The Probability Function of the Product of Two Normally Distributed Variables
Aroian, Leo A.
Ann. Math. Statist., Tome 18 (1947) no. 4, p. 265-271 / Harvested from Project Euclid
Let $x$ and $y$ follow a normal bivariate probability function with means $\bar X, \bar Y$, standard deviations $\sigma_1, \sigma_2$, respectively, $r$ the coefficient of correlation, and $\rho_1 = \bar X/\sigma_1, \rho_2 = \bar Y/\sigma_2$. Professor C. C. Craig [1] has found the probability function of $z = xy/\sigma_1\sigma_2$ in closed form as the difference of two integrals. For purposes of numerical computation he has expanded this result in an infinite series involving powers of $z, \rho_1, \rho_2$, and Bessel functions of a certain type; in addition, he has determined the moments, semin-variants, and the moment generating function of $z$. However, for $\rho_1$ and $\rho_2$ large, as Craig points out, the series expansion converges very slowly. Even for $\rho_1$ and $\rho_2$ as small as 2, the expansion is unwieldy. We shall show that as $\rho_1$ and $\rho_2 \rightarrow \infty$, the probability function of $z$ approaches a normal curve and in case $r = 0$ the Type III function and the Gram-Charlier Type A series are excellent approximations to the $z$ distribution in the proper region. Numerical integration provides a substitute for the infinite series wherever the exact values of the probability function of $z$ are needed. Some extensions of the main theorem are given in section 5 and a practical problem involving the probability function of $z$ is solved.
Publié le : 1947-06-14
Classification: 
@article{1177730442,
     author = {Aroian, Leo A.},
     title = {The Probability Function of the Product of Two Normally Distributed Variables},
     journal = {Ann. Math. Statist.},
     volume = {18},
     number = {4},
     year = {1947},
     pages = { 265-271},
     language = {en},
     url = {http://dml.mathdoc.fr/item/1177730442}
}
Aroian, Leo A. The Probability Function of the Product of Two Normally Distributed Variables. Ann. Math. Statist., Tome 18 (1947) no. 4, pp.  265-271. http://gdmltest.u-ga.fr/item/1177730442/