Math 2.0

Integral transforms, operational calculus Moment problems Counterexample

Moments of the log-normal distribution

Builds on Log-normal distributionMomentProbability density functionNormal distribution

Counterexample

Let ff be the density of the standard log-normal distribution: f(x)=1x2πexp⁡(−(ln⁡x)22)(x>0),f(x)=0(x≤0).f(x) = \frac{1}{x \sqrt{2\pi}} \exp\left(-\frac{(\ln x)^2}{2}\right) \quad (x > 0), \qquad f(x) = 0 \quad (x \le 0). Its moments are ∫0∞xnf(x) dx=en2/2\int_0^\infty x^n f(x)\, dx = e^{n^2/2} for every integer n≥0n \ge 0. For a real number aa with −1≤a≤1-1 \le a \le 1, put fa(x)=f(x)(1+asin⁡(2πln⁡x))(x>0),fa(x)=0(x≤0).f_a(x) = f(x)\bigl(1 + a \sin(2\pi \ln x)\bigr) \quad (x > 0), \qquad f_a(x) = 0 \quad (x \le 0). Each faf_a is a probability density, because fa≥0f_a \ge 0 and it has the same total mass as ff by the computation below. Check that faf_a has the same moments as ff. It suffices to show ∫0∞xnf(x)sin⁡(2πln⁡x) dx=0\int_0^\infty x^n f(x) \sin(2\pi \ln x)\, dx = 0 for every integer n≥0n \ge 0. The substitution x=eyx = e^y turns this integral into ∫ℝenyφ(y)sin⁡(2πy) dy\int_\R e^{ny} \varphi(y) \sin(2\pi y)\, dy, where φ(y)=e−y2/2/2π\varphi(y) = e^{-y^2/2}/\sqrt{2\pi} is the standard normal density. Since enyφ(y)=en2/2φ(y−n)e^{ny} \varphi(y) = e^{n^2/2} \varphi(y - n), the substitution y=u+ny = u + n gives en2/2∫ℝφ(u)sin⁡(2πu+2πn) du=en2/2∫ℝφ(u)sin⁡(2πu) du=0,e^{n^2/2} \int_\R \varphi(u) \sin(2\pi u + 2\pi n)\, du = e^{n^2/2} \int_\R \varphi(u) \sin(2\pi u)\, du = 0, because nn is an integer and the last integrand is odd. So the densities faf_a, −1≤a≤1-1 \le a \le 1, are pairwise different and all have the moments en2/2e^{n^2/2}. Hence the moment problem for this moment sequence is not determinate: it is indeterminate.

Remarks

The log-normal law has all moments finite, yet its moments do not determine it. The moments grow like en2/2e^{n^2/2}, so fast that Carleman's condition fails. The normal distribution, whose moments grow much more slowly, is determined by its moments.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 48 pages in order. The foundations come first.

  1. Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
  2. Element definition
  3. Integers object
  4. Moment concept
  5. Moment-generating function concept
  6. Normal distribution concept
  7. Ordered field definition
  8. Probability density function concept
  9. Proposition concept
  10. Random experiment concept
  11. Rational numbers object
  12. Real numbers object
  13. Set definition
  14. Ring of integers statement
  15. Log-normal distribution example
  16. Disjunction definition
  17. Implication definition
  18. Predicate definition
  19. Ordered pair definition
  20. Union definition
  21. Sample space definition
  22. Existential quantifier definition
  23. Universal quantifier definition
  24. The rationals form a field statement
  25. Cartesian product definition
  26. Subset definition
  27. Uniqueness quantifier definition
  28. The rationals form an ordered field statement
  29. Binary relation definition
  30. Universal set definition
  31. Power set definition
  32. Order on the reals definition
  33. Complement definition
  34. Function definition
  35. Interval definition
  36. Sigma-algebra definition
  37. Preimage of a set definition
  38. Event definition
  39. Borel sigma-algebra definition
  40. Probability axioms concept
  41. Probability measure definition
  42. Probability distribution definition
  43. Probability space definition
  44. Random variable definition
  45. Cumulative distribution function definition
  46. Random variable with a density definition
  47. Probability density function definition
  48. Moments of the log-normal distribution counterexample

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log-normal_distribution
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Kindcounterexample
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MSC44A60, 60E05
UsesLog-normal distribution, Moment, Probability density function, Normal distribution

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