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Covariance of two independent zeta(2) variables

Question

Let AA and BB be independent, each with the Zeta(2)\text{Zeta}(2) distribution: P(A=k)=C/k2\mathbb{P}(A=k)=C/k^2 for every positive integer kk, where CC is the normalising constant. What is Cov⁡(A,B)\operatorname{Cov}(A,B)? Answer 11 if it equals +∞+\infty, 22 if it equals −∞-\infty, and 33 if it is 00 or undefined.

Short answer

33. The mean is C∑kk⋅1k2=C∑k1k=∞C\sum_k k\cdot\tfrac1{k^2}=C\sum_k\tfrac1k=\infty, so AA and BB have no finite expectation. The covariance E[AB]−E[A]E[B]\mathbb{E}[AB]-\mathbb{E}[A]\mathbb{E}[B] then takes the form ∞−∞\infty-\infty and is undefined. Independence alone does not give 00 here, because covariance needs finite means.

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