[Math] Expected value with two uniformly distributed random variables

probability

A surveyor wishes to lay out a square region with each side having length L. However, because of a measurement error, he instead lays out a rectangle in which the north–south sides both have length X and the east–west sides both have length Y. Suppose that X and Y are independent and that each is uniformly distributed on the interval [L – A, L + A] (where 0 < A < L). What is the expected area of the resulting rectangle?

I tried using $E(x,y) = E(x)E(y) + Cov(x,y) = E(x)E(y)$ (since they are independent)

I ended up with $4A^2L^2$, but the answer should be just $L^2$

Best Answer

Hint: which is the expected value of a random variable uniformly distributed in the interval $[L-A,L+A]$?

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