[Math] Finding probability density function of a conditional expectation

probabilityprobability distributions

I´m solving the next exercise of a probability book about conditional expectation:

Let $(X,Y)$ a discrete random vector with probability density function given by

$$f_{x,y}(x,y)=(x+y)/36\quad x,y\in\{1,2,3\}$$ and zero in other case.

a) Find the probability density function of the random variable $E(X|Y).$

b) Check the formula $E(E(X|Y))=E(X)=78/36.$

I've begun computing marginal density for variable $Y.$ My computations lead me to get $$f_{Y}(y)=\dfrac{2+y}{12}\quad\text{if}\quad y\in\{1,2,3\}$$ and zero in other case.

Then I use the definition of $E(X|Y=y),$ so doing the computations I get $$E(X|Y=y)=\dfrac{6y+14}{6+3y}.$$

Due to the above, we conclude that $E(X|Y)=\dfrac{6Y+14}{6+3Y}.$ Then we want to calculate $$P(\dfrac{6Y+14}{6+3Y}=y)$$ which is equivalent to compute $f_{Y}(\frac{6y-14}{6-3y}),$ but here is my problem. I don't know how to calculate that term, because random variable $Y$ is discrete, so the point of evaluation must be a natural number where marginal density of $Y$ takes these values.

How can I compute that value? I would like that $\frac{6y-14}{6-3y}=z$ for every value of $z\in\{1,2,3\},$ but when I do that, the new values of $y$ are rationals.

What am I doing wrong? Is there another way to solve this easily?

Any kind of help is thanked in advanced.

Best Answer

Why do you need $f_{Y}(\frac{6y-14}{6-3y})$? You are trying to calculate $E(E(X|Y))$ knowing that $E(X|Y=y)=\frac{6y+14}{6+3y}$ and $f_{Y}(y)=\frac{2+y}{12}$. Hence $E(E(X|Y))=\sum_{y\in\{1,2,3\}}\frac{6y+14}{6+3y}\frac{2+y}{12}$.