0

how can we find joint probability mass function of discrete random variables X and Y, if we are given marginal distribution of X as well as the the conditional distributions of Y given X ? Thanks for the help.

Malick
  • 3

1 Answers1

0

We have :

$$ P(X = m, Y = n) = \underbrace{P(X = m)}_{\text{marginal}}\underbrace{P(Y = n | X = m)}_{\text{conditional}} $$

The marginal is given, the conditional is given, thus the joint is recovered. This step is often skipped even in elementary textbooks, so it is good you asked.