Let $ X_1, ... X_n $ a sample of independent random variables with uniform distribution $(0,$$ \theta $$ ) $ Find a $ $$ \widehat\theta $$ $ estimator for theta using the maximun estimator method more known as MLE
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1$\begingroup$ If you want to find the maximum likelihood estimate, you first need to derive the likelihood. Did you get that far? Here is a primer: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_likelihood_estimator $\endgroup$– EmreCommented Jul 5, 2011 at 4:57
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3$\begingroup$ You asked this question for the method of moments, but you wanted the MLE. I am assuming in that time you've come up with something... surely... what have you tried? What is your effort? I'll write something that will guide you, but I don't want to just write the solution. $\endgroup$– mathmath8128Commented Jul 5, 2011 at 4:59
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$\begingroup$ The following video really helped me: youtube.com/watch?v=XaAtkCzdjLE $\endgroup$– DorCommented Aug 31, 2015 at 18:06
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3$\begingroup$ I see no reason why this question is off-topic. $\endgroup$– Yaroslav NikitenkoCommented Mar 30, 2021 at 19:53
2 Answers
First note that $f\left({\bf x}|\theta\right)=\frac{1}{\theta}$ , for $0\leq x\leq\theta$ and $0$ elsewhere.
Let $x_{\left(1\right)}\leq x_{\left(2\right)}\leq\cdots\leq x_{\left(n\right)}$
be the order statistics. Then it is easy to see that the likelihood
function is given by
$$L\left(\theta|{\bf x}\right) = \prod^n_{i=1}\frac{1}{\theta}=\theta^{-n}\,\,\,\,\,(*)$$
for $0\leq x_{(1)}$ and $\theta \geq x_{(n)}$ and $0$ elsewhere.
Now taking the derivative of the log Likelihood wrt $\theta$ gives:
$$\frac{\text{d}\ln L\left(\theta|{\bf x}\right)}{\text{d}\theta}=-\frac{n}{\theta}<0.$$ So we can say that $L\left(\theta|{\bf x}\right)=\theta^{-n}$ is a decreasing function for $\theta\geq x_{\left(n\right)}.$ Using this information and (*) we see that $L\left(\theta|{\bf x}\right)$ is maximized at $\theta=x_{\left(n\right)}.$ Hence the maximum likelihood estimator for $\theta$ is given by $$ \hat{\theta}=x_{\left(n\right)}.$$
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1$\begingroup$ I think you forgot the d theta in the denominator. but good answer! :) $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 5, 2011 at 5:41
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3$\begingroup$ @Nana Very old question, but still. Isn't there a problem with endpoints of the given interval? If they were included you solution would be perfectly fine, but the are not. How do deal with it? $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 4, 2013 at 17:19
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5$\begingroup$ How is differentiating valid here?? $\endgroup$ Commented May 25, 2018 at 21:22
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$\begingroup$ your link is broken (at least for me...) :p $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 5, 2011 at 5:04
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1$\begingroup$ The link works now, but anyway it's saved in the Web Archive: web.archive.org/web/20201111223743/https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/… $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 30, 2021 at 19:51