If X and Y are independent standard normal random variables, find the probability density function of Z=X/YZ = X/Y.

Answer: The probability density function of Z=X/YZ = X/Y is fZ(z)=1π(z2+1)f_Z(z) = \frac{1}{\pi(z^2+1)}.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Define the joint PDF of X and Y

Since XX and YY are independent standard normal random variables, their joint probability density function (PDF) is the product of their individual PDFs. The PDF of a standard normal variable is given by f(t)=12πe−t2/2f(t) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}e^{-t^2/2}.

Step 2: Use the transformation method

To find the PDF of Z=X/YZ = X/Y, we use the transformation method. We introduce an auxiliary variable, say W=YW = Y, so that we have a one-to-one transformation from (X,Y)(X, Y) to (Z,W)(Z, W). From Z=X/YZ = X/Y, we can express XX in terms of ZZ and WW as X=ZWX = ZW.

Step 3: Calculate the Jacobian of the transformation

The Jacobian of the transformation is needed to relate the joint PDF of (X,Y)(X, Y) to the joint PDF of (Z,W)(Z, W). We calculate the partial derivatives of xx and yy with respect to zz and ww. Since x=zwx = zw and y=wy = w, the Jacobian determinant is ww.

Step 4: Find the joint PDF of Z and W

The joint PDF of ZZ and WW is obtained by substituting x=zwx = zw and y=wy = w into fX,Y(x,y)f_{X,Y}(x,y) and multiplying by the absolute value of the Jacobian. This gives us the joint density function in terms of zz and ww.

Step 5: Integrate out W to find the PDF of Z

To find the marginal PDF of ZZ, we integrate the joint PDF fZ,W(z,w)f_{Z,W}(z,w) with respect to ww over its entire range. Since w=Yw = Y and YY is a standard normal variable, ww can take any real value.

Step 6: Evaluate the integral

The integral can be simplified by noting that the integrand is an even function of ww, so we can integrate from 00 to ∞\infty and multiply by 22. We use a substitution u=w2(z2+1)/2u = w^2(z^2+1)/2, so du=w(z2+1)dwdu = w(z^2+1)dw. Evaluating the definite integral yields the final PDF.

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