[Math] Almost sure convergence of a sequence of random variables

convergence-divergenceprobabilityprobability theoryrandom variables

Once again I've encountered a problem, which might not be difficult:

I'm given a sequence of random variables $ (X_n) $, each with density function $g_n(x) = nx^{n-1} \textbf{1}_{(0,1]} $.

I am to prove that this sequence converges almost surely. So to begin with, I think I am able to find the limit and prove convergence by probability.

We have:

$\mathbb{E} X_n = \int\limits_{0}^1 nx^n dx = \frac{n}{n+1} $

Applying Chebyshev inequality:

$ \lim\limits_{n \rightarrow \infty}\mathbb{P}(1-X_n < \epsilon) = \lim\limits_{n \rightarrow \infty} (1 – \mathbb{P}(1- X_n \geq \epsilon)) \geq \lim\limits_{n \rightarrow \infty}(1- \frac{\mathbb{E}(1-X_n)}{\epsilon}) = \lim\limits_{n \rightarrow \infty} (1- \frac{1}{\epsilon}(1-\frac{n}{n+1})) = 1$

Thus, $ X_n \rightarrow 1 $ by probability.

And there goes my question: how do I prove almost sure convergence? I've been trying to use the definition, but it doesn't seem to help.

Thanks in advance

Best Answer

$Pr(|X_n - 1| \geq \epsilon \mbox{ infintely often}) = \sum_n \int _{0}^{1 - \epsilon} nx^{n-1} dx = \sum _n (1 - \epsilon)^n < \infty $ for any $\epsilon > 0$.

Hence, by Borel Cantelli Lemma it converges to $1$ almost surely.

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