Normalization vs Reweighting a histogram

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the concepts of normalization and reweighting in the context of histograms, particularly in data analysis using ROOT. Participants explore the definitions, implications, and applications of these terms, as well as the effects of weights on histogram values.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant defines normalization as scaling a histogram by a constant value without changing its shape, while reweighting is described as potentially confusing, with different interpretations regarding its effect on histogram values.
  • Another participant agrees on the normalization definition but adds that normalizing to bin width can alter the histogram's shape if the bin width is not constant.
  • There is a suggestion that reweighting with a constant weight may not be meaningful, and a question is raised about the role of weights in relation to x-values.
  • A later reply clarifies that weights influence the y-coordinate of the histogram, stating that the y-value is the sum of the weights for events in a bin, contrasting with unweighted events.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of reweighting and its relationship to x-values and y-values, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved regarding the precise effects and definitions of these terms.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions about the application of weights and their effects on histogram values, particularly regarding the interpretation of reweighting and the specific calculations involved.

ChrisVer
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I am trying to clarify what someone means by the words : normalize, reweight. So I'll write what I think they do in practice:
1. Normalization: takes a histogram and scales it by a constant value. The shape of the histogram is not changing, but how the y-axis looks does.
2. Reweight : here I get confused. I have seen reweighting applied as a scaling factor to a histogram as well as an argument in the TH1::Fill method. The first obviously doens't change the shape of the histogram but its normalization (and works if the weights are all equal), while the second seems to change the same (because in a histogram of h(x) per x_i goes to w_i x_i, right? or does it go to x_i/ w_i? I am also not sure if the sum of weights is being automatically applies: \frac{w_i x_i}{\sum w_i}?
The thing is that I came across a histogram H with x-values ranging from 0-500 and events ranging all over it. I also had weights that were \sim 10^{-6}...what confuses me is after reweighting the resulting histogram H' didn't have its values all taken down to 0 ( an event at 500 for example would have to be brought down to 500 e-6 = 5e-4 etc...) but rather sent up (to around 1000).
 
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ChrisVer said:
1. Normalization: takes a histogram and scales it by a constant value. The shape of the histogram is not changing, but how the y-axis looks does.
It is also possible to normalize to bin width, then the histogram changes its shape if the bin width is not constant.

Reweighing with constant weight doesn't make much sense.

The weight is not a factor on the x-value, multiplying/dividing those two does not make sense.

ROOT takes the sum of squared (!) weights into account if you call Sumw2() before filling the histogram.

Where does the number 1000 come from?
 
mfb said:
The weight is not a factor on the x-value, multiplying/dividing those two does not make sense.

So what does the weight do?
 
It influences the y coordinate. If you have two unweighted events in a bin your y-value is 2, if you have event weights you y-value is the sum of the weights.
 

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