4 ms·
Interesting discussion, but I think the average is more usefully thought of as the best unbiased predictor. In other words, given no other information about the
by ejs 19y ago
Interesting discussion, but I think the average is more usefully thought of as the best unbiased predictor. In other words, given no other information about the process the mean is the best prediction one can make.
- kalid 19y agoYeah, there's lots of different interpretations for the average. The predictive one works well (expected value), another one is where the "balancing point" would be if you had physical weights at those coordinates. If you had 1kg weights at distances 2 3 and 10 (sum of 15), you should put the fulcrum of a lever at 5 to keep the set balanced. (Torque on right: 10 - 5 = 5. Torque on left: 5 - 2 = 3, and 5 - 3 = 2, for a total of 5). Different sized masses? You literally take the weighted average :).
- graywh 19y agoAny statistician would tell you the mean is biased and the median is less biased.