$x$-coordinate distribution on the $n$-sphere











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Can we express the distribution of a coordinate of the $n$-sphere in any known distribution?



In formal terms, consider $S^n = {xinmathbb{R}^{n + 1}: |x|=1}$ (i.e. the usual $n$-sphere). If we sample $x$ uniformly from $S^n$ what is the distribution of $x_1$?



By "sampling uniformly" I mean that any point in $S^n$ has the same value for the density probability function. And $x_1$ means the first coordinate of vector $x$.



$n=1$



(the circle)



$x_1$ follows the arcsine distribution.



$n=2$



(the sphere)



Thanks to Archimedes we know that $x_1$ follows the Uniform distribution.



$n>2$



Do we know?



...



I know that this is equivalent to ask the distribution of the dot product of two random points on the $n$-sphere. But I also do not know that!










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    up vote
    3
    down vote

    favorite












    Can we express the distribution of a coordinate of the $n$-sphere in any known distribution?



    In formal terms, consider $S^n = {xinmathbb{R}^{n + 1}: |x|=1}$ (i.e. the usual $n$-sphere). If we sample $x$ uniformly from $S^n$ what is the distribution of $x_1$?



    By "sampling uniformly" I mean that any point in $S^n$ has the same value for the density probability function. And $x_1$ means the first coordinate of vector $x$.



    $n=1$



    (the circle)



    $x_1$ follows the arcsine distribution.



    $n=2$



    (the sphere)



    Thanks to Archimedes we know that $x_1$ follows the Uniform distribution.



    $n>2$



    Do we know?



    ...



    I know that this is equivalent to ask the distribution of the dot product of two random points on the $n$-sphere. But I also do not know that!










    share|cite|improve this question

















    This question has an open bounty worth +50
    reputation from gota ending in 5 hours.


    This question has not received enough attention.


















      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      Can we express the distribution of a coordinate of the $n$-sphere in any known distribution?



      In formal terms, consider $S^n = {xinmathbb{R}^{n + 1}: |x|=1}$ (i.e. the usual $n$-sphere). If we sample $x$ uniformly from $S^n$ what is the distribution of $x_1$?



      By "sampling uniformly" I mean that any point in $S^n$ has the same value for the density probability function. And $x_1$ means the first coordinate of vector $x$.



      $n=1$



      (the circle)



      $x_1$ follows the arcsine distribution.



      $n=2$



      (the sphere)



      Thanks to Archimedes we know that $x_1$ follows the Uniform distribution.



      $n>2$



      Do we know?



      ...



      I know that this is equivalent to ask the distribution of the dot product of two random points on the $n$-sphere. But I also do not know that!










      share|cite|improve this question















      Can we express the distribution of a coordinate of the $n$-sphere in any known distribution?



      In formal terms, consider $S^n = {xinmathbb{R}^{n + 1}: |x|=1}$ (i.e. the usual $n$-sphere). If we sample $x$ uniformly from $S^n$ what is the distribution of $x_1$?



      By "sampling uniformly" I mean that any point in $S^n$ has the same value for the density probability function. And $x_1$ means the first coordinate of vector $x$.



      $n=1$



      (the circle)



      $x_1$ follows the arcsine distribution.



      $n=2$



      (the sphere)



      Thanks to Archimedes we know that $x_1$ follows the Uniform distribution.



      $n>2$



      Do we know?



      ...



      I know that this is equivalent to ask the distribution of the dot product of two random points on the $n$-sphere. But I also do not know that!







      probability-distributions projection






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      edited Nov 24 at 5:25









      user302797

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      19.1k92251










      asked Oct 30 at 16:17









      gota

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      This question has an open bounty worth +50
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          2 Answers
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          $defd{mathrm{d}}$This is a direct application of the formula for the surface area of the hyperspherical cap. Denoting by $I(x; a, b)$ the regularized beta function, the surface area of an $(n + 1)$-dimensional hyperspherical cap with height $x leqslant 1$ and radius $1$ is$$
          A_n(x) = frac{1}{2} A_n(2) Ileft( x(2 - x); frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right),
          $$

          thus for $-1 leqslant x leqslant 0$,$$
          P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{A_n(x + 1)}{A_n(2)} = frac{1}{2} Ileft( 1 - x^2; frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right).
          $$



          Since $dfrac{∂I}{∂x}(x; a, b) = dfrac{1}{B(a, b)} x^{a - 1} (1 - x)^{b - 1}$, then for $-1 < x < 0$,$$
          f_{X_1}(x) = frac{d}{d x} P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}.
          $$

          By symmetry,$$
          f_{X_1}(x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}. quad forall -1 < x < 1
          $$

          Indeed, for $n = 2$ this is a uniform distribution.






          share|cite|improve this answer




























            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            I came across this answer previously. The original question was about the marginals of a point on the unit sphere in $mathbb{R}^3$, but the poster added the case for the sphere in $mathbb{R}^d$ (see Added section).



            His method is summarized as follows (I have replaced $d$ in his answer with $n+1$):



            1) Let $Z$ be a multivariate Gaussian r.v. with $(n+1)$ components, then $ frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$ is uniformly distributed on the unit sphere $S^n$. Thus, we set $ X= frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$.



            2) Rewrite the CDF of $X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ in terms of $frac{Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$.



            3) The ratio $frac{ncdot Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$ follows an $F_{1,n}$ distribution. Thus the CDF of $ X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ can be determined from (2). Differentiating gives
            $$f_{X_1}(x) = frac{1}{B bigl( frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} bigr)}(1-x^2)^{(n/2-1)}. $$






            share|cite|improve this answer










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              2 Answers
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              up vote
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              $defd{mathrm{d}}$This is a direct application of the formula for the surface area of the hyperspherical cap. Denoting by $I(x; a, b)$ the regularized beta function, the surface area of an $(n + 1)$-dimensional hyperspherical cap with height $x leqslant 1$ and radius $1$ is$$
              A_n(x) = frac{1}{2} A_n(2) Ileft( x(2 - x); frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right),
              $$

              thus for $-1 leqslant x leqslant 0$,$$
              P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{A_n(x + 1)}{A_n(2)} = frac{1}{2} Ileft( 1 - x^2; frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right).
              $$



              Since $dfrac{∂I}{∂x}(x; a, b) = dfrac{1}{B(a, b)} x^{a - 1} (1 - x)^{b - 1}$, then for $-1 < x < 0$,$$
              f_{X_1}(x) = frac{d}{d x} P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}.
              $$

              By symmetry,$$
              f_{X_1}(x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}. quad forall -1 < x < 1
              $$

              Indeed, for $n = 2$ this is a uniform distribution.






              share|cite|improve this answer

























                up vote
                1
                down vote













                $defd{mathrm{d}}$This is a direct application of the formula for the surface area of the hyperspherical cap. Denoting by $I(x; a, b)$ the regularized beta function, the surface area of an $(n + 1)$-dimensional hyperspherical cap with height $x leqslant 1$ and radius $1$ is$$
                A_n(x) = frac{1}{2} A_n(2) Ileft( x(2 - x); frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right),
                $$

                thus for $-1 leqslant x leqslant 0$,$$
                P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{A_n(x + 1)}{A_n(2)} = frac{1}{2} Ileft( 1 - x^2; frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right).
                $$



                Since $dfrac{∂I}{∂x}(x; a, b) = dfrac{1}{B(a, b)} x^{a - 1} (1 - x)^{b - 1}$, then for $-1 < x < 0$,$$
                f_{X_1}(x) = frac{d}{d x} P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}.
                $$

                By symmetry,$$
                f_{X_1}(x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}. quad forall -1 < x < 1
                $$

                Indeed, for $n = 2$ this is a uniform distribution.






                share|cite|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote









                  $defd{mathrm{d}}$This is a direct application of the formula for the surface area of the hyperspherical cap. Denoting by $I(x; a, b)$ the regularized beta function, the surface area of an $(n + 1)$-dimensional hyperspherical cap with height $x leqslant 1$ and radius $1$ is$$
                  A_n(x) = frac{1}{2} A_n(2) Ileft( x(2 - x); frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right),
                  $$

                  thus for $-1 leqslant x leqslant 0$,$$
                  P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{A_n(x + 1)}{A_n(2)} = frac{1}{2} Ileft( 1 - x^2; frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right).
                  $$



                  Since $dfrac{∂I}{∂x}(x; a, b) = dfrac{1}{B(a, b)} x^{a - 1} (1 - x)^{b - 1}$, then for $-1 < x < 0$,$$
                  f_{X_1}(x) = frac{d}{d x} P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}.
                  $$

                  By symmetry,$$
                  f_{X_1}(x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}. quad forall -1 < x < 1
                  $$

                  Indeed, for $n = 2$ this is a uniform distribution.






                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  $defd{mathrm{d}}$This is a direct application of the formula for the surface area of the hyperspherical cap. Denoting by $I(x; a, b)$ the regularized beta function, the surface area of an $(n + 1)$-dimensional hyperspherical cap with height $x leqslant 1$ and radius $1$ is$$
                  A_n(x) = frac{1}{2} A_n(2) Ileft( x(2 - x); frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right),
                  $$

                  thus for $-1 leqslant x leqslant 0$,$$
                  P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{A_n(x + 1)}{A_n(2)} = frac{1}{2} Ileft( 1 - x^2; frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} right).
                  $$



                  Since $dfrac{∂I}{∂x}(x; a, b) = dfrac{1}{B(a, b)} x^{a - 1} (1 - x)^{b - 1}$, then for $-1 < x < 0$,$$
                  f_{X_1}(x) = frac{d}{d x} P(X_1 leqslant x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}.
                  $$

                  By symmetry,$$
                  f_{X_1}(x) = frac{(1 - x^2)^{frac{n}{2} - 1}}{Bleft( dfrac{n}{2}, dfrac{1}{2} right)}. quad forall -1 < x < 1
                  $$

                  Indeed, for $n = 2$ this is a uniform distribution.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












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                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Nov 24 at 5:23









                  user302797

                  19.1k92251




                  19.1k92251






















                      up vote
                      -1
                      down vote













                      I came across this answer previously. The original question was about the marginals of a point on the unit sphere in $mathbb{R}^3$, but the poster added the case for the sphere in $mathbb{R}^d$ (see Added section).



                      His method is summarized as follows (I have replaced $d$ in his answer with $n+1$):



                      1) Let $Z$ be a multivariate Gaussian r.v. with $(n+1)$ components, then $ frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$ is uniformly distributed on the unit sphere $S^n$. Thus, we set $ X= frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$.



                      2) Rewrite the CDF of $X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ in terms of $frac{Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$.



                      3) The ratio $frac{ncdot Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$ follows an $F_{1,n}$ distribution. Thus the CDF of $ X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ can be determined from (2). Differentiating gives
                      $$f_{X_1}(x) = frac{1}{B bigl( frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} bigr)}(1-x^2)^{(n/2-1)}. $$






                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      New contributor




                      husB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                        up vote
                        -1
                        down vote













                        I came across this answer previously. The original question was about the marginals of a point on the unit sphere in $mathbb{R}^3$, but the poster added the case for the sphere in $mathbb{R}^d$ (see Added section).



                        His method is summarized as follows (I have replaced $d$ in his answer with $n+1$):



                        1) Let $Z$ be a multivariate Gaussian r.v. with $(n+1)$ components, then $ frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$ is uniformly distributed on the unit sphere $S^n$. Thus, we set $ X= frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$.



                        2) Rewrite the CDF of $X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ in terms of $frac{Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$.



                        3) The ratio $frac{ncdot Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$ follows an $F_{1,n}$ distribution. Thus the CDF of $ X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ can be determined from (2). Differentiating gives
                        $$f_{X_1}(x) = frac{1}{B bigl( frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} bigr)}(1-x^2)^{(n/2-1)}. $$






                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        New contributor




                        husB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                          up vote
                          -1
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          -1
                          down vote









                          I came across this answer previously. The original question was about the marginals of a point on the unit sphere in $mathbb{R}^3$, but the poster added the case for the sphere in $mathbb{R}^d$ (see Added section).



                          His method is summarized as follows (I have replaced $d$ in his answer with $n+1$):



                          1) Let $Z$ be a multivariate Gaussian r.v. with $(n+1)$ components, then $ frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$ is uniformly distributed on the unit sphere $S^n$. Thus, we set $ X= frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$.



                          2) Rewrite the CDF of $X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ in terms of $frac{Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$.



                          3) The ratio $frac{ncdot Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$ follows an $F_{1,n}$ distribution. Thus the CDF of $ X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ can be determined from (2). Differentiating gives
                          $$f_{X_1}(x) = frac{1}{B bigl( frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} bigr)}(1-x^2)^{(n/2-1)}. $$






                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          New contributor




                          husB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









                          I came across this answer previously. The original question was about the marginals of a point on the unit sphere in $mathbb{R}^3$, but the poster added the case for the sphere in $mathbb{R}^d$ (see Added section).



                          His method is summarized as follows (I have replaced $d$ in his answer with $n+1$):



                          1) Let $Z$ be a multivariate Gaussian r.v. with $(n+1)$ components, then $ frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$ is uniformly distributed on the unit sphere $S^n$. Thus, we set $ X= frac{Z}{lVert Z rVert}$.



                          2) Rewrite the CDF of $X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ in terms of $frac{Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$.



                          3) The ratio $frac{ncdot Z_1^2}{Z_2^2 + dots Z_n^2}$ follows an $F_{1,n}$ distribution. Thus the CDF of $ X_1 = frac{Z_1}{lVert Z rVert}$ can be determined from (2). Differentiating gives
                          $$f_{X_1}(x) = frac{1}{B bigl( frac{n}{2}, frac{1}{2} bigr)}(1-x^2)^{(n/2-1)}. $$







                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          New contributor




                          husB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









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                          share|cite|improve this answer








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                          answered 4 hours ago









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