Related papers: An Elementary Analysis of the Probability That a B…
Let $M(n, k, p)$ denote the maximum probability of the event $X_1 = X_2 = \cdots = X_n=1$ under a $k$-wise independent distribution whose marginals are Bernoulli random variables with mean $p$. A long-standing question is to calculate $M(n,…
Let S_n=X_1+...+X_n be a sum of independent symmetric random variables such that |X_{i}|\leq 1. Denote by W_n=\epsilon_{1}+...+\epsilon_{n} a sum of independent random variables such that \prob{\eps_i = \pm 1} = 1/2. We prove that…
We present a generalization of the maximal inequalities that upper bound the expectation of the maximum of $n$ jointly distributed random variables. We control the expectation of a randomly selected random variable from $n$ jointly…
We consider the Last-Success-Problem with $n$ independent Bernoulli random variables with parameters $p_i>0$. We improve the lower bound provided by F.T. Bruss for the probability of winning and provide an alternative proof to the one given…
Possible parameter values in a random sampling model are shown by definition to have uniform base-rate prior probabilities. This allows a frequentist posterior probability distribution to be calculated for such possible parameter values…
This paper studies one-sided hypothesis testing under random sampling without replacement. That is, when $n+1$ binary random variables $X_1,\ldots, X_{n+1}$ are subject to a permutation invariant distribution and $n$ binary random variables…
We study the number of linear extensions of a partial order with a given proportion of comparable pairs of elements, and estimate the maximum and minimum possible numbers. We also consider a random interval partial order on $n$ elements,…
Due to the distribution of primes among integers, we establish an upper bound for the probability $\mathbb{P}_n$ that the Goldbach conjecture fails. Assuming the conjecture holds true for all even number less than $2N$, we prove this…
Imagine that there are two bins to which balls are added sequentially, and each incoming ball joins a bin with probability proportional to the p-th power of the number of balls already there. A general result says that if p>1/2, there…
Let $\pi_n$ be a uniformly chosen random permutation on $[n]$. Using an analysis of the probability that two overlapping consecutive $k$-permutations are order isomorphic, the authors of a recent paper showed that the expected number of…
We analyze selected iterated conditionals in the framework of conditional random quantities. We point out that it is instructive to examine Lewis's triviality result, which shows the conditions a conditional must satisfy for its probability…
Let $(\xi_i)_{i=1,...,n}$ be a sequence of independent and symmetric random variables. We consider the upper bounds on tail probabilities of self-normalized deviations $$ \mathbf{P} \Big( \max_{1\leq k \leq n} \sum_{i=1}^{k} |\xi_i|\big/…
Say $X_1,X_2,\ldots$ are independent identically distributed Bernoulli random variables with mean $p$. This paper builds a new estimate $\hat p$ of $p$ that has the property that the relative error, $\hat p /p - 1$, of the estimate does not…
Elections involving a very large voter population often lead to outcomes that surprise many. This is particularly important for the elections in which results affect the economy of a sizable population. A better prediction of the true…
Let $M_n$ be an $n$ by $n$ random matrix where each entry is +1 or -1 independently with probability 1/2. Our main result implies that the probability that $M_n$ is singular is at most $(1/\sqrt{2} + o(1))^n$, improving on the previous best…
We introduce a method for showing that there exist prime numbers which are very close together. The method depends on the level of distribution of primes in arithmetic progressions. Assuming the Elliott-Halberstam conjecture, we prove that…
This paper develops some objective priors for certain parameters of the bivariate normal distribution. The parameters considered are the regression coefficient, the generalized variance, and the ratio of the conditional variance of one…
We examine functions representing the cumulative probability of a binomial random variable exceeding a threshold, expressed in terms of the success probability per trial. These functions are known to exhibit a unique inflection point. We…
We define the min-min expectation selection problem (resp. max-min expectation selection problem) to be that of selecting k out of n given discrete probability distributions, to minimize (resp. maximize) the expectation of the minimum value…
We address a question and a conjecture on the expected length of the longest common subsequences of two i.i.d.$\ $random permutations of $[n]:=\{1,2,...,n\}$. The question is resolved by showing that the minimal expectation is not attained…