ratio tests of correlated multivariate samples

We develop methods to compare multiple multivariate normally distributed samples which may be correlated. The methods are new in the context that no assumption is made about the correlations among the samples. Three types of null hypotheses are considered: equality of mean vectors, homogeneity of covariance matrices, and equality of both mean vectors and covariance matrices. We demonstrate that the likelihood ratio test statistics have finite-sample distributions that are functions of two independent Wishart variables and dependent on the covariance matrix of the combined multiple populations. Asymptotic calculations show that the likelihood ratio test statistics converge in distribution to central Chi-squared distributions under the null hypotheses regardless of how the populations are correlated. Following these theoretical findings, we propose a resampling procedure for the implementation of the likelihood ratio tests in which no restrictive assumption is imposed on the structures of the covariance matrices. The empirical size and power of the test procedure are investigated for various sample sizes via simulations. Two examples are provided for illustration. The results show good performance of the methods in terms of test validity and power.