Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2001/iii/paper-29/4/i/solution

A beta distribution is a convenient prior for a probability and is conjugate to the binomial distribution of the death count. Match its mean and variance . For ,
The moment matching for a beta prior formula gives
Conditional on , use and the observed count . Multiplying its likelihood by the prior density gives the Bayesian posterior through Beta-binomial conjugacy:
Under squared-error loss, take its posterior mean as the point estimate. A 95% equal-tail credible interval is given by its 0.025 and 0.975 quantiles. Numerically,
Matching two moments does not uniquely determine a prior distribution; the beta family is a justified convenient choice, not a conclusion forced by those moments. Its transfer to this hospital presumes that the historical between-hospital distribution is relevant to the present risk and case mix.

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