Convolutions

Let be a discrete random variable with support and probability mass function . Let be another discrete random variable, independent of , with support and probability mass function . The probability mass function of the sum can be derived using one of the following two formulae:

These two summations are called convolutions.

If and are absolutely continuous and have probability density functions and , the convolution formulae become:

A more detailed explanation of the concept of convolution - as well as some examples - can be found in the lecture entitled Sums of independent random variables.

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