Hat-Check Distribution Gives Rise to Probability Mass Function

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Theorem

Let $X$ be a discrete random variable on a probability space $\struct {\Omega, \Sigma, \Pr}$.


Let $X$ have the hat-check distribution with parameter $n$ (where $n > 0$).


Then $X$ gives rise to a probability mass function.


Proof

By definition:

$\Img X = \set {0, 1, \ldots, n}$
$\ds \map \Pr {X = k} = \dfrac 1 {\paren {n - k }!} \sum_{s \mathop = 0}^k \dfrac {\paren {-1}^s} {s!}$

Then:

\(\ds \map \Pr \Omega\) \(=\) \(\ds \sum_{k \mathop = 0}^n \dfrac 1 {\paren {n - k }!} \sum_{s \mathop = 0}^k \dfrac {\paren {-1}^s} {s!}\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \sum_{k \mathop = 0}^n \dfrac 1 {\paren {n - k }! } \dfrac {n! k!} {n! k!} \sum_{s \mathop = 0}^k \dfrac {\paren {-1}^s} {s!}\) multiplying by $1$
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \sum_{k \mathop = 0}^n \dbinom n k \dfrac {k!} {n!} \sum_{s \mathop = 0}^k \dfrac {\paren {-1}^s} {s!}\) Definition of Binomial Coefficient
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac 1 {n!} \sum_{k \mathop = 0}^n \dbinom n k k! \sum_{s \mathop = 0}^k \dfrac {\paren {-1}^s} {s!}\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac 1 {n!} n!\) Sum over k of r Choose k by -1^r-k by Polynomial
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 1\)


So $X$ satisfies $\map \Pr \Omega = 1$, and hence the result.

$\blacksquare$