What is the best way to emphasize the proportion of x or y in a dataset?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on methods to emphasize the proportions of two variables, x and y, within a dataset. Participants explore different approaches to calculating and representing these proportions, considering both ratios and alternative formulations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant computes the proportions of x and y using the formulas x/(x+y) and y/(x+y), suggesting that a higher value of x should lead to a higher proportion of x.
  • Another participant clarifies that the proportions represent the ratio of each variable to the total of both variables, emphasizing that a higher absolute value of x or y will result in a higher proportion.
  • A different participant points out that if both x and y increase, the proportion of x may not necessarily increase, highlighting the nature of ratios in comparative analysis.
  • One participant proposes an alternative approach to emphasize the values of x and y by generating two new values, P and N, defined as P=x/(1+x) and N=y/(1+y), suggesting this may better reflect the desired emphasis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of using ratios versus alternative formulations to emphasize the proportions of x and y. There is no consensus on the best method, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the choice of method may depend on the specific context and goals of the analysis, but these considerations are not fully explored.

adan
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Hi,
There are two variables x and y. I compute a proportion of the x as x/(x+y), and the proportion of y as y/(x+y). I want to emphasize more on the amount of x or y. If x is high then the proportion should be high.
Using the above formulas if x=4229, y= 80, then x proportion = 0.981, when x=4617 and y=91, then x proportion approximately equal 0.981.

I hope I made it clear and I would appreciate any suggestion.

Thanks
 
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adan said:
Hi,
There are two variables x and y. I compute a proportion of the x as x/(x+y), and the proportion of y as y/(x+y). I want to emphasize more on the amount of x or y. If x is high then the proportion should be high.
Using the above formulas if x=4229, y= 80, then x proportion = 0.981, when x=4617 and y=91, then x proportion approximately equal 0.981.

I hope I made it clear and I would appreciate any suggestion.
Do you have a question?

The proportions are, more clearly, the proportion or ratio of x to the sum of x and y and the ratio of y to the sum of x and y. Whichever variable is larger will make for a higher proportion of that variable to the sum of the two variables.
 
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adan said:
If x is high then the proportion should be high.
At the same y, it is. If both x and y increase then the proportion of x doesn't have to increase. That's the point of taking the ratio. If you just want to compare absolute numbers, use the absolute numbers.
 
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Thanks all. I think I would like to do something that can't be done using the ratio. The idea is to generate two values (P,N) between 0 and 1. If x is high P increases, and if y is high N increases. Where x and y >= 0.
I will try P=x/(1+x) and N = y/(1+y)
 
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