Sample distribution and expected value.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of sample distributions and expected values in statistics, particularly focusing on the relationship between individual samples and the population mean. Participants explore the implications of selecting samples with replacement and the properties of expected values in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that if samples are selected with replacement, each sample will have the same probability distribution as the population, leading to an expected value of the sample mean being equal to the population mean µ.
  • Another participant questions the meaning of the probability distribution of a single sample, suggesting it may refer to a random variable having the same probability for specific values.
  • Some participants clarify that the expected values of individual samples are the same as the population average because the definitions of the population mean and expectation value are identical.
  • A participant expresses confusion regarding whether a sample can contain multiple data points and how the expected values of individual samples relate to the population mean, questioning if the sum of expected values for samples would be smaller than the population mean.
  • Another participant reiterates the confusion about the relationship between sample sizes and expected values, emphasizing that the expectation value of a random variable is defined in a specific way.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the relationship between sample distributions and expected values. There is no consensus on the clarity of the definitions or the implications of sample sizes on expected values, indicating ongoing confusion and debate.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the need for clarification on the definitions of terms like "sample" and "expected value," as well as the implications of sample size on these concepts. There are unresolved questions about how individual samples relate to the overall population mean.

kidsasd987
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Consider a scenario where samples are randomly selected with replacement. Suppose that the population has a probability distribution with mean µ and variance σ 2 . Each sample Xi , i = 1, 2, . . . , n will then have the same probability distribution with mean µ and variance σ 2 . Now, let us calculate the mean and variance of X_bar: E(X_bar) = 1/n*(E(X1) + E(X2) + · · · + E(Xn)) = 1/n (µ + µ + · · · + µ ) = µ

*X_i is independent random variable.Hello. I wonder why the expected values of Xi are the same as population average µ.
 
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Hi,

Not sure what you mean with the probability distribution of a single sample. What's that ?
 
BvU said:
Hi,

Not sure what you mean with the probability distribution of a single sample. What's that ?

I guess it means that random variable has the same probability for P(X=x), like Bernoulli random variable.


Please refer to the link above.
 
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It's probably more like a short form of saying that the set of all possible individual xi has the same probability distribution as ... (because it's the same population).

kidsasd987 said:
why the expected values of Xi are the same as population average µ
Well, that is because the expression in the definition of ##\mu## and the expression for the expectation value are identical.
 
BvU said:
It's probably more like a short form of saying that the set of all possible individual xi has the same probability distribution as ... (because it's the same population).

Well, that is because the expression in the definition of ##\mu## and the expression for the expectation value are identical.

I am sorry. Maybe I am too dumb to understand at once. Can you help me to figure out the questions below?
(*they are not homework questions but I wrote them in statement form because It'd be easier to answer.)1. Xi are the samples with n size.
Does that mean X1 can have n number of data within it? For example, let's say our population has a data set {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
and X1 has a size of 2, then {1,2},{1,4},... on can be the sample X1.

2. (if 1 is correct) I understand why E(X)=μ, but how their samples E(X1),E(X2).. and on equal to μ.
E(X)=sigma(P(X=xi)*xi)
E(X1)=sigma(P(X1=xj)*xj) but the sum will be significantly smaller than E(X)?

Thanks.
 
1. Xi are the samples with n size.
Does that mean X1 can have n number of data within it? For example, let's say our population has a data set {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
and X1 has a size of 2, then {1,2},{1,4},... on can be the sample X1.

2. (if 1 is correct) I understand why E(X)=μ, but how their samples E(X1),E(X2).. and on equal to μ.
E(X)=sigma(P(X=xi)*xi)
E(X1)=sigma(P(X1=xj)*xj) but the sum will be significantly smaller than E(X)?
Thanks.

##X_i## is not a sample. It is a random variable. We find the expectation value of that random variable defined as,
##E(X_i) = \Sigma{x_iP(x_i)} = \mu##
Hope this helps!
 

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