(Non-)Multiplicativity of the expected value

If two random variables XX and YY are independent, the expected value is multiplicative, i.e. E(XY)=E(X)E(Y)\mathrm{E}(X\,Y) = \mathrm{E}(X) \, \mathrm{E}(Y)

If two random variables XX and YY are dependent, the expected value is not necessarily multiplicative, i.e. there exist XX and YY such that E(XY)E(X)E(Y)\mathrm{E}(X\,Y) \neq \mathrm{E}(X) \, \mathrm{E}(Y)


Compare: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_of_the_product_of_two_random_variables


References:

  1. https://statproofbook.github.io/P/mean-mult.html