How Do I Complete the Square and Simplify This Equation?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter gerv13
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Stuck
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around completing the square and simplifying an equation related to a probability expression involving variables such as n, c, s, and y. Participants are trying to clarify their steps and seek assistance in reaching a specific form of the equation.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their process of completing the square and expresses uncertainty about their simplification steps.
  • Another participant asks for the original problem statement to better understand the context of the discussion.
  • A different participant suggests that the variables may not be fully independent and requests additional equations that relate them.
  • The original poster shares the actual problem they are trying to solve and questions whether their current expression can be transformed into the desired form.
  • There is a suggestion that the original poster may have made an error in their approach, leading to confusion about the simplification process.
  • One participant emphasizes the need to define the probability expression p(t|y) for clarity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the original poster's steps or whether they can achieve the desired equation form. Multiple competing views remain regarding the approach to the problem.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion due to missing definitions and relationships between variables, which may affect the ability to simplify the equation correctly.

gerv13
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Hi, I'm almost at the end of a question but i seem to be stuck. I have the answer though.. so I am up to here so can someone please help me complete this:

(\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} }) [\mu^2 - 2\mu(\frac{n \overline{y}}{n+\frac{1}{c}})]
then i completed the square:
(\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} }) [(\mu - \frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})^2 - (\frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})^2]

then i expanded it:
(\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} })(\mu - \frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})^2 - (\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} })(\frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})^2

then i guess:
(\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} })(\mu - \frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})^2 -(\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} })(\frac{1}{(\frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})^2 })

and then i tried really hard to simplify it but i can't get the answer...

then answer is:
\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} + \frac{\overline{y}(\frac{1}{c})}{(n + \frac{1}{c})}}[\mu - (\frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})]^2

am i doing it right so far? and if so, then can you please help me figure out the next line, coz i tried and i can't somehow get that answer..:(.. thank you..?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What is the statement of the original problem?
 
Do you have some equations relating some of the variables together, so that they are not fully independent of each other?

Otherwise, I don't think you will make it.

Please post the precise question, so that we can look at it from there!
 
yeahh i think that i must have done something wrong along the way, coz i don't think that i could make it too..

well the actual problem was to show:
p(t|y) \propto (1 + \frac{n + 1/c}{\frac{s}{n} + \frac{\overline{y^2}(1/c)}{n + 1/c}})(\mu - \frac{n\overline{y}}{n + 1/c})^2

but yeahhh what i showed you guys is where I am up to which is sort of 3/4 of the way done i think. but yeahh i started again after reading all your posts, so do you think that it's possible to get from
(\frac{n + 1/c}{\frac{s}{n}})[\mu - \frac{n\overline{y}}{n + 1/c}]^2

and make it equal to
<br /> \frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} + \frac{\overline{y}(\frac{1}{c})}{(n + \frac{1}{c})}}[\mu - (\frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})]^2

like i tried
\frac{n + \frac{1}{c}}{\frac{s}{n} + \frac{\overline{y}(\frac{1}{c})}{(n + \frac{1}{c})}}[\mu - (\frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})][\mu - (\frac{n\overline{y}}{n + \frac{1}{c}})]

and expanding out only the first two brackets and that didn't work out too..
so did i do something wrong again and it's not possible to get to the right answer with what I am up to so far? and should i start again?
 
You need to define p(t|y).
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K