Past exam of the probability, measure and martingales course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 1 / a

Fix $A\in {\mathcal{A}}_1$ and defineThis is a Dynkin system: it contains $\Omega$; taking complements preserves the equality because $\mathbb{P}(A\cap B^c)=\mathbb{P}(A)-\mathbb{P}(A\cap B)$; and countable additivity preserves it under disjoint unions. The hypothesis says that ${\mathcal{D}}_A$ contains the pi-system ${\mathcal{A}}_2$. Hence Dynkin lemma gives ${\mathcal{D}}_A={\mathcal{G}}_2$.

Now fix any $B\in {\mathcal{G}}_2$ and putThe same complement and disjoint-union calculations make this a Dynkin system. The first step shows that it contains ${\mathcal{A}}_1$, so Dynkin lemma gives ${\mathcal{E}}_B={\mathcal{G}}_1$. ThusThis is precisely the definition of independent sigma-algebras, and proves independence extended from generating pi-systems.