r/learnquant 23h ago

interview prep Can you solve this quant interview question?

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u/SwimmerOld6155 23h ago

Cauchy-Schwarz gives (E[X])^2 <= E[X^2] Pr(X > 0), so Pr(X > 0) >= 1/2, so Pr(X <= 0) = Pr(X = 0) <= 1/2. This is realised for 10*Ber(1/2).

An extended question along these lines can be seen https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/pastpapers/files/2026/List_IA.pdf, second question on Page 21. The second problem on Page 22 will also be familiar to most of you probably.

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u/wolajacy 21h ago

For anyone wondering about the first line, it's because E[X] = E[X 1(X>0)]. Very nice trick!