Normal Distribution – Convolution for Uniform Distribution and Standard Normal Distribution Explained

convolutionnormal distributionuniform distribution

Consider a random variable $U$ that has a uniform distribution on $(0,1)$ and a random variable $X$ that has a standard normal distribution. Assume that $U$ and $X$ are independent. Determine an expression for the probability density function of the random variable $Z = U + X $ in terms of the cumulative distribution function of $X$.

My attempt ,
$$f_Z(z)=\int_{u}f_U(u)f_{X}(z-u)du$$
$$=\int_{0}^{1}f_X(z-u)du$$

$$=\int_{z}^{z-1}f_X(x)dx$$

$$=F_X(z-1)-F_X(z)$$

But the given answer is $$F_X(z)-F_X(z-1)$$

Why?

Best Answer

You're making the substitution $x = z - u$ to transform the integral. The differential of this is:

$$ dx = 0 - du = - du $$

So the calculation finishes up like this:

$$=\int_{0}^{1}f_X(z-u)du = - \int_{z}^{z-1}f_X(x)dx = \int_{z-1}^{z}f_X(x)dx$$

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