Paper 4, Section II, K

Probability and Measure | Part II, 2014

Let (Xn:nN)\left(X_{n}: n \in \mathbb{N}\right) be a sequence of independent identically distributed random variables. Set Sn=X1++XnS_{n}=X_{1}+\cdots+X_{n}.

(i) State the strong law of large numbers in terms of the random variables XnX_{n}.

(ii) Assume now that the XnX_{n} are non-negative and that their expectation is infinite. Let R(0,)R \in(0, \infty). What does the strong law of large numbers say about the limiting behaviour of SnR/nS_{n}^{R} / n, where SnR=(X1R)++(XnR)S_{n}^{R}=\left(X_{1} \wedge R\right)+\cdots+\left(X_{n} \wedge R\right) ?

Deduce that Sn/nS_{n} / n \rightarrow \infty almost surely.

Show that

n=0P(Xnn)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \mathbb{P}\left(X_{n} \geqslant n\right)=\infty

Show that XnRnX_{n} \geqslant R n infinitely often almost surely.

(iii) Now drop the assumption that the XnX_{n} are non-negative but continue to assume that E(X1)=\mathbb{E}\left(\left|X_{1}\right|\right)=\infty. Show that, almost surely,

lim supnSn/n=\limsup _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left|S_{n}\right| / n=\infty

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