6
$\begingroup$

If $X$ is a random variable, then $F(X) = a + bX$ where $a,b$ are constants is an affine function.

What is the technical/formal name of a function which is not affine, but for which the following always holds:

$$ dF(X) = g(\cdot) dX $$

i.e. the changes of the function $dF$ is always directly proportional to $dX$?

An example of such a function would be $$ F(X) = N(X) - N(-X) $$ with $N(\cdot)$ the normal CDF.


EDIT:

To give some more background:

I am looking at this problem in the context of quantitative finance / stochastic processes.

For affine functions, we have the following equality:

$$ E[F(X)] = F(E[X]) $$

Now I don't necessarily have an affine function, but I have a function $F(\alpha, X)$, where $\alpha$ is some parameter which I can always `tweak' such that the second derivatie of $F$ with respect to $X$ vanishes. Then according to the Ito-Doeblin formula I get

$$ dF(X) = \frac{\partial F}{\partial X} dX $$

which to me looks like making a non-affine function affine by varying a parameter (in my example above the "$\alpha$").

So I am interested in Jensen's (in)equality for these type of functions.

$\endgroup$
2
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Could you explain why you state that $X$ is a "random variable" rather than just a number? This question seems to be one about real-valued functions of real variables only, unless perhaps "$dX$" and "$dF$" have some special meaning for random variables--but what would that be? And if it's about real-valued functions, the answer is well-known: such functions are called "differentiable." $\endgroup$
    – whuber
    Commented Aug 21, 2019 at 14:42
  • $\begingroup$ @whuber Thank you for your question - please see my edited question above. Hope the context is clearer now. $\endgroup$
    – Frido
    Commented Aug 21, 2019 at 15:57

0

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.