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American Journal of Physics
written by R. K. P. Zia and Beate Schmittmann
For any physical observable in statistical systems, the most frequently studied quantities are its average and standard deviation. Yet, its full distribution often carries extremely 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 obviously 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 859-865
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Thermo & Stat Mech
- Probability
= Random Walks
- Upper Undergraduate
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© 2003 American Journal of Physics
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DOI:
10.1119/1.1566430
Keyword:
probability
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created July 21, 2010 by Anne Cox
Record Updated:
July 21, 2010 by Anne Cox
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when Cataloged:
September 1, 2003
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AIP Format
R. Zia and B. Schmittmann, , Am. J. Phys. 71 (9), 859 (2003), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430).
AJP/PRST-PER
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>.
APA Format
Zia, R., & Schmittmann, B. (2003, September 1). Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances. Am. J. Phys., 71(9), 859-865. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430
Chicago Format
Zia, Royce, and Beate Schmittmann. "Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances." Am. J. Phys. 71, no. 9, (September 1, 2003): 859-865, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430 (accessed 29 April 2024).
MLA Format
Zia, Royce, and Beate Schmittmann. "Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances." Am. J. Phys. 71.9 (2003): 859-865. 29 Apr. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430>.
BibTeX Export Format
@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 = {859-865}, Month = {September}, Year = {2003} }
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%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 September 1, 2003 %P 859-865 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Zia, Royce %A Schmittmann, Beate %D September 1, 2003 %T Watching a drunkard for 10 nights: A study of distributions of variances %J Am. J. Phys. %V 71 %N 9 %P 859-865 %8 September 1, 2003 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1566430


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