Lecture 21: Covariance and Correlation | Statistics 110 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Covariance measures the extent to which two random variables vary together and is used to study the correlation between them.

Key Insights

• 👻 Covariance allows us to measure the extent to which two random variables vary together, providing insights into their correlation.
• 😑 Covariance has properties such as linearity, symmetry, bilinearity, and alternative expressions, making it a powerful tool in statistical analysis.
• 🍹 Covariance is useful for studying the variance of a sum of random variables and can help determine whether the variables are positively or negatively correlated.
• 💄 Covariance can be affected by the units of measurement, making correlation a preferred choice for standardized analysis.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the definition of covariance and how is it different from variance?

Covariance is a measure of how two random variables vary together, while variance measures the variability of a single random variable. Covariance is computed by taking the product of the deviations of two variables from their means, while variance is computed by taking the average of the squared deviations of a single variable from its mean.

Q: How is covariance useful in studying the variance of a sum of random variables?

Covariance can help understand whether two variables in a sum are positively or negatively correlated. If the covariance is positive, it means that when one variable is above its mean, the other variable tends to be above its mean as well. If the covariance is negative, it means that when one variable is above its mean, the other variable tends to be below its mean. This information can be used to analyze the variance of a sum of random variables.

Q: Is covariance affected by the units of measurement?

Covariance is affected by the units of measurement, which can make it difficult to interpret. However, correlation, which is a standardized version of covariance, overcomes this issue by providing a dimensionless measure between -1 and 1.

Q: How is covariance related to independence?

If two random variables are independent, their covariance is zero. However, if the covariance is zero, it does not necessarily imply independence. Correlation, which is mathematically defined using covariance, is a measure of linear association and is mathematically defined in terms of covariance.

Summary

Covariance is a measure of how two random variables vary together. It allows us to study the variance of a sum and the relationship between two random variables. The covariance of two random variables X and Y is defined as the expected value of the product of the difference between X and its mean and the difference between Y and its mean. Covariance has properties such as being symmetric and having an alternative form with expected values. It is closely related to correlation, which is defined in terms of covariance. Correlation is a dimensionless quantity that ranges between -1 and 1, and measures the linear association between two random variables. The covariance of two random variables in a multinomial distribution is given by -nPxPy, where Px and Py are the probabilities of being in category x and y, respectively. The variance of a binomial distribution is given by np(1-p), and the variance of a hypergeometric distribution can be computed using variances and covariances.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is covariance and why is it useful?

Covariance is a measure of how two random variables vary together. It is useful because it allows us to study the variance of a sum and the relationship between two random variables.

Q: How is covariance defined?

Covariance is defined as the expected value of the product of the difference between X and its mean and the difference between Y and its mean.

Q: What are some properties of covariance?

Covariance is symmetric, meaning that the covariance of X and Y is the same as the covariance of Y and X. It also has an alternative form with expected values, and covariance of X with itself is equal to the variance of X.

Q: How is covariance related to correlation?

Correlation is defined as the covariance divided by the product of the standard deviations. It is a dimensionless quantity that ranges between -1 and 1 and measures the linear association between two random variables.

Q: What is the covariance of two random variables in a multinomial distribution?

The covariance of two random variables in a multinomial distribution is given by -nPxPy, where Px and Py are the probabilities of being in category x and y, respectively.

Q: What is the variance of a binomial distribution?

The variance of a binomial distribution is given by np(1-p), where n is the number of trials and p is the probability of success.

Q: How can the variance of a hypergeometric distribution be computed?

The variance of a hypergeometric distribution can be computed using variances and covariances. The variance of the sum of random variables in a hypergeometric distribution is equal to n times the variance of one of the random variables plus 2 times the covariance between any two random variables.

Q: What is the correlation of two random variables in a multinomial distribution?

The correlation of two random variables in a multinomial distribution is the same as the correlation of the probabilities of being in the corresponding categories.

Q: What is the maximum value of correlation and why?

The maximum value of correlation is 1, because correlation is a measure of linear association and a perfect positive linear relationship results in a correlation of 1.

Q: Can covariance be negative and why?

Yes, covariance can be negative. A negative covariance indicates that the two random variables tend to vary in opposite directions, while a positive covariance indicates that they tend to vary in the same direction.

Takeaways

Covariance is a useful measure of how two random variables vary together. It allows us to study the variance of a sum and the relationship between two random variables. Covariance is defined as the expected value of the product of the difference between X and its mean and the difference between Y and its mean. It has several properties, including symmetry and an alternative form with expected values. Covariance is closely related to correlation, which is a dimensionless quantity that measures the linear association between two random variables. In a multinomial distribution, the covariance of two random variables is given by -nPxPy. The variance of a binomial distribution is np(1-p), while the variance of a hypergeometric distribution can be computed using variances and covariances. The maximum value of correlation is 1, and covariance can be negative indicating opposite variations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Covariance is a measure of how two random variables vary together and is used to analyze their correlation.

• It is defined as the expected value of the product of the variables' deviations from their means.

• Covariance can help understand whether two variables are positively or negatively correlated based on their relationship.