Median from probability density function
I have a probability density function:
$f(x) = begin{cases} frac 1 4xe^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
To add more detail, cdf is:
$F(x) = begin{cases} 1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
Find the $Med(x)$.
Solving
$$int_{-infty}^{x} f(x) dx=1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}=frac 12$$
I found 2 values $3.3567$ and $-1.5361$, and my book said that the answer is $-1.5361$. This is confusing because I thought $Med(X)ge 0$.
probability probability-theory probability-distributions
New contributor
|
show 2 more comments
I have a probability density function:
$f(x) = begin{cases} frac 1 4xe^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
To add more detail, cdf is:
$F(x) = begin{cases} 1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
Find the $Med(x)$.
Solving
$$int_{-infty}^{x} f(x) dx=1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}=frac 12$$
I found 2 values $3.3567$ and $-1.5361$, and my book said that the answer is $-1.5361$. This is confusing because I thought $Med(X)ge 0$.
probability probability-theory probability-distributions
New contributor
The median is unique. So you can’t find two values.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:16
I solve the equation and it gives me 2 $x$ values, I haven't determined which $Med(X)$ is yet.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:17
Which equation did you solve? Please update the question with what you did.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:18
I have edited my post.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:24
2
Only the non-negative solution should be median since you used that part of the cdf for which $xge 0$; $F(x)$ cannot be $1/2$ for any $x<0$.
– StubbornAtom
Dec 26 at 13:46
|
show 2 more comments
I have a probability density function:
$f(x) = begin{cases} frac 1 4xe^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
To add more detail, cdf is:
$F(x) = begin{cases} 1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
Find the $Med(x)$.
Solving
$$int_{-infty}^{x} f(x) dx=1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}=frac 12$$
I found 2 values $3.3567$ and $-1.5361$, and my book said that the answer is $-1.5361$. This is confusing because I thought $Med(X)ge 0$.
probability probability-theory probability-distributions
New contributor
I have a probability density function:
$f(x) = begin{cases} frac 1 4xe^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
To add more detail, cdf is:
$F(x) = begin{cases} 1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}, & xge0 \ 0, & x < 0end{cases}$
Find the $Med(x)$.
Solving
$$int_{-infty}^{x} f(x) dx=1+frac{-1}2xe^{frac {-x}2}-e^{frac {-x}2}=frac 12$$
I found 2 values $3.3567$ and $-1.5361$, and my book said that the answer is $-1.5361$. This is confusing because I thought $Med(X)ge 0$.
probability probability-theory probability-distributions
probability probability-theory probability-distributions
New contributor
New contributor
edited Dec 26 at 13:38
New contributor
asked Dec 26 at 13:14
Tjh Thon
112
112
New contributor
New contributor
The median is unique. So you can’t find two values.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:16
I solve the equation and it gives me 2 $x$ values, I haven't determined which $Med(X)$ is yet.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:17
Which equation did you solve? Please update the question with what you did.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:18
I have edited my post.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:24
2
Only the non-negative solution should be median since you used that part of the cdf for which $xge 0$; $F(x)$ cannot be $1/2$ for any $x<0$.
– StubbornAtom
Dec 26 at 13:46
|
show 2 more comments
The median is unique. So you can’t find two values.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:16
I solve the equation and it gives me 2 $x$ values, I haven't determined which $Med(X)$ is yet.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:17
Which equation did you solve? Please update the question with what you did.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:18
I have edited my post.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:24
2
Only the non-negative solution should be median since you used that part of the cdf for which $xge 0$; $F(x)$ cannot be $1/2$ for any $x<0$.
– StubbornAtom
Dec 26 at 13:46
The median is unique. So you can’t find two values.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:16
The median is unique. So you can’t find two values.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:16
I solve the equation and it gives me 2 $x$ values, I haven't determined which $Med(X)$ is yet.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:17
I solve the equation and it gives me 2 $x$ values, I haven't determined which $Med(X)$ is yet.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:17
Which equation did you solve? Please update the question with what you did.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:18
Which equation did you solve? Please update the question with what you did.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:18
I have edited my post.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:24
I have edited my post.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:24
2
2
Only the non-negative solution should be median since you used that part of the cdf for which $xge 0$; $F(x)$ cannot be $1/2$ for any $x<0$.
– StubbornAtom
Dec 26 at 13:46
Only the non-negative solution should be median since you used that part of the cdf for which $xge 0$; $F(x)$ cannot be $1/2$ for any $x<0$.
– StubbornAtom
Dec 26 at 13:46
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Your PDF is for the distribution $mathsf{Gamma}(text{shape}=2,text{rate}=frac 1 2).$
See the relevant Wikipedia page (or your textbook) for details. You seek $F_X^{-1}(frac 1 2) = 3.356694.$
In R statistical software, the inverse CDF (quantile function)
is denoted qgamma
with appropriate arguments.
qgamma(.5,2,1/2)
[1] 3.356694
I agree with the comment of @StubbornAtom, that the median
cannot be negative. The "answer" −1.5361 is simply wrong.
Here is a graph of the PDF, with the location of the median
shown by a dotted red line.
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "69"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Tjh Thon is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3052932%2fmedian-from-probability-density-function%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Your PDF is for the distribution $mathsf{Gamma}(text{shape}=2,text{rate}=frac 1 2).$
See the relevant Wikipedia page (or your textbook) for details. You seek $F_X^{-1}(frac 1 2) = 3.356694.$
In R statistical software, the inverse CDF (quantile function)
is denoted qgamma
with appropriate arguments.
qgamma(.5,2,1/2)
[1] 3.356694
I agree with the comment of @StubbornAtom, that the median
cannot be negative. The "answer" −1.5361 is simply wrong.
Here is a graph of the PDF, with the location of the median
shown by a dotted red line.
add a comment |
Your PDF is for the distribution $mathsf{Gamma}(text{shape}=2,text{rate}=frac 1 2).$
See the relevant Wikipedia page (or your textbook) for details. You seek $F_X^{-1}(frac 1 2) = 3.356694.$
In R statistical software, the inverse CDF (quantile function)
is denoted qgamma
with appropriate arguments.
qgamma(.5,2,1/2)
[1] 3.356694
I agree with the comment of @StubbornAtom, that the median
cannot be negative. The "answer" −1.5361 is simply wrong.
Here is a graph of the PDF, with the location of the median
shown by a dotted red line.
add a comment |
Your PDF is for the distribution $mathsf{Gamma}(text{shape}=2,text{rate}=frac 1 2).$
See the relevant Wikipedia page (or your textbook) for details. You seek $F_X^{-1}(frac 1 2) = 3.356694.$
In R statistical software, the inverse CDF (quantile function)
is denoted qgamma
with appropriate arguments.
qgamma(.5,2,1/2)
[1] 3.356694
I agree with the comment of @StubbornAtom, that the median
cannot be negative. The "answer" −1.5361 is simply wrong.
Here is a graph of the PDF, with the location of the median
shown by a dotted red line.
Your PDF is for the distribution $mathsf{Gamma}(text{shape}=2,text{rate}=frac 1 2).$
See the relevant Wikipedia page (or your textbook) for details. You seek $F_X^{-1}(frac 1 2) = 3.356694.$
In R statistical software, the inverse CDF (quantile function)
is denoted qgamma
with appropriate arguments.
qgamma(.5,2,1/2)
[1] 3.356694
I agree with the comment of @StubbornAtom, that the median
cannot be negative. The "answer" −1.5361 is simply wrong.
Here is a graph of the PDF, with the location of the median
shown by a dotted red line.
answered Dec 27 at 8:52
BruceET
35.1k71440
35.1k71440
add a comment |
add a comment |
Tjh Thon is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tjh Thon is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tjh Thon is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tjh Thon is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3052932%2fmedian-from-probability-density-function%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
The median is unique. So you can’t find two values.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:16
I solve the equation and it gives me 2 $x$ values, I haven't determined which $Med(X)$ is yet.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:17
Which equation did you solve? Please update the question with what you did.
– mathcounterexamples.net
Dec 26 at 13:18
I have edited my post.
– Tjh Thon
Dec 26 at 13:24
2
Only the non-negative solution should be median since you used that part of the cdf for which $xge 0$; $F(x)$ cannot be $1/2$ for any $x<0$.
– StubbornAtom
Dec 26 at 13:46