Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / iii / Paper 201 / 6 / a

The Lévy continuity theorem states that if characteristic functions ${\phi }_n$ of probability distributions ${\mu }_n$ converge pointwise on $\mathbb{R}$ to $\phi$, and $\phi$ is continuous at zero, then $\phi$ is the characteristic function of a unique probability distribution $\mu$ andHere the arrow denotes weak convergence of probability measures, equivalently convergence in distribution of associated random variables. Conversely, weak convergence of probability measures implies pointwise convergence of their characteristic functions to the characteristic function of the limit. The continuity-at-zero condition is essential to ensure that the pointwise limit is a characteristic function.