12 Jul 2012 15:53
Kristofer: Small correction
Michael Ossipoff <email9648742 <at> gmail.com>
2012-07-12 13:53:39 GMT
2012-07-12 13:53:39 GMT
When you said that the optimal value for the "p" in Warren's formula could be found by trial and error, using an empirical bias measure (such as correlation between q and s/q), I said that it isn't necessary to do it by trial and error, because, since a certain kind of probability distribution function is assumed (exponential), to get the conclusion that p is a constant, and because, in any case, there are ways to estimate a good approximation to that distribution function. But of course, it could still be worthwhile checking the correlation between q and s/q, for various p values, because of course, as I've said, the approximating function is only a guess or an assumption. So yes, the trial and error optimization of p makes sense, if p really is constant with an exponential distribution function, and if that's a good estimate for the distribution function. But that trial and error optimization of p would only be valid over many allocations, because Weighted-Webster most definitely does not claim to minimize, for each allocation, the correlation between q and s/q. So really, it might be better to just try to make a good estimate of the best function to approximate the distribution function. Suggestions: 1. Interpolation in small regions, using several cumulative-seat-number(population) data points in and near each N to N+1 interval 2. Least squares, using more data points(Continue reading)
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