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written by
R. K. P. Zia and Beate Schmittmann
The most frequently studied quantities of a statistical variable are its average and standard deviation. Yet, its full distribution often carries very interesting information and can be invoked to put the properties of the individual moments into perspective. As an example, we consider a problem concerning simple random walks. When a drunk is observed over L nights, taking N steps per night, and the number of steps to the right is recorded for each night, an average and a variance based on these data can be calculated. When the variance is used to estimate p, the probability for the drunk to step right, complex values for p are frequently found. To put such nonsensical results into context, we study the full probability distribution for the variance of the data string. We discuss the connection of our results to the problem of data binning and provide two other examples to demonstrate the importance of full distributions.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 71, Issue 9, Pages 859-875
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=11277">Zia, Royce, and Beate Schmittmann. "Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances." Am. J. Phys. 71, no. 9, (February 18, 2003): 859-875.</a>
![]() R. Zia and B. Schmittmann, , Am. J. Phys. 71 (9), 859 (2003), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430).
![]() R. Zia and B. Schmittmann, Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances, Am. J. Phys. 71 (9), 859 (2003), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430>.
![]() Zia, R., & Schmittmann, B. (2003, February 18). Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances. Am. J. Phys., 71(9), 859-875. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430
![]() Zia, Royce, and Beate Schmittmann. "Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances." Am. J. Phys. 71, no. 9, (February 18, 2003): 859-875, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430 (accessed 1 May 2025).
![]() Zia, Royce, and Beate Schmittmann. "Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances." Am. J. Phys. 71.9 (2003): 859-875. 1 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430>.
![]() @article{
Author = "Royce Zia and Beate Schmittmann",
Title = {Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances},
Journal = {Am. J. Phys.},
Volume = {71},
Number = {9},
Pages = {859-875},
Month = {February},
Year = {2003}
}
![]() %A Royce Zia %A Beate Schmittmann %T Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances %J Am. J. Phys. %V 71 %N 9 %D February 18, 2003 %P 859-875 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Journal Article %A Zia, Royce %A Schmittmann, Beate %D February 18, 2003 %T Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances %J Am. J. Phys. %V 71 %N 9 %P 859-875 %8 February 18, 2003 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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