Random variables

Question

Random variables with zero correlation are not necessarily independent. Give a simple example.

 

 

Answer 1

Let X be a normally-distributed random variable with

  Mean zero.  Let Y = X^2.  Obviously, X and Y are not independent: knowing X, gives the value of Y.

  The covariance of X and Y is  Cov(X,Y) = E(XY) - E(X)E(Y) = E(X^3) - 0*E(Y) = E(X^3)              = 0,

  because the distribution of X is symmetric around zero.  correlation r(X,Y) = Cov(X,Y)/Sqrt[Var(X)Var(Y)] = 0,   the random  variables are not independent, but correlation is zero.