MTH136/STA114: Statistics

Homework #1

Due: Wednesday, Jan 24, 2001


  1. In a small clinical trial there are 7 successes and 3 failures among the ten subjects. The true success probability p is unknown, and we would like to learn more about it.
    1. Give the likelihood function f(p)=cP[X=7|p] for the success probability p, normalized to be a probability density function (as a function of p on the interval 0<p<1), so that the integral Int{0<p<1} f(p) = 1. Your f(p) will be the product of a constant, a power of p, and a power of (1-p); you must give the values of the constant and the powers. Use Mathematica or Maple to evaluate the required integral; in your solution, give the Mathematica or Maple expression you used to evaluate it.
    2. Plot f(p) as a function of p, using your choice of S-Plus, Matlab, Mathematica, or Maple. Turn in the plot and the computer code used to generate it. Identify (both numerically and graphically) the point where f(p) attains its maximum value.
    3. Give the name of this distribution and the values of any parameters. You may find this list of probability distributions (ps, pdf) useful.
    4. Give the mean and standard deviation of this distribution. Again, the distribution list may be helpful: you are not asked to derive the mean or variance (no integration is necessary). Remember that Gamma(N) is (N-1) factorial, (N-1)! = 1·2·...·(N-1), for integers N.
    5. Find the probabilities Pr[p>0.50], Pr[p>0.90], and Pr[p<0.01], all correct to two decimal places, using S-Plus. Explain in your own words what are the meanings of these probabilities, in the context of the clinical trial.


  2. DeGroot Chapter 3 Section 6 Page 141 Problems 8,9
  3. DeGroot Chapter 3 Section 7 Page 149 Problems 1,5
  4. DeGroot Chapter 3 Section 8 Page 158 Problem 7
  5. DeGroot Chapter 3 Section 9 Page 169 Problem 1,5