[Math] Limsup of independent exponential random variables

probability theory

In the lecture, we are given an example on independent and identically distributed random variables, but I am not quite sure what is the idea of this question. The exercise is as following:

Let $(X_n)$ be a sequence of independent and identically distributed random variables defined on a probability space $(\Omega,\mathcal{F},\mathbb{P})$. Assume that $X_1$ is exponentially distributed with parameter $\lambda > 0$. The distribution of $X_1$ is absolutely continuous with density function $f(x)=\lambda e^{-\lambda x}1_{(0,\infty)}(x)$, $x\in\mathbb{R}$.

Show that $\mathbb{P}(\lim\sup_{n\to \infty}X_n/\log(n)=1/\lambda)=1$.

I know that for the exponential distribution, the mean $\mathbb{E}[x]=1/\lambda$, it says $X_1$ is exponentially distributed, is that mean all of the $X_n$ are also exponentially distributed? $\lim\sup_{n\to\infty}(X_n)$ means that $X_n$ happens for infinitely often times as $n$ close to infinity. so $\lim\sup_{n\to\infty}(X_n)=\bigcap_{n∈N}\bigcup_{m>n}X_n$, and also as $n\to\infty$, $\log(n)\to\infty$ . I am not sure about what this question is asking about? Is it something with $0/1$ law? like if an event $A$ happens infinitely times, then $\mathbb{P}(A)\in\{0,1\}$

Can any one please help me with this question? details are preferred. Thanks!

Best Answer

Show that $P(lim(n→∞)supXn/logn=1/λ)=1$.

(...) $lim(n→∞)(supXn)$ means that Xn happens for infinitely often times as n close to infinity. so $lim(n→∞)(supXn)=⋂_n⋃_mXn$, where m>n and n∈N.

This is confusing limsup of events and limsup of random variables. Here, each $X_n$ is a random variable hence $$\limsup\limits_{n\to\infty}X_n/\log n$$ is the random variable $Y$ such that, for every $\omega$ in $\Omega$, $$ Y(\omega)=\limsup\limits_{n\to\infty}X_n(\omega)/\log n. $$ And the task is to prove that the event $[Y=1/\lambda]$ has probability $1$.

Note that the question most probably does not reproduce faithfully the text of the exercise asked. For example, $$ \text{lim(n→∞)supXn/logn} $$ should read $$ \limsup\limits_{n\to\infty}X_n/\log n, $$ where $\limsup\limits_{n\to\infty}$ acts as a single operation, or, equivalently, $$ \limsup\limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{X_n}{\log n}. $$