Is this a valid way to calculate statistically probable value?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter 30osk
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Value
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of the expected value for a normally distributed outcome, denoted as x. The user proposes a formula involving the integral from a to infinity of the product of the probability density function f(x) and a function g(x), defined as x-a for outcomes greater than a. A participant clarifies that this approach is valid and aligns with the definition of expected value in statistics, confirming that the integral should indeed start from a to infinity when g(x) equals zero for x less than a.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of normal distribution and its properties
  • Familiarity with probability density functions (PDFs)
  • Knowledge of expected value calculations in statistics
  • Basic calculus, specifically integration techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of expected value in statistics
  • Learn about probability density functions and their applications
  • Explore integration techniques for calculating expected values
  • Investigate the properties of normal distributions and their significance in statistical analysis
USEFUL FOR

Statisticians, data analysts, and anyone involved in probability theory or statistical modeling will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in calculating expected values for normally distributed outcomes.

30osk
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Good day,

Assume an event with a normally distributed numerical outcome. Call the outcome x. Assume that any outcome less than a particular value (called a) has a value of zero and any outcome greater than a has a value of x-a. Call the probability curve of the normal distribution f(x) and x-a = g(x). I am calculating the statistically probable value of any event as

Integral from a to infinity of [f(x) times g(x)] dx

Is this valid?

I hope that I explained this sufficiently. Thank you for your help.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
30osk said:
Good day,

Assume an event with a normally distributed numerical outcome. Call the outcome x. Assume that any outcome less than a particular value (called a) has a value of zero and any outcome greater than a has a value of x-a. Call the probability curve of the normal distribution f(x) and x-a = g(x). I am calculating the statistically probable value of any event as

Integral from a to infinity of [f(x) times g(x)] dx

Is this valid?

I hope that I explained this sufficiently. Thank you for your help.

Could be clearer! I think that by "statistically probable value" you mean "expected value" (otherwise, I don't know what you mean by "statistically probable"). If so, yes, the "expected value" of any function g, of a random variable x with probability density function f, is given by
[tex]\int_{-\infty}^\infty f(x)g(x)dx[/tex]
If g(x)= 0 for x< a then that is
[tex]\int_a^\infty f(x)g(x)dx[/tex]
 
Thanks for your reply. Your presumption is correct, I think. Since I am ignorant of the teminology of statistics, the following is not an argument but an explanation of why I used those words. I didn't use "expected probability" because I don't expect the value of the event's outcome to be the result of the integral, but the value is calculated based on statistical probabilities.

Thanks again!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 76 ·
3
Replies
76
Views
7K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
2K