Definition:
- The random variables X and Y are said to be independent if, for any two sets of real numbers A and B, PX∈A,Y∈B=PX∈APY∈B
- Denote with x⊥⊥y
- In other words, X and Y are independent if, for all A and B
- the events X∈A and Y∈B are independent.
- It will follow if and only if, for all a and b PX≤a,Y≤b=PX≤aPY≤b
- In terms of the joint distribution function, X and Y are independent if F(a,b)=FX(a)FY(b) for all a,b
- Event A and B are independent if any of the 3 conditions hold:
- P(A∣B)=A
- P(B∣A)=B
- P(A∩B)=P(A).P(B): product rule for independent event
- Use this to find independence: P(A∩B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A∩B)
- Events A, B and C are independent if all following equations hold:
- P(A,B)=P(A)P(B)
- P(B,C)=P(B)P(C)
- P(C,A)=P(C)P(A)
- P(A,B,C)=P(A)P(B)P(C)