Markets: A Rigorous Course

M04 · Problem 13 ★★★ Check

Exact expected maxima

Let ZiZ_i be iid N(0,1)N(0,1) and MN=max⁡i≤NZiM_N=\max_{i\le N}Z_i. (a) Show that E[MN]=∫−∞∞x Nϕ(x)Φ(x)N−1dx\mathbb E[M_N]=\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}x\,N\phi(x)\Phi(x)^{N-1}dx and, integrating by parts with xϕ(x)=−ϕ′(x)x\phi(x)=-\phi'(x), that E[MN]=N(N−1)∫−∞∞ϕ(x)2Φ(x)N−2dx\mathbb E[M_N]=N(N-1)\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\phi(x)^2\Phi(x)^{N-2}dx for N≥2N\ge2. (b) Prove E[M2]=1/π\mathbb E[M_2]=1/\sqrt\pi and E[M3]=3/(2π)\mathbb E[M_3]=3/(2\sqrt\pi). (c) Compare with the Gumbel approximation (4.17) for N=2,3N=2,3 and explain the error.

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