# What is the moment generating function from a density of a continuous

1. Oct 25, 2013

### karthik666

Hi everyone,

So I am taking a statistics course and finding this concept kinda challenging. wondering if someone can help me with the following problem!

Let X be a random variable with probability density function $$f(x)=\begin{cases}xe^{-x} \quad \text{if } x>0\\0 \quad \text{ } Otherwise.\end{cases}$$
we want to Determine the mgf of X whenever it exists.

I know that M(t) = E(e^(tx)) = integral of e^(tx)* f(x)
but not sure what to do from there.

Thanks for the help ^^

2. Oct 25, 2013

### MathematicalPhysicist

It's the integral of e^{tx}*f(x) over $\mathbb{R}$.

3. Oct 25, 2013

### karthik666

what is the approach for this problem?

4. Oct 25, 2013

### Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
You should write down explicitly the integral you said you're evaluating, and then try to evaluate it. Why don't you show us what you can do with it and then we can help you with where you get stuck? We can't help you until you do that.

Last edited: Oct 25, 2013