A question about convex analysis of expectation value











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In general case, the expectation value is defined like this
$$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



and in absolutely continuous or countably case the expectation value is defined:
$$E[X]=int_Bbb R xf(x)dx$$ or $$E[X]=sum xf(x)$$



if $w_1,...w_ngeq0$ and $f_1,...f_n$ are convex, then function $w_1f_1+...w_nf_n$ is also convex



and this can extends to the integrals.



So,My problem is what if today the density function $f(x)$ is doesn't exist



or in general case $E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$



Expectation value $$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



and Expectation value of convex function $$E[g(X)]=int_Omega g(X(w))dP(w)$$



are convex?










share|cite|improve this question


























    up vote
    -1
    down vote

    favorite












    In general case, the expectation value is defined like this
    $$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



    and in absolutely continuous or countably case the expectation value is defined:
    $$E[X]=int_Bbb R xf(x)dx$$ or $$E[X]=sum xf(x)$$



    if $w_1,...w_ngeq0$ and $f_1,...f_n$ are convex, then function $w_1f_1+...w_nf_n$ is also convex



    and this can extends to the integrals.



    So,My problem is what if today the density function $f(x)$ is doesn't exist



    or in general case $E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$



    Expectation value $$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



    and Expectation value of convex function $$E[g(X)]=int_Omega g(X(w))dP(w)$$



    are convex?










    share|cite|improve this question
























      up vote
      -1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      -1
      down vote

      favorite











      In general case, the expectation value is defined like this
      $$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



      and in absolutely continuous or countably case the expectation value is defined:
      $$E[X]=int_Bbb R xf(x)dx$$ or $$E[X]=sum xf(x)$$



      if $w_1,...w_ngeq0$ and $f_1,...f_n$ are convex, then function $w_1f_1+...w_nf_n$ is also convex



      and this can extends to the integrals.



      So,My problem is what if today the density function $f(x)$ is doesn't exist



      or in general case $E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$



      Expectation value $$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



      and Expectation value of convex function $$E[g(X)]=int_Omega g(X(w))dP(w)$$



      are convex?










      share|cite|improve this question













      In general case, the expectation value is defined like this
      $$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



      and in absolutely continuous or countably case the expectation value is defined:
      $$E[X]=int_Bbb R xf(x)dx$$ or $$E[X]=sum xf(x)$$



      if $w_1,...w_ngeq0$ and $f_1,...f_n$ are convex, then function $w_1f_1+...w_nf_n$ is also convex



      and this can extends to the integrals.



      So,My problem is what if today the density function $f(x)$ is doesn't exist



      or in general case $E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$



      Expectation value $$E[X]=int_Omega X(w)dP(w)$$



      and Expectation value of convex function $$E[g(X)]=int_Omega g(X(w))dP(w)$$



      are convex?







      probability-theory convex-analysis






      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question











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      share|cite|improve this question










      asked Nov 23 at 2:24









      Vergil Chan

      334




      334






















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          I think you're confusing many things at once.



          If $w_1, ldots, w_n ge 0$ and $f_1, ldots, f_n$ are convex functions then yes $sum_i w_i f_i$ is a convex function.



          I think you are looking at the sum $E[X] = sum_x x f(x)$ and drawing some sort of connection when there is none. There is only one function $f$ (the PMF of the distribution) and the sum is over values of $x$. The expectation $E[X]$ is a number, not a function.



          It does not make sense to ask whether $E[X]$ or $E[g(X)]$ is "convex," since they are not functions.






          share|cite|improve this answer





















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            1 Answer
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            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

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            active

            oldest

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            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            3
            down vote



            accepted










            I think you're confusing many things at once.



            If $w_1, ldots, w_n ge 0$ and $f_1, ldots, f_n$ are convex functions then yes $sum_i w_i f_i$ is a convex function.



            I think you are looking at the sum $E[X] = sum_x x f(x)$ and drawing some sort of connection when there is none. There is only one function $f$ (the PMF of the distribution) and the sum is over values of $x$. The expectation $E[X]$ is a number, not a function.



            It does not make sense to ask whether $E[X]$ or $E[g(X)]$ is "convex," since they are not functions.






            share|cite|improve this answer

























              up vote
              3
              down vote



              accepted










              I think you're confusing many things at once.



              If $w_1, ldots, w_n ge 0$ and $f_1, ldots, f_n$ are convex functions then yes $sum_i w_i f_i$ is a convex function.



              I think you are looking at the sum $E[X] = sum_x x f(x)$ and drawing some sort of connection when there is none. There is only one function $f$ (the PMF of the distribution) and the sum is over values of $x$. The expectation $E[X]$ is a number, not a function.



              It does not make sense to ask whether $E[X]$ or $E[g(X)]$ is "convex," since they are not functions.






              share|cite|improve this answer























                up vote
                3
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                3
                down vote



                accepted






                I think you're confusing many things at once.



                If $w_1, ldots, w_n ge 0$ and $f_1, ldots, f_n$ are convex functions then yes $sum_i w_i f_i$ is a convex function.



                I think you are looking at the sum $E[X] = sum_x x f(x)$ and drawing some sort of connection when there is none. There is only one function $f$ (the PMF of the distribution) and the sum is over values of $x$. The expectation $E[X]$ is a number, not a function.



                It does not make sense to ask whether $E[X]$ or $E[g(X)]$ is "convex," since they are not functions.






                share|cite|improve this answer












                I think you're confusing many things at once.



                If $w_1, ldots, w_n ge 0$ and $f_1, ldots, f_n$ are convex functions then yes $sum_i w_i f_i$ is a convex function.



                I think you are looking at the sum $E[X] = sum_x x f(x)$ and drawing some sort of connection when there is none. There is only one function $f$ (the PMF of the distribution) and the sum is over values of $x$. The expectation $E[X]$ is a number, not a function.



                It does not make sense to ask whether $E[X]$ or $E[g(X)]$ is "convex," since they are not functions.







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered Nov 23 at 2:32









                angryavian

                37.6k13180




                37.6k13180






























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