Recent content by elementbrdr

Recently, I learned that, in a probability density function, the probability of the occurrence of any specific x-value is in fact zero, for the relevant interval on the function is a point, which has zero width and therefore has zero area associated with it under the probability curve. This...

Viewing my question in terms of a sequence rather than a series, is there a way to state the calculation I described as a simple expression? I would be happy to try to clarify further if my question is still muddled. Thank you.

I think that what I am trying to do falls within the category of a sequence, rather than a series. I am interested in what the value of the expression would be after an infinite number of iterations of the "steps" illustrated above (and not in the sum of the expressions produced by each step)...

Thank you. I see your points. Maybe, in framing this as a limit of a series, I am thinking about the underlying problem incorrectly. So I will expand on the problem I am trying to solve. In a financial context, I am trying to calculate a return that is inclusive of a return-based payment...

Hi, I don't know how to analyze the following, but I am wondering whether there is a way to determine whether a series of the following form is convergent: V_{n}=(V_{n-1}+a)/b. Thank you.

Do you see the potential for the application of the poisson distribution? I have no particular way to do so, but it was suggested to me as a potential simplifying solution.

Excellent point. However, accounting for all of the cases in which groups of n=10 people share the same birthday produces a lengthy expression. First, you must account for the case I described above. Then you need to account for a case in which there are two groups, with each group composed...

Great. Thank you. There are two additional cases I would like to explore: first, if the number of people having a birthday today (let than number = n) is defined as n >=10; second, if the condition for success is not merely that n people's birthday is today, but, rather, is that n people have...

There is a lot of information on the web about how to calculate the probability that, in an arbitrarily-sized group, 2 people will share a birthday. However, I am trying to determine the probability that a larger number of people are born on a specific day (e.g., a group of people have a...

Hi, I have a question about infinity that probably stems from lacking a rigorous understanding of infinity. My understanding is that, generally, operations on infinity result in infinity. For example 2 * infinity = infinity. I am able to accept this in the abstract. However, it gets more...

I should also mention that I do understand algebra, calc (1-3ish) and probability theory. I also have a limited knowledge of stat (distributions, sampling distributions, mean, expectation etc.). The next topics I intend to study are special distributions (binomial, poisson etc.) and regression.

Stephen, Thanks for your response. I am studying stat because I'm interested in it. In my previous experience learning math, I have found that working problems is very helpful in learning how to apply concepts. D&S is very abstract in its discussion of concepts, which is not a problem for...

I'm independently studying stat. The book I'm using is DeGroot & Schervish 3e. I think it's pretty decent for the most part. However, there is no solutions manual available that covers all the problems in the book. Further, as I was searching on amazon for the solution manual, I found many...

I have a very pressing ::wink:: question. Is it possible to squish a unicellular organism?

Thanks, DH, that is very helpful.