[Math] Show that $\mathbb{E}(X-c)^2$ is minimum when $c = \mathbb{E}(X)$

probability distributions

Suppose that the random variable X has the cumulative density function F(x). Show that the expected value of the random variable $(X-c)^2$ is minimum if c equals the expected value of X.

I know that the cumulative distribution function ("c.d.f.") of a continuous random variable X is defined as:

\begin{equation}
F(x) = \int_{-\infty}^{x} f(t) dt
\end{equation}

for $-\infty < x < \infty$.

Best Answer

$$\mathbb E[(X-c)^2]=\mathbb E[X^2]-2c\mathbb E[X]+c^2.$$ I think you can easily minimize the function defined by $$f(c)=\mathbb E[X^2]-2c\mathbb E[X]+c^2.$$

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