Suppose $cov(X,Y)=0\;$ and $\;cov(Y,M)=0$. Does this imply $cov(X,M)=0\;$, if all distinct RV are normal?
Transitivity of uncorrelated random variables?
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statistics
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0Calling the third random variable M instead of Z is quite odd. Any reason for that? – 2012-07-02
1 Answers
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In general, no. Take $X = M$ ;)
It also does not hold if $(X,Y,Z)$ follow a Multivariate Normal $(\mu,\Sigma)$.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for a matrix to be a covariance matrix $(\Sigma)$ are presented here. A matrix is a covariance matrix if and only if it is positive semi-definite.
Hence, take
$\Sigma =\left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 1 \end{array} \right)$
and observe that $Cov(X,Y) = Cov(X,Z) = 0$ but $Cov(Y,Z)=1$.
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2+1: The question has changed so this becomes "Take $X=M$" – 2012-06-26