Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-options-ii-for-mathematics-and-philosophy-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2013/n2/e/iii/solution

Write . For , differentiate the power-series identity from part (ii):
Because and , its denominator is positive. Using gives
As , almost-sure finiteness and bounded convergence give . On the other hand, monotone convergence in gives , initially allowing infinity. The displayed formula makes this limit finite and proves
This establishes finiteness rather than assuming it when rearranging an expectation equation. It is the subcritical branching-process total-progeny mean.

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