I have started off by this:
$F_Y(Y)=P(Y\leq y)=P(X^2 \leq y).$ Now, I have been told that $P(X^2 \leq y) = P(- \sqrt y \leq X \leq \sqrt y) $. I don't quite understand why this is and any help would be appreciated!
I have started off by this:
$F_Y(Y)=P(Y\leq y)=P(X^2 \leq y).$ Now, I have been told that $P(X^2 \leq y) = P(- \sqrt y \leq X \leq \sqrt y) $. I don't quite understand why this is and any help would be appreciated!
Follow TenaliRaman's comment
$X^2\le y\Leftrightarrow |X|\le\sqrt{y}\Leftrightarrow -\sqrt{y}\le X \le \sqrt{y}$ and $y \in [0,1]$
$$F(y)=P(Y<y)=P(X^2<y)=P(-\sqrt{y}\le X \le \sqrt{y})=\int_{-\sqrt{y}}^{\sqrt{y}}|x|dx=\int_{-\sqrt{y}}^{0}-xdx+\int_{0}^{\sqrt{y}}xdx=-\frac{1}{2}x^2\mid_{-\sqrt{y}}^{0}+\frac{1}{2}x^2\mid_{0}^{\sqrt{y}}=y$$
You can see $F(y)=y$ and $y \in [0,1]$
This shows $Y\sim U(0,1)$