In: Statistics and Probability
Let X1, X2, X3, and X4 be a random sample of observations from a population with mean ? and variance ?2. Consider the following two point estimators of ?:
b1= 0.30 X1 + 0.30 X2 + 0.30 X3 + 0.30 X4 and
b2= 0.20 X1 + 0.40 X2 + 0.40 X3 + 0.20 X4 .
Which of the following constraints is true?
A. Var(b1)/Var(b2)=0.76
B. Var(b1)Var(b2)
C. Var(b1)=Var(b2)
D. Var(b1)>Var(b2)
We have, Var(b1) = Var(X1) + Var(X2)
+ Var(X3) + ? Var(X4) = 4 * = 0.36 .
[Since, X1, X2 , X3 and X4 are random samples, the covariance
terms will be 0].
Var(b2) = Var(X1) + Var(X2) + Var(X3) +
Var(X4) = 0.4 .
Hence, Var(b1) < Var(b2).
Hence, Option (B) is the correct choice. (Ans).