Chapter 4: Problem 125
Suppose that \(X\) has a Weibull distribution with \(\beta=0.2\) and \(\delta=100\) hours. Determine the mean and variance of \(X\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The mean is 12000 hours and the variance is 36144000000 hours².
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Weibull distribution parameters
The Weibull distribution is defined by two parameters: the shape parameter \(\beta\) and the scale parameter \(\delta\). In this case, we are given \(\beta = 0.2\) and \(\delta = 100\). These are the values we will use to find the mean and variance.
02
Formula for the mean of a Weibull distribution
The mean (also called the expected value) \(E(X)\) for a Weibull distribution is given by the formula: \[ E(X) = \delta \cdot \Gamma\left(1 + \frac{1}{\beta}\right) \]where \(\Gamma(z)\) is the gamma function.
03
Calculate the gamma function for the mean
For our parameters, we need to evaluate \(\Gamma\left(1 + \frac{1}{0.2}\right) = \Gamma(6)\). Since \(\Gamma(6) = (6-1)! = 5! = 120\), this gives us the value for \(\Gamma(6)\).
04
Compute the mean of the Weibull
Substitute the values into the mean formula:\[ E(X) = 100 \cdot 120 = 12000 \text{ hours} \]This is the expected mean value for \(X\).
05
Formula for the variance of a Weibull distribution
The variance \(Var(X)\) for a Weibull distribution is given by the formula:\[ Var(X) = \delta^2 \cdot \left(\Gamma\left(1 + \frac{2}{\beta}\right) - \left(\Gamma\left(1 + \frac{1}{\beta}\right)\right)^2\right) \]
06
Calculate the gamma functions for variance
First, calculate \(\Gamma\left(1 + \frac{2}{0.2}\right) = \Gamma(11)\) and \(\Gamma(6)^2\) from previous steps:- \(\Gamma(11) = (11-1)! = 10! = 3628800\)- \(\Gamma(6)^2 = 120^2 = 14400\)
07
Compute the variance of the Weibull
Substitute the values into the variance formula:\[Var(X) = 100^2 \cdot (3628800 - 14400) = 10000 \cdot 3614400 = 36144000000 \text{ hours}^2\]This is the variance of \(X\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Weibull Distribution Mean
The mean of a Weibull distribution is a measure of the central tendency for data that is modeled using this distribution. For the Weibull distribution, the mean is calculated using the formula: \[ E(X) = \delta \cdot \Gamma\left(1 + \frac{1}{\beta}\right) \] where \( \delta \) is the scale parameter and \( \beta \) is the shape parameter. The term \( \Gamma(z) \) stands for the gamma function, which is a special function that extends the concept of factorials to non-integer values.
Some interesting points about the Weibull mean include:
Some interesting points about the Weibull mean include:
- It tells us the 'average' time until an event (like failure) happens, depending on the scale of the distribution.
- Given \( \beta = 0.2 \) and \( \delta = 100 \), we computed \( E(X) = 100 \cdot \Gamma(6) = 12000 \text{ hours} \).
- The mean leverages the gamma function to handle the continuous nature of this distribution efficiently.
Weibull Distribution Variance
Variance in the context of the Weibull distribution provides a measure of spread. It indicates how much the values of the distribution deviate from the mean. The formula for finding the variance of a Weibull distributed random variable \( X \) is: \[ Var(X) = \delta^2 \cdot \left(\Gamma\left(1 + \frac{2}{\beta}\right) - \left(\Gamma\left(1 + \frac{1}{\beta}\right)\right)^2\right) \] where \( \delta \) is the scale parameter and \( \beta \) is the shape parameter.
Some key aspects of the Weibull variance are:
Some key aspects of the Weibull variance are:
- It gives insight into the variability and reliability of the data modeled by the Weibull distribution.
- In our example, \( Var(X) = 100^2 \cdot (3628800 - 14400) = 36144000000 \text{ hours}^2 \).
- The variance takes into account higher powers of the beta parameter and multiple uses of the gamma function.
Gamma Function
The gamma function \( \Gamma(z) \) is a complex mathematical function that generalizes the concept of factorial to non-integer numbers. It plays a significant role in various probability distributions, including the Weibull distribution. The gamma function is defined for positive reals and is given by: \[ \Gamma(z) = \int_0^\infty t^{z-1} e^{-t} \, dt \] For integer values, it's related to factorials: \( \Gamma(n) = (n-1)! \).
A few essential points about the gamma function are:
A few essential points about the gamma function are:
- It appears frequently in the context of continuous probability distributions.
- In the Weibull distribution, it helps calculate important metrics like mean and variance by extending the concept of multiplication beyond integers.
- The gamma function has recurrent relation properties like \( \Gamma(z+1) = z\Gamma(z) \).
Probability Distributions
Probability distributions are mathematical functions that describe the likelihood of different outcomes in a random experiment. They are fundamental in statistics and are used to model various types of data. A crucial concept is that they help in predicting the behavior of systems under uncertainty.
Key aspects of probability distributions include:
Key aspects of probability distributions include:
- Discrete distributions, like the binomial distribution, describe scenarios with finite or countable outcomes.
- Continuous distributions, such as the Weibull distribution, model data that can take an infinite number of possible outcomes within a certain range.
- Each distribution has its own set of parameters, such as mean and variance, that help in understanding its characteristics and how they relate to real-world data.