Maximum likelihood for a binomial proportion

Section of Estimation, part of Statistical inference

Maximum likelihood for a binomial proportion

Type Section
Taught in Estimation
Part Statistical inference

A single \operatorname{Bin}(n,p) count X=x has log-likelihood x\log p+(n-x)\log(1-p), up to a constant. The likelihood equation is

\frac xp-\frac{n-x}{1-p}=0,

so \widehat p=x/n, and the estimator is X/n. Maximum likelihood gives back the common-sense estimator.

Used in

See also

Estimator · Method of moments · Sample correlation coefficient · Likelihood function · Maximum likelihood · Invariance of maximum likelihood · Unbiased estimator · Mean squared error

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