 |
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date index][Thread index]
Re: st: probability mass function for a binomial distribution
I agree with Nick's advice to construct the functions on first
principles whenever possible.
Interestingly, Carlo has discovered the apparently undocumented
"survival' function Binomial(k,n,p) equal to P(X>=k), whereas the
documented function binomial(k,n,p) is P(X<=k). Here is a version
of Carlo's program with a correction for k= 20.
-Steve
/*---------------------------begin example-------------------------*/
drop _all
clear
set obs 21
g id=_n-1
g n=20
g k=_n-1
g p=.2
g double Binomial=Binomial( n, k, p)
g double PMF_Binomial=Binomial[_n]- Binomial[_n+1] in 1/20
replace PMF_Binomial=Binomial[_n] in 21 //Correction
g double PMF2 = 0.2^k * 0.8^(20 - k) * comb(20, k)
list id n k p Binomial binomial PMF*
/*--------------------------end example----------------------------*/
On Jun 29, 2008, at 11:26 AM, Nick Cox wrote:
What is available as a defined function shows up a trade-off
problem. It
wouldn't be difficult to define a thousand functions, but then some
people might complain about the complexity of the list and the
difficulty of finding a solution.
Otherwise put, I guess the answer to Carlo's question is that Stata
users -- unlike spreadsheet users, it seems --- are paid the
compliment
of knowing enough statistics to work this out from first principles:
gen double bmp = p^k * (1 - p)^(20 - k) * comb(20, k)
Note in passing two other details:
I prefer to use -double-s here.
Putting constants into variables isn't necessary:
gen double bmp = 0.2^k * 0.8^(20 - k) * comb(20, k)
In cases like this the advantage of a canned function over a one-line
solution using another canned function would be pretty small.
Nick
[email protected]
Carlo Lazzaro
I have probably found out the answer to my last Friday thread.
I do hope this may be useful for someone else on the list.
However, a little concern remains about the lack among Stata 9.2/SE
commands
of an in-built for calculating the (probably too trivial) probability
mass
function for a binomial distribution, which is instead available
within
the
most widespread spreadsheets.
One more time, my grateful thought go out to Steve and Nick (in
order of
appearance in my incoming e-mail folder) for pointing me out the
importance
of a step-by-step research in dealing with Stata troubles.
---------------------------begin example-------------------------
set obs 21
g id=_n-1
g n=20
g k=_n-1
g p=.2
g Binomial=Binomial( n, k, p)
g PMF_Binomial=1- Binomial if id==20
replace PMF_Binomial=Binomial[_n]- Binomial[_n+1] in 1/20
--------------------------end example----------------------------
*
* For searches and help try:
* http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
*
* For searches and help try:
* http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/