A decision theory approach to the approximation of discrete probability densities

D Kazakos1, T Cotsidas

  • 1Department of Electrical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst, NY 14260.

Related Concept Videos

Approximate Integration01:24

Approximate Integration

In many practical and theoretical contexts, the exact value of a definite integral may be inaccessible. This limitation typically arises when the antiderivative of a function is either unknown or cannot be expressed in a closed mathematical form. Alternatively, it can occur when a function is defined not by a formula but by a finite set of empirical data points, such as those collected during experiments. In these cases, approximate integration techniques provide a valuable solution.One of the...
Applications of Integration to Probability Density Functions01:27

Applications of Integration to Probability Density Functions

Continuous probability distributions are used to model random variables that can take on any real value within a specified range. These variables do not take on isolated or countable values but rather exist on a continuum. For example, the height of an individual can be measured with increasing precision—such as 163.5 or 165.25 centimeters—demonstrating that height is a continuous random variable.The behavior of such variables is described using a probability density function (PDF), which...
Probability Distributions01:32

Probability Distributions

The probability of a random variable x  is the likelihood of its occurrence. A probability distribution represents the probabilities of a random variable using a formula, graph, or table. There are two types of probability distribution– discrete probability distribution and continuous probability distribution.
A discrete probability distribution is a probability distribution of discrete random variables. It can be categorized into binomial probability distribution and Poisson probability...
Decision Making: P-value Method01:09

Decision Making: P-value Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the P-value method includes calculating the P- value using the sample data and interpreting it.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim  is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses:  a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
Decision Making: Traditional Method01:14

Decision Making: Traditional Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using the sample data, and interpreting these values.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
Midpoint Rule01:20

Midpoint Rule

Approximating areas under curved boundaries is a common problem in applied mathematics, particularly when an exact calculation is difficult or impractical. One effective numerical method for this purpose is the Midpoint Rule, which provides an estimate of the area under a curve by using rectangular approximations over a specified interval.Description of the Midpoint RuleThe Midpoint Rule begins by dividing the given interval into a number of equal subintervals. For each subinterval, the...