arXiv · math/0601652
Symmetrization of Bernoulli
Abstract
Let X be a random variable. We shall call an independent random variable Y to be a symmetrizer for X, if X+Y is symmetric around zero. A random variable is said to be symmetry resistant if the variance of any symmetrizer Y, is never smaller than the variance of X itself. We prove that a Bernoulli(p) random variable is symmetry resistant if and only if p is not 1/2. This is an old problem proved in 1999 by Kagan, Mallows, Shepp, Vanderbei & Vardi using linear programming principles. We reprove it here using completely probabilistic tools using Skorokhod embedding and Ito's rule.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Soumik Pal. 2006-01-26. Symmetrization of Bernoulli. https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0601652
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.