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Le Cam's theorem

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In probability theory, Le Cam's theorem, named after Lucien Le Cam, states the following.[1][2][3]

Suppose:

  • are independent random variables, each with a Bernoulli distribution (i.e., equal to either 0 or 1), not necessarily identically distributed.
  • (i.e. follows a Poisson binomial distribution)

Then

In other words, the sum has approximately a Poisson distribution and the above inequality bounds the approximation error in terms of the total variation distance.

By setting pi = λn/n, we see that this generalizes the usual Poisson limit theorem.

When is large a better bound is possible: ,[4] where represents the operator.

It is also possible to weaken the independence requirement.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Le Cam, L. (1960). "An Approximation Theorem for the Poisson Binomial Distribution". Pacific Journal of Mathematics. 10 (4): 1181–1197. doi:10.2140/pjm.1960.10.1181. MR 0142174. Zbl 0118.33601. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  2. ^ Le Cam, L. (1963). "On the Distribution of Sums of Independent Random Variables". In Jerzy Neyman; Lucien le Cam (eds.). Bernoulli, Bayes, Laplace: Proceedings of an International Research Seminar. New York: Springer-Verlag. pp. 179–202. MR 0199871.
  3. ^ Steele, J. M. (1994). "Le Cam's Inequality and Poisson Approximations". The American Mathematical Monthly. 101 (1): 48–54. doi:10.2307/2325124. JSTOR 2325124.
  4. ^ a b den Hollander, Frank. Probability Theory: the Coupling Method.
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