Asymptotic non-null distribution of a test of equality of exponential populations

In this paper further asymptotic expansions of the non-null distribution of the likelihood ratio criterion for testing the equality of several one parameter exponential distributions are obtained when the alternatives are close to the hypothesis. These expansions are obtained for the first time in terms of beta distributions.     

Exact inferences of the two-parameter exponential distribution and Pareto distribution with censored data

We develop an exact inference for the location and the scale parameters of the two-exponential distribution and the Pareto distribution based on their maximum-likelihood estimators from the doubly Type-II and the progressive Type-II censored sample. Based on some pivotal quantities, exact confidence intervals and tests of hypotheses are constructed. Exact distributions of the pivotal quantities are expressed as mixtures of linear combinations and of ratios of linear combinations of standard exponential random variables, which facilitates the computation of quantiles of these pivotal quantities. We also provide a bootstrap method for constructing a confidence interval. Some simulation studies are carried out to assess their performances. Using the exact distribution of the scale parameter, we establish an acceptance sampling procedure based on the lifetime of the unit. Some numerical results are tabulated for the illustration. One biometrical example is also given to illustrate the proposed methods.     

Selection of the best with a preliminary test for two-parameter exponential distributions

This paper deals with the problem of selecting the best population from among k(≥ 2) two-parameter exponential populations. New selection procedures are proposed for selecting the unique best. The procedures include preliminary tests which allow the xperimenter to have an option to not select if the statistical evidence is not significant. Two probabilities, the probability to make a selection and the probability of a correct selection, are controlled by these selection procedures. Comparisons between the proposed selection procedures and certain earlier existing procedures are also made. The results show the superiority of the proposed selection procedures in terms of the required sample size.     

Exact distribution of the MLEs of the parameters and of the quantiles of two-parameter exponential distribution under hybrid censoring

Epstein [Truncated life tests in the exponential case, Ann. Math. Statist. 25 (1954), pp. 555–564] introduced a hybrid censoring scheme (called Type-I hybrid censoring) and Chen and Bhattacharyya [Exact confidence bounds for an exponential parameter under hybrid censoring, Comm. Statist. Theory Methods 17 (1988), pp. 1857–1870] derived the exact distribution of the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) of the mean of a scaled exponential distribution based on a Type-I hybrid censored sample. Childs et al. [Exact likelihood inference based on Type-I and Type-II hybrid censored samples from the exponential distribution, Ann. Inst. Statist. Math. 55 (2003), pp. 319–330] provided an alternate simpler expression for this distribution, and also developed analogous results for another hybrid censoring scheme (called Type-II hybrid censoring). The purpose of this paper is to derive the exact bivariate distribution of the MLE of the parameter vector of a two-parameter exponential model based on hybrid censored samples. The marginal distributions are derived and exact confidence bounds for the parameters are obtained. The results are also used to derive the exact distribution of the MLE of the pth quantile, as well as the corresponding confidence bounds. These exact confidence intervals are then compared with parametric bootstrap confidence intervals in terms of coverage probabilities. Finally, we present some numerical examples to illustrate the methods of inference developed here.     

On the distribution of lrt for testing the equality of exponential distributions

In this paper, an asymptotic expansion of the distribution' of the likelihood ratio criterion for testing the equality of p one-parameter exponential distributions is obtained for unequal sample sizes. The expansion is obtained up to the order of n^-3 with the second term of the order of n^-2 so that the first term of this expansion alone should provide an excellent approximation to the distribution for moderately large values of n, where n is the combined sample size.     

Exact likelihood inference for two populations from two-parameter exponential distributions under joint Type-II censoring

In this article, we develop exact inference for two populations that have a two-parameter exponential distribution with the same location parameter and different scale parameters when Type-II censoring is implemented on the two samples in a combined manner. We obtain the conditional maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) of the three parameters. We then derive the exact distributions of these MLEs along with their moment generating functions. Based on general entropy loss function, Bayesian study about the parameters is presented. Finally, some simulation results and an illustrative example are presented to illustrate the methods of inference developed here.     

Confidence intervals for coefficients of variation in two-parameter exponential distributions

This article examines confidence intervals for the single coefficient of variation and the difference of coefficients of variation in the two-parameter exponential distributions, using the method of variance of estimates recovery (MOVER), the generalized confidence interval (GCI), and the asymptotic confidence interval (ACI). In simulation, the results indicate that coverage probabilities of the GCI maintain the nominal level in general. The MOVER performs well in terms of coverage probability when data only consist of positive values, but it has wider expected length. The coverage probabilities of the ACI satisfy the target for large sample sizes. We also illustrate our confidence intervals using a real-world example in the area of medical science.     

Asymptotic non-null distribution of a test connected with exponential populations

In this paper asymptotic expansions of the non-null distribution of the likelihood ratio criterion for testing the equality of several one parameter exponential distributions are obtained under local alternatives. These expansions are in terms of Chi-square distributions.     

Sequential estimation of a linear function of location parameters of two negative exponential distributions

The paper considers the problem of bounded risk point estimation for a linear function of location parameters of two negative exponential distributions, including the difference in a special case, when two scale parameters are unknown. Purely sequential procedures are proposed and second order expansions of the average sample sizes and risk are given. Furthermore some simulation results are provided.     

Bounded risk estimation of a linear combination of location parameters in negative exponential distributions via three-stage sampling

The paper deals with the problem of bounded risk point estimation for a linear combination of location parameters of two negative exponential distributions. Isogai and Futschik considered the situation when the location and scale parameters are all unknown. They proposed purely sequential procedures and gave second order expansions of the average sample sizes and risks. In this paper we propose three-stage procedures and derive second order expansions of the average sample sizes and risks. Further, we compare the results with those from previous work.     

A two-stage procedure for selecting the best of k exponential distributions

The problem of selecting the best of k exponential distributions with different guarantee times and the same unknown variance is considered. A two-stage procedure, similar to the one considered by Bechhofer, Dunnett and Sobel (1954), is given. Some specific guidelines for selecting the first-stage sample size are also given.     

Approximate mean squared errors of estimations of reliability in the two-parameter exponential case

Combining the method used i n Chao (1981) and conditional procedure, we extend our previous results for one-parameter exponential to two-parameter case, i .e. we provide simple approximation formulas for the mean squared errors of the maximum likelihood and minimum variance unbiased estimators of reliability of general k-out-of-m systems when the component lifetimes are independent and follow a two-parameter exponential distribution.     

Further asymptotic expansions of the distribution of the sphericity test

In this paper new asymptotic expansions of the distributions of the sphericity test criterion are obtained in the null and the non-null case when the alternatives are close to the hypothesis. These expansions are obtained for the first time in terms of beta distributions. These appear to be better than the ones available in the literature.     

Multiparameter estimation of discrete exponential distributions

Let X₁, …, X_p be independent random variables, all having the same distribution up to a possibly varying unspecified parameter, where each of the p distributions belongs to the family of one parameter discrete exponential distributions. The problem is to estimate the unknown parameters simultaneously. Hudson (1978) shows that the minimum variance unbiased estimator (MVUE) of the parameters is inadmissible under squared error loss, and estimators better than the MVUE are proposed. Essentially, these estimators shrink the MVUE towards the origin. In this paper, we indicate that estimators shifting the MVUE towards a point different from the origin or a point determined by the observations can be obtained.     

Estimation of Pr( x<y ) in the exponential case with common location parameter

This paper considers the problem of estimating the probability P = Pr(X < Y) when X and Y are independent exponential random variables with unequal scale parameters and a common location parameter. Uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator of P is obtained. The asymptotic distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator is obtained and then the asymptotic equivalence of the two estimators is established. Performance of the two estimators for moderate sample sizes is studied by Monte Carlo simulation. An approximate interval estimator is also obtained.     

Estimation in two-parameter exponential distributions

Exponential distributions are used extensively in the field of life-testing. Estimation of parameters is revisited in two-parameter exponential distributions. A comparison study between the maximum likelihood method, the unbiased estimates which are linear functions of the maximum likelihood method, the method of product spacings, and the method of quantile estimates are presented. Finally, a simulation study is given to demonstrate the small sample properties     

A new test for bivariate distributions : exponential vs new-better-than-used alternative

This paper presents a new test for testing bivariate exponentiality against the bivariate new better than used (BNBU) class of non-exponential probability distributions. The test statistic is a function of U-statistics and hence asymptotically normally distributed and consistent.     

Discriminating between generalized exponential,geometric extreme exponential and Weibull distributions

Generalized exponential, geometric extreme exponential and Weibull distributions are three non-negative skewed distributions that are suitable for analysing lifetime data. We present diagnostic tools based on the likelihood ratio test (LRT) and the minimum Kolmogorov distance (KD) method to discriminate between these models. Probability of correct selection has been calculated for each model and for several combinations of shape parameters and sample sizes using Monte Carlo simulation. Application of LRT and KD discrimination methods to some real data sets has also been studied.     

Asymptotic distributions of order statistics and record values arising from the class of beta-generated distributions

In this paper, we show that both the class of beta-generated distributions G_F and its base distribution F belong to the same domain of maximal (or minimal or upper record value or lower record value) attraction. Moreover, it is shown that the weak convergence of any non-extreme order statistic (central or intermediate order statistic), based on a base distribution F, to a non-degenerate limit type implies the weak convergence of G_F to a non-degenerate limit type. The relations between the two limit types are deduced.     

Block censoring scheme with two-parameter exponential distribution

This paper deals with a new censoring scheme, called ‘Block Censoring’ which reduces considerably the total time on test in the life testing experiments with respect to the common used experimental tests such as rightly censored data. This new scheme is analysed when the lifetimes of products follow the two-parameter exponential distribution. Specially, it is proved that the respective spacings are independently distributed exponential. The problem of estimating parameters is investigated in details.A Monte Carlo simulation is conducted for obtaining the optimal block censoring scheme in the sense of the shortest expected test time. Finally, a real data set on times to breakdown of an insulating fluid between electrodes from Nelson [Applied life data analysis. New York: Wiley; 1982. p.105] is analysed.