# AP Statistics Curriculum 2007 Bayesian Prelim

### From Socr

Line 22: | Line 22:  
---|---  
In this formulation, we solve for <math>f(\mu|\mathbf{x})</math>, the "posterior" density of the population parameter <math>\mu</math>.| In this formulation, we solve for <math>f(\mu|\mathbf{x})</math>, the "posterior" density of the population parameter <math>\mu</math>.  
-| For this we utilize the likelihood function of our data given our parameter, <math>f(\mathbf{x}|\mu~~) \cdot f(\mu)} { f(\mathbf{x}~~) }</math>, and, importantly, a density <math>f(\mu)</math>, that describes our "prior" belief in <math>\mu</math>.| +| For this we utilize the likelihood function of our data given our parameter, <math>f(\mathbf{x}|\mu) }</math>, and, importantly, a density <math>f(\mu)</math>, that describes our "prior" belief in <math>\mu</math>.  
+| CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION -- THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE !!  
is associated with probability statements that relate conditional and marginal properties of two random events. These statements are often written in the form "the probability of A, given B" and denoted P(A|B) = P(B|A)*P(A)/P(B) where P(B) not equal to 0. | is associated with probability statements that relate conditional and marginal properties of two random events. These statements are often written in the form "the probability of A, given B" and denoted P(A|B) = P(B|A)*P(A)/P(B) where P(B) not equal to 0.   
  
## Revision as of 19:22, 23 July 2009

**Bayes Theorem**

Bayes theorem, or "Bayes Rule" can be stated succinctly by the equality 

In words, "the probability of event A occurring given that event B occurred is equal to the probability of event B occurring given that event A occurred times the probability of event A occurring divided by the probability that event B occurs." 

Bayes Theorem can also be written in terms of densities over continuous random variables. So, if  is some density, and _X_ and _Y_ are random variables, then we can say 

  


What is commonly called **Bayesian Statistics** is a very special application of Bayes Theorem. 

We will examine a number of examples in this Chapter, but to illustrate generally, imagine that **x** is a fixed collection of data that has been realized from under some known density,  that takes a parameter, μ whose value is not certainly known. 

Using Bayes Theorem we may write 

In this formulation, we solve for , the "posterior" density of the population parameter μ. 

For this we utilize the likelihood function of our data given our parameter, **Failed to parse (syntax error): f(\mathbf{x}|\mu) }** , and, importantly, a density _f_(μ), that describes our "prior" belief in μ. 

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION -- THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE !! 

is associated with probability statements that relate conditional and marginal properties of two random events. These statements are often written in the form "the probability of A, given B" and denoted P(A|B) = P(B|A)*P(A)/P(B) where P(B) not equal to 0. 

P(A) is often known as the Prior Probability (or as the Marginal Probability) 

P(A|B) is known as the Posterior Probability (Conditional Probability) 

P(B|A) is the conditional probability of B given A (also known as the likelihood function) 

P(B) is the prior on B and acts as the normalizing constant. In the Bayesian framework, the posterior probability is equal to the prior belief on A times the likelihood function given by P(B|A).