Gamma-exponential conjugacy Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
A gamma prior with shape and rate combined with independent observations from an exponential distribution of rate gives the posteriorUnder squared-error loss, the Bayes estimator is its posterior mean .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 ib Paper 4 12H Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 ib Paper 4 19H i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 ii Paper 3 26I Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 1 7C Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 ii Paper 2 25J iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
Put . The posterior is , andThe denominator is positive for . For , both parameters exceed one and the mode simplifies to . For this is the uniform-prior mode, exactly ; for the endpoint or symmetric cases also make the mode rule coincide with . Otherwise it is generally a different rule. The posterior mean agrees with only at .
To find the minimax estimator under quadratic loss, consider the posterior mean . Its risk function isFor , the numerator is identically , soThis constant-risk binomial proportion estimator is the unique Bayes estimator for its proper beta prior under quadratic loss. A competing rule's maximum risk is at least its risk averaged over that prior, which is at least this Bayes risk. The constant-risk rule attains the bound, so the posterior mean in (iii) is the unique minimax rule. Consequently any coincident rule is minimax too: the mean in (i) is the same rule when , and the mean in (ii) is the same rule when . No posterior mode listed here equals that mean rule for every observation, since at its value is positive whereas their endpoint modes differ from it. This accounts for the small- coincidences as well as the general answer.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 ib Paper 3 20H c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
The specified gamma distribution uses shape and rate . Multiplying its density by the Poisson likelihood gives a posterior density proportional to . Thus the conjugate prior calculation givesFor squared-error loss, the posterior expected loss isIt is minimized at the posterior mean, so the Bayes estimator isFor a fresh conditionally independent Poisson observation, the posterior predictive probability of zero is the posterior expectation of . Evaluating the gamma integral givesThe samples are independent conditional on ; integrating out the uncertain common parameter produces the predictive probability above.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ii Paper 1 28K b iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
For every estimator, its worst-case risk dominates its average risk under the uniform prior. Since the preceding Bayes estimator minimizes that average,The estimator has risk exactly throughout the interior, so it attains this lower bound. Under either endpoint convention discussed above its supremum over is also . ThusThis constant-risk Bayes argument works also for , when the only observed counts are endpoints and the posterior integrability argument still selects their corresponding decisions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ii Paper 1 28K b ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
Condition on . For , the posterior expected loss is a strictly convex quadratic in the decision . Its minimizer isThe beta density gives and , so . If , every has infinite posterior expected loss because of the nonintegrable term near zero, whereas has finite loss expectation. The analogous argument at forces . Hence the Bayes estimator isIndeed is unbiased and has variance , which cancels the loss denominator. Its uniform-prior Bayes risk is .
The printed loss is undefined at , despite the stated closed parameter interval. A convention is necessary there. The natural extended loss assigns zero to the correct endpoint decision and infinity to an incorrect one; it gives endpoint risks zero for . Alternatively a continuous extension of this estimator's risk gives endpoint values . The interior result and the minimax value below are unchanged by either convention, and a uniform prior gives the endpoints measure zero. We do not identify an undefined with a value without specifying this choice.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 ib Paper 4 19H Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
With the uniform prior, the binomial likelihood gives the Beta distribution posterior . Under squared-error loss, the Bayes estimator is the posterior mean:
The production manager's prior gives posterior density proportional to . Minimizing gives the weighted posterior meanusing the supplied beta function. Cross multiplication shows exactly when , so it is greater unless .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ib Paper 1 18H b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The probability of no recovery through month is the product of the conditional survival probabilities, soUnder quadratic loss, the Bayes estimator is the posterior mean. Posterior independence and the mean of a Beta distribution giveConsequently
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 ii Paper 3 28L b i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The risk of a decision rule is its expected loss at a fixed parameter value:For a prior , a Bayes estimator minimizes the integrated riskor equivalently minimizes posterior expected loss for almost every observation. A minimax decision rule minimizesover all decision rules.