If $X_1$ and $X_2$ constitute a random sample of size $n=2$ from an exponential population, find the efficiency of $2Y_1$ relative to $\bar{X}$, where $Y_1$ is the first order statistic and $2Y_1$ and $\bar{X}$ are both unbiased estimators of the parameter $\theta$.
I keep going in circles on this problem.What is really giving me trouble is finding the variance of $Y_1$. I know the CDF for an exponential distribution will be $F(x)=1-e^{-\lambda x}$, in this particular case $\lambda=\frac{1}{\theta}$, so the pdf for the first order statistic $g(y_1)=2(1-F(y_1))=2e^{-\lambda y_1}$, right? Going from there, finding the variance of $2Y_1$ in order to find the efficiency should be as follow, but I'm really struggling with the calculations:
$$V(2Y_1)=4V(Y_1)=4[E(Y_1^2)-E(Y_1)^2]$$
Once I have that, I know the final relative efficiency will be $\frac{V(\bar{X})}{V(2Y_1)}$ and that $V(\bar{X})=\frac{\theta^2}{2}$. I just need a little help getting in the right direction here; I feel so off.
The pdf of $Y_1$ is $2\lambda e^{-2\lambda x}, \ x\geq 0.$ (And not $2e^{-\lambda x}$.)
Let's prove this statement first.
By definition, $$Y_1=\min(X_1,X_2).$$
So,
$$F_{Y_1}(x)=P(X_1<X_2\ \cap\ \ X_1<x)+P(X_2\leq X_1\ \cap\ \ X_2<x).\tag 1$$
First
$$P(X_1<X_2\ \cap\ \ X_1<x)=\int_0^{\infty}P(u<X_2\ \cap \ u< x)\lambda e^{-\lambda u}\ du=$$ $$=\lambda\int_0^xe^{-2\lambda u}\ du=\frac12(1-e^{-2\lambda x}).$$
Because of symmetry reasons the second component of $(1)$ is the same. So, we have
$$F_{Y_1}(x)=1-e^{-2\lambda x}.$$
From here the pdf is
$$f_{X_1}(x)=2\lambda e^{-2\lambda x}.$$
This is an exponential distribution with parameter $2\lambda$. The expectation and the variance are $\frac1{2\lambda}$ and $\frac1{4\lambda^2}$, respectively.
Finally, the variance of $2Y_1$ is $$\frac1{\lambda^2}.$$