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> Why is it conceptually wrong to say the average of an empty array is zero? It’s not conceptually wrong, it just means the “mean” you’re referring to calculat
by drb91 8y ago
> Why is it conceptually wrong to say the average of an empty array is zero?
It’s not conceptually wrong, it just means the “mean” you’re referring to calculates a different value than the “mean” we’re taught in school. So, underlying assumptions about the differences in “mean” should be communicated where it’s used.
- mlthoughts2018 8y agoSure, I agree they should be communicated. Like, in the docs for “standard” mean functions, and not pushed into “specialized” mean functions, since needing this particular convention is not remotely special, and is rudimentary and expected in 99% of linear algebra and data analytics work, which are the largest drivers of these types of statistical functions.