Section 3.5 Multivariate Distributions 95
In Exercise 3.48 the reader will be asked to prove properties of joint distribution
functions that are analogous to those of Theorem 3.2.
EXAMPLE 3.14
With reference to Example 3.12, find F(1, 1).
‘Solution
FU, W = P(X S1,¥ $1)
= 0,0) + f0,)+ £4,094 f0,)
2a
As in the univariate case, the joint distribution function of two random
variables is defined for all real numbers. For instance, for Example 3.12 we also get
F(-2,1) = P(X S$ -2,¥ £1) = Oand FG.7,45) = P(X $3.7,¥ $45) =1.
Let us now extend the various concepts introduced in this section to the
continuous case.
DEFINITION 3.8. A bivariate function with values f(x, y), defined over the xy-
plane, is called a joint probability density function of the continuous random
variables X and ¥ if and only if
rane al= ff fonardy
for any region A in the xy-plane.
Analogous to Theorem 3.5, it follows from the postulates of probability that
TuroreM 3.8. A bivariate function can serve as a joint probability density
function of a pair of continuous random variables X and ¥ ifits values, f(x. y), '
satisfy the conditions
1. f(y) 20 for-co