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Range of corr(y,z) when both correlate 0.8 with x

Question

Three random variables x,y,zx,y,z are such that xx has correlation 0.80.8 with yy and also correlation 0.80.8 with zz. Find the maximum and the minimum possible value of the correlation between yy and zz.

Short answer

Between 0.280.28 and 11. Think of standardised variables as unit vectors with correlation as the cosine of the angle. Each of y,zy,z is at angle θ=arccos⁡0.8\theta=\arccos0.8 from xx, so their angle lies in [0,2θ][0,2\theta] and the correlation in [cos⁡2θ,1]=[2(0.8)2−1,1][\cos2\theta,1]=[2(0.8)^2-1,1]. The PSD condition on the correlation matrix gives the same: 0.64±0.360.64\pm0.36.

Adapted from Zhou, A Practical Guide to Quantitative Finance Interviews, sec. 3.6 Linear Algebra, 'Vectors and correlation', p.49; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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