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Expectation of X over Y plus 1 for a joint density

Question

The pair (X,Y)(X,Y) has joint density f(x,y)=x e−x(y+1),x>0, y>0,f(x,y)=x\,e^{-x(y+1)},\qquad x>0,\ y>0, and zero elsewhere. Compute E ⁣[XY+1]\mathbb{E}\!\left[\dfrac{X}{Y+1}\right].

Short answer

23\tfrac23. Integrate over xx first: ∫0∞x2e−x(y+1) dx=2(y+1)3\int_0^\infty x^2e^{-x(y+1)}\,dx=\tfrac{2}{(y+1)^3} (a Gamma integral). That leaves ∫0∞2(y+1)4 dy=23\int_0^\infty \tfrac{2}{(y+1)^4}\,dy=\tfrac23.

Adapted from QuantQuestions.io; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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