Issue 36099: Clarify the difference between mu and xbar in the statistics documentation (original) (raw)
This issue has been migrated to GitHub: https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/80280
classification
| Title: | Clarify the difference between mu and xbar in the statistics documentation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: | behavior | Stage: | resolved |
| Components: | Documentation | Versions: | Python 3.8 |
process
| Status: | closed | Resolution: | duplicate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dependencies: | Superseder: | clarify meaning of xbar and mu in pvariance/variance of statistics module View:20389 | |
| Assigned To: | cheryl.sabella | Nosy List: | cheryl.sabella, davin, docs@python, rhettinger, steven.daprano |
| Priority: | normal | Keywords: |
Created on 2019-02-24 03:39 by steven.daprano, last changed 2022-04-11 14:59 by admin. This issue is now closed.
| Messages (5) | ||
|---|---|---|
| msg336424 - (view) | Author: Steven D'Aprano (steven.daprano) *  |
Date: 2019-02-24 03:39 |
| The documentation isn't clear as to the difference between mu and xbar, and why one is used in variance and the other in pvariance. See #36018 for discussion. For the record: mu or μ is the population parameter, i.e. the mean of the entire population, if you could average every individual. xbar or x̅ is the mean of a sample. | ||
| msg336434 - (view) | Author: Davin Potts (davin) * |
Date: 2019-02-24 05:30 |
| Without necessarily defining what each means, perhaps it is sufficient to change this clause in the docs: it should be the mean of data For pvariance() it could read as: it should be the *population* mean of data And for variance() it could read as: it should be the *sample* mean of data | ||
| msg336438 - (view) | Author: Raymond Hettinger (rhettinger) * |
Date: 2019-02-24 06:08 |
| > Without necessarily defining what each means, > perhaps it is sufficient to change this clause in the docs +1 That is a simple way to address the concern. | ||
| msg336447 - (view) | Author: Steven D'Aprano (steven.daprano) * |
Date: 2019-02-24 08:05 |
| I'm happy with that doc change. If nobody objects, this might make an easy "Good first issue" for the upcoming sprint. Assigning to Cheryl to stop anyone else grabbing it. | ||
| msg336463 - (view) | Author: Cheryl Sabella (cheryl.sabella) * |
Date: 2019-02-24 11:27 |
| Great! Thank you, Steven. |
| History | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | User | Action | Args |
| 2022-04-11 14:59:11 | admin | set | github: 80280 |
| 2021-08-20 10:12:22 | iritkatriel | set | status: open -> closedsuperseder: clarify meaning of xbar and mu in pvariance/variance of statistics moduleresolution: duplicatestage: resolved |
| 2019-02-24 11:27:48 | cheryl.sabella | set | messages: + |
| 2019-02-24 08:05:25 | steven.daprano | set | assignee: docs@python -> cheryl.sabellamessages: + nosy: + cheryl.sabella |
| 2019-02-24 06:08:30 | rhettinger | set | nosy: + rhettingermessages: + |
| 2019-02-24 05:30:53 | davin | set | nosy: + davinmessages: + |
| 2019-02-24 03:39:59 | steven.daprano | create |