# If $X_1,X_2$ are independent beta then show $\sqrt{X_1X_2}$ is also beta

Here is a problem that came in a semester exam in our university few years back which I am struggling to solve.

If $X_1,X_2$ are independent $\beta$ random variables with densities $\beta(n_1,n_2)$ and $\beta(n_1+\dfrac{1}{2},n_2)$ respectively then show that $\sqrt{X_1X_2}$ follows $\beta(2n_1,2n_2)$.

I used the Jacobian method to obtain that the density of $Y=\sqrt{X_1X_2}$ is as follows: $$f_Y(y)=\dfrac{4y^{2n_1}}{B(n_1,n_2)B(n_1+\dfrac{1}{2},n_2)}\int_y^1\dfrac{1}{x^2}(1-x^2)^{n_2-1}(1-\dfrac{y^2}{x^2})^{n_2-1}dx$$

I am lost at this point actually. Now, in the main paper, I found a hint had been supplied. I tried to use the hint but could not obtain the desired expressions. The hint is verbatim as follows:

Hint: Derive a formula for the density of $Y=\sqrt{X_1X_2}$ in terms of the given densities of $X_1$ and $X_2$ and try to use a change of variable with $z=\dfrac{y^2}{x}$.

So at this point, I try to make use of this hint by considering this change of variable. Hence I get, $$f_Y(y)=\dfrac{4y^{2n_1}}{B(n_1,n_2)B(n_1+\dfrac{1}{2},n_2)}\int_{y^2}^y\dfrac{z^2}{y^4}(1-\dfrac{y^4}{z^2})^{n_2-1}(1-y^2.\dfrac{z^2}{y^4})^{n_2-1}\dfrac{y^2}{z^2}dz$$which after simplification turns out to be (writing $x$ for $z$)$$f_Y(y)=\dfrac{4y^{2n_1}}{B(n_1,n_2)B(n_1+\dfrac{1}{2},n_2)}\int_{y^2}^y\dfrac{1}{y^2}(1-\dfrac{y^4}{x^2})^{n_2-1}(1-\dfrac{x^2}{y^2})^{n_2-1}dx$$

I do not really know how to proceed. I am not even sure that I am interpreting the hint properly. Anyway, here goes the rest of the hint:

Observe that by using the change of variable $z=\dfrac{y^2}{x}$, the required density can be expressed in two ways to get by averaging $$f_Y(y)=constant.y^{2n_1-1}\int_{y^2}^1(1-\dfrac{y^2}{x})^{n_2-1}(1-x)^{n_2-1}(1+\dfrac{y}{x})\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{x}}dx$$Now divide the range of integration into $(y^2,y)$ and $(y,1)$ and write $(1-\dfrac{y^2}{x})(1-x)=(1-y)^2-(\dfrac{y}{\sqrt{x}}-\sqrt{x})^2$ and proceed with $u=\dfrac{y}{\sqrt{x}}-\sqrt{x}$.

Well, honestly, I cannot understand how one can use these hints: it seems I am getting nowhere. Help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

• I have seen a similar problem before which I had compiled some references to. See arxiv.org/pdf/1304.6671v1.pdf mathoverflow.net/questions/32782/…
– Sid
Mar 22, 2015 at 18:55
• @Sid Sorry but I could not find this problem in those references or anything similar. Could you kindly point out the places? Thanks!! Mar 22, 2015 at 19:00
• Are you sure you applied the Jacobian method correctly? If I do it, I get: $$f_Y(y) = \frac{2 y^{2n_1-1}}{B(n_1,n_2)B(n_1+0.5,n_2)} \int_{y^2}^1 \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} [(1-\frac{y^2}{x})(1-x)]^{n_1-1} dx$$ I think you are also going to need the doubling formula $\Gamma(z)\Gamma(z+0.5)=2^{1-2z}\sqrt{\pi}\Gamma(2z)$, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_function Mar 22, 2015 at 23:42
• Apparently it seems that the formulae are the same. Maybe you have to use the change of variable $z=\sqrt{x}$ in your formula to obtain mine. I am talking about the Jacobian. Mar 23, 2015 at 3:13
• I don't think they are the same. Doing the change of variable that you mention into my formula, I get something slightly simpler than what you have in the first integral of your OP. Mar 23, 2015 at 8:04

I would prove this in a different manner, using moment-generating functions. Or equivalently, by showing that the $q$th moment of $\sqrt{X_1X_2}$ is equal to the $q$th moment of a random variable $B$ with $\beta(2n_1,2n_2)$ distribution. If this is so for all $q=1,2,\ldots$, then by the strength of the moment problem, the exercise is proven.
For the last part, we obtain from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_distribution#Other_moments that the $q$th moment of $B$ is $$\mathrm{E}[B^q] = \prod_{j=0}^{q-1} \frac{2n_1+j}{2n_1+2n_2+j} = \ldots = \frac{\Gamma(2n_1+q)\Gamma(2n_1+2n_2)}{\Gamma(2n_1)\Gamma(2n_1+2n_2+q)}$$ Now for the first part: $$\mathrm{E}[(\sqrt{X_1X_2})^q] = \int\int (\sqrt{x_1x_2})^q f_{X_1}(x_1) f_{X_2}(x_2) dx_1dx_2 \\ = \int x^{q/2} f_{X_1}(x_1) d x_1 \cdot \int x_2^{q/2} f_{X_2}(x_2) d x_2\\ = \frac{1}{B(n_1,n_2)} \int x_1^{n_1+q/2-1}(1-x_1)^{n_2-1}dx_1 \cdot \frac{1}{B(n_1+\frac{1}{2},n_2)} \int x_2^{n_1+\frac{q+1}{2}-1}(1-x_2)^{n_2-1}dx_2\\ = \frac{B(n_1+\frac{q}{2},n_2)B(n_1+\frac{q+1}{2},n_2)}{B(n_1,n_2)B(n_1+\frac{1}{2},n_2)}$$ Now all that remains is to apply the definition $B(\alpha,\beta)=\frac{\Gamma(\alpha)\Gamma(\beta)}{\Gamma(\alpha+\beta)}$ and then the doubling formula $\Gamma(\alpha)\Gamma(\alpha+\frac{1}{2})=2^{1-2\alpha}\sqrt{\pi}\Gamma(2\alpha)$. It then turns out that the first part and the second part are exactly the same.
• @yedaynara and Stijn: A (the?) classical example is due to Heyde: Consider the pdfs $f_b(x) = f_0(x)(1+b \sin(2\pi\log x))$ where $f_0$ is the pdf of the standard lognormal and $b \in [-1,1]$. All members of this family of distributions have the same moments (of all orders). Note that the standard lognormal is a member of this family and its moments have a nice closed form. Mar 23, 2015 at 13:47