using moments to find mean, variance, and SD

dts5044

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Mar 6, 2008
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Let X equal the number of flips of a fair coin that are required to observe the same face on consecutive flips.

a) find the p.m.f. of X.

p(x=2) = 1/2, p(x=3) =1/4, p(x=4) =1/8 ....

f(x) = (1/2)^x-1

b) give the values of the mean, variance, and standard deviation of X.

let u = (mean)

I know u = M'(0), and M(t) is given by:
M(t) = [summation from x =2 to infinity] e^(tx) * (1/2) ^x-1

I need to come up with a concrete expression for M(t) so I can differentiate, but can't remember anything that would help...what is the concrete expression for M(t)?
 
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