Saddlepoint Approximation for Sample Quantiles with Some Applications

In this article, we use the integral form of the binomial distribution to derive saddlepoint approximations for sample quantiles. As an application, we present the calculation of the tail probability of the empirical log-likelihood ratio statistic for quantiles. Simulation results are also given to show that our approximations are extremely accurate.     

Saddlepoint Approximation for Sample and Bootstrap Quantiles

The paper gives the saddlepoint approximation for the distribution function of the sample quantile. A comparison of the saddlepoint approximations for the distribution functions of the sample quantile and the bootstrap quantile shows that the error of the bootstrap approximation to the distribution of the sample quantile obtained by Singh (1981) as an absolute error is actually a relative error.     

Partial Saddlepoint Approximations for Transformed Means

The full saddlepoint approximation for real valued smooth functions of means requires the existence of the joint cumulant generating function for the entire vector of random variables which are being transformed. We propose a mixed saddlepoint-Edgeworth approximation requiring the existence of a cumulant generating function for only part of the random vector considered, while retaining partially the relative nature of the errors. Tail probability approximations are obtained under conditions which enable the approximations to be used in resampling situations and hence to obtain a result on the relative error of coverage in the case of the bootstrap approximation to the confidence interval for the Studentized mean.     

Saddlepoint Approximations for a Product and Its Application

A technique of the saddlepoint approximation with double exponential base, SPA_D is developed to evaluate the probability of a product of two random variables, which may be independent or dependent, normal or contaminated normal random variables. The SPA_D shows a slightly better approximation as compared to the saddlepoint approximation with Lagannani–Rice formula. However, both methods get remarkable results when applied to evaluate the tail probabilities of the Reynolds stress for soil erosion prediction.     

Saddlepoint Approximations to the Density and the Distribution Functions of Linear Combinations of Ratios of Partial Sums

A class of ratios of partial sums, including Normal, Weibull, Gamma, and Exponential distributions, is considered. The distribution of a linear combination of ratios of partial sums from this class is characterized by the distribution of a linear combination of Dirichlet components. This article presents two saddlepoint approaches to calculate the density and the distribution function for such a class of linear combinations. A simulation study is conducted to assess the performance of the saddlepoint methods and shows the great accuracy of the approximations over the usual asymptotic approximation. Applications of the presented approximations in statistical inferences are discussed.     

Pitman Closeness of Order Statistics to Population Quantiles

In this article, Pitman closeness of sample order statistics to population quantiles of a location-scale family of distributions is discussed. Explicit expressions are derived for some specific families such as uniform, exponential, and power function. Numerical results are then presented for these families for sample sizes n = 10,15, and for the choices of p = 0.10, 0.25, 0.75, 0.90. The Pitman-closest order statistic is also determined in these cases and presented.     

Improved Measures of the Spread of Data for Some Unknown Complex Distributions Using Saddlepoint Approximations

Measures of the spread of data for random sums arise frequently in many problems and have a wide range of applications in real life, such as in the insurance field (e.g., the total claim size in a portfolio). The exact distribution of random sums is extremely difficult to determine, and normal approximation usually performs very badly for this complex distributions. A better method of approximating a random-sum distribution involves the use of saddlepoint approximations.

Saddlepoint approximations are powerful tools for providing accurate expressions for distribution functions that are not known in closed form. This method not only yields an accurate approximation near the center of the distribution but also controls the relative error in the far tail of the distribution.

In this article, we discuss approximations to the unknown complex random-sum Poisson–Erlang random variable, which has a continuous distribution, and the random-sum Poisson-negative binomial random variable, which has a discrete distribution. We show that the saddlepoint approximation method is not only quick, dependable, stable, and accurate enough for general statistical inference but is also applicable without deep knowledge of probability theory. Numerical examples of application of the saddlepoint approximation method to continuous and discrete random-sum Poisson distributions are presented.     

Approximations of Variances and Covariances for Order Statistics from the Standard Extreme Value Distribution

We consider simple approximations of variances and covariances for order statistics from the standard extreme value distribution. Exact values and simulation results of the variances and covariances for certain sample sizes are used to determine the validity of the suggested approximations.     

Monte Carlo Approximations of the Quantiles of a Sample Statistic

We consider in this article the problem of numerically approximating the quantiles of a sample statistic for a given population, a problem of interest in many applications, such as bootstrap confidence intervals. The proposed Monte Carlo method can be routinely applied to handle complex problems that lack analytical results. Furthermore, the method yields estimates of the quantiles of a sample statistic of any sample size though Monte Carlo simulations for only two optimally selected sample sizes are needed. An analysis of the Monte Carlo design is performed to obtain the optimal choices of these two sample sizes and the number of simulated samples required for each sample size. Theoretical results are presented for the bias and variance of the numerical method proposed. The results developed are illustrated via simulation studies for the classical problem of estimating a bivariate linear structural relationship. It is seen that the size of the simulated samples used in the Monte Carlo method does not have to be very large and the method provides a better approximation to quantiles than those based on an asymptotic normal theory for skewed sampling distributions.     

Some Properties of Order Statistics When the Sample Size Is Random

ABSTRACT

The study of r-out-of-n systems is of utmost importance in reliability theory. In this note, we study closure of different partial orders under the formation of r-out-of-N and (N ? s)-out-of-N systems when the number of components N, forming the system, is a random variable having support {k, k + 1,…}, where k is a fixed positive integer, r ∈ {1,…, k} and s ∈ {0, 1,…, k ? 1}. This generalizes quite a few results already known in the literature. We also study the closure of different partial orders when two systems are formed out of different random number of components.     

A General Recurrence Relation for the Moments of Bivariate and Trivariate Order Statistics

In this article, by using the dropping argument, a general recurrence relation satisfied by the joint cumulative distribution functions of order statistics from any arbitrary bivariate distribution function is established. This recurrence relation is the first bivariate version of the basic triangle rule for order statistics arisen from univariate distribution function. Finally, this relation is extended to the trivariate case. These lead to similar identities for product moments (of any order) of order statistics.     

Saddlepoint Approximation for the Distribution of the Modified Signed Root of Likelihood Ratio Statistics Near the Mean

The Tracy-Singh product, which can be viewed as generalized Kronecher product, is studied and used widely in matrix theory and statistics. Therefore, some well-known Kantorovich inequalities are generalized to Tracy-Singh product in this article. Furthermore, some applications to statistics are presented.     

Testing the Difference of Two Binomial Proportions: Comparison of Continuity Corrections for Saddlepoint Approximation

We carried out a simulation study based on the methodology of Newcombe (1998 Newcombe , R. G. ( 1998 ). Interval estimation for the difference between independent proportions: comparison of eleven methods . Statist. Med. 17 : 873 – 890 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) to compare tests for the difference of two binomial proportions by applying different continuity corrections on saddlepoint approximation to tail probabilities. In this article, we proposed a new continuity correction based on the least common multiple of two sample sizes. We evaluated that the best test should have the actual Type I error rates that are, on the whole, closest to α, but not exceeding α, where α is nominal level of significance.     

Extreme Value Analysis for Progressively Type-II Censored Order Statistics

An account to extreme value theory for progressively Type-II censored order statistics is presented which enables us to handle limit laws for upper and lower extreme, intermediate and central progressively Type-II censored order statistics within one framework. We illustrate that the extreme value analysis for progressively Type-II censored order statistics is connected to limit laws for sums of independent but not-identically distributed exponential random variables. Moreover, we show that the limits are transformations of extreme value distributions and illustrate the connection to extreme value analysis for order statistics.     

Partial Ordering and Aging Properties of Order Statistics When the Sample Size is Random: A Brief Review

In many practical situations, order statistics arise naturally with random sample size. In this article, we review results on partial orderings and aging properties of such order statistics. The comparison of order statistics for different sample sizes is also discussed here.     

Saddlepoint density and distribution functions for the ratio of two linear functions and the product of generalized gamma variates

The generalized gamma distribution is a flexible and attractive distribution because it incorporates several well-known distributions, i.e., gamma, Weibull, Rayleigh, and Maxwell. This article derives saddlepoint density and distribution functions for the ratio of two linear functions of generalized gamma variables and the product of n independent generalized gamma variables. Simulation studies are used to evaluate the accuracy of the saddlepoint approximations. The saddlepoint approximations are fast, easy, and very accurate.     

Tests for Stochastic Orders and Mean Order Statistics

The aim of this article is to emphasize the fact, not observed previously in the literature, that many discrepancy measures used in tests related to different stochastic orders can be expressed as expectations of order statistics. In this way, we provide a new meaning to the corresponding test statistics which allows us to understand better, and potentially improve, the testing procedures. As illustration, we consider tests to detect overdispersion with respect to a specific probability model. In this setting, a test for the Weibull distribution is discussed in detail.     

Sample Entropy Statistics and Testing for Order in Complex Physiological Signals

Sample Entropy (SampEn) statistics have provided insight into the amount of order present in several types of complex physiological time series, particularly the heart rate dynamics of premature infants. Very little, however, is known of SampEn's statistical properties and this has hindered strategies for optimization and significance testing. This article shows that SampEn statistics are asymptotically Gaussian under general conditions. A straightforward point estimate of the statistic's variance is developed and compared to empirical results obtained from complex surrogate data. Statistical tests are developed to quantify the amount and scale of order detected in a signal. These tests are used to show that significant order is, in fact, being detected in the heart rate dynamics of neonates, and to suggest strategies for optimizing the analysis parameters.     

Bounds for Expectations of Differences of Generalized Order Statistics Based on General and Life Distributions

Let X _? ^(r), r ≥ 1, denote generalized order statistics based on an arbitrary distribution function F with finite pth absolute moment for some 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞. We present sharp upper bounds on E(X _? ^(s) ? X _? ^(r)), 1 ≤ r < s, for F being either general or life distribution. The bounds are expressed in various scale units generated by pth central absolute or raw moments of F, respectively. The distributions achieving the bounds are specified.     

A Note on Functional Forms of Order Statistics

Functional forms of order statistics, as the solution of a system of equations, are studied. The case of the smaller and the larger of two random variables is discussed in detail. Some applications for normal and binomial distributions are presented.