Paper 1, Section I, H

Statistics
Part IB, 2012

Describe the generalised likelihood ratio test and the type of statistical question for which it is useful.

Suppose that X1,,XnX_{1}, \ldots, X_{n} are independent and identically distributed random variables with the Gamma (2,λ)(2, \lambda) distribution, having density function λ2xexp(λx),x0\lambda^{2} x \exp (-\lambda x), x \geqslant 0. Similarly, Y1,,YnY_{1}, \ldots, Y_{n} are independent and identically distributed with the Gamma (2,μ)(2, \mu) distribution. It is desired to test the hypothesis H0:λ=μH_{0}: \lambda=\mu against H1:λμH_{1}: \lambda \neq \mu. Derive the generalised likelihood ratio test and express it in terms of R=iXi/iYiR=\sum_{i} X_{i} / \sum_{i} Y_{i}.

Let Fν1,ν2(1α)F_{\nu_{1}, \nu_{2}}^{(1-\alpha)} denote the value that a random variable having the Fν1,ν2F_{\nu_{1}, \nu_{2}} distribution exceeds with probability α\alpha. Explain how to decide the outcome of a size 0.050.05 test when n=5n=5 by knowing only the value of RR and the value Fν1,ν2(1α)F_{\nu_{1}, \nu_{2}}^{(1-\alpha)}, for some ν1,ν2\nu_{1}, \nu_{2} and α\alpha, which you should specify.

[You may use the fact that the χk2\chi_{k}^{2} distribution is equivalent to the Gamma(k/2,1/2)\operatorname{Gamma}(k / 2,1 / 2) distribution.]