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Lower bound on an MGF value from another

Question

A random variable XX has moment generating function M(θ)=E[eθX]M(\theta)=\mathbb{E}[e^{\theta X}], and M(1)=7M(1)=7. What is the least value M(4)M(4) can take?

Short answer

24012401. Put Y=eX>0Y=e^X>0, so M(1)=E[Y]M(1)=\mathbb{E}[Y] and M(4)=E[Y4]M(4)=\mathbb{E}[Y^4]. Since y↦y4y\mapsto y^4 is convex, Jensen gives E[Y4]≥(EY)4=74=2401\mathbb{E}[Y^4]\ge(\mathbb{E}Y)^4=7^4=2401, with equality when XX is the constant ln⁡7\ln7.

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