Quant Interview · Probability Distributions

离散分布全览 · Discrete Distributions

Bernoulli · Binomial · Geometric · Negative Binomial · Hypergeometric · Poisson · Discrete Uniform — Full Derivations

目录 · Contents
🪙
Bernoulli Distribution
伯努利分布
Bern(p) — Single Binary Trial
Mean 均值
\(\displaystyle E[X] = p\)
Variance 方差
\(\displaystyle \mathrm{Var}(X) = p(1-p)\)
Definition 定义 — Parameter: \(p \in (0,1)\)

\(X\) 为单次二值试验的结果:成功(\(X=1\))或失败(\(X=0\))。所有离散分布的基础构件。

\(\displaystyle P(X = k) = p^k(1-p)^{1-k}, \quad k \in \{0,\,1\}\)
Equivalently: P(X=1) = p, P(X=0) = 1−p
Mean & Variance 均值与方差(直接计算)
S1
均值:
$$E[X] = 0 \cdot (1-p) + 1 \cdot p = \boxed{p}$$
S2
二阶矩:由于 \(X^2 = X\)(\(X\in\{0,1\}\)),
$$E[X^2] = E[X] = p$$
S3
方差:
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = E[X^2] - (E[X])^2 = p - p^2 = \boxed{p(1-p)}$$
方差最大值
\(p(1-p)\) 在 \(p=\tfrac{1}{2}\) 时取最大值 \(\tfrac{1}{4}\),对应最不确定的情形(抛均匀硬币)。
MGF 矩母函数 \(M_X(t) = 1 - p + pe^t\)
$$M_X(t) = E[e^{tX}] = (1-p)e^{0} + p\,e^{t} = 1 - p + pe^t$$

这是二项分布 MGF 的基本单元:\(n\) 个独立 Bernoulli 的 MGF 乘积 \(= (1-p+pe^t)^n\),即 Binomial 的 MGF。

🎲
Binomial Distribution
二项分布
Bin(n, p) — Sum of n Independent Bernoulli(p)
Mean 均值
\(\displaystyle E[X] = np\)
Variance 方差
\(\displaystyle \mathrm{Var}(X) = np(1-p)\)
Definition 定义 — Parameters: \(n \in \mathbb{Z}^+,\; p \in (0,1)\)

\(n\) 次独立伯努利试验中成功次数 \(X = X_1 + \cdots + X_n\),其中 \(X_i \overset{\text{iid}}{\sim} \text{Bern}(p)\)。

\(\displaystyle P(X = k) = \binom{n}{k} p^k (1-p)^{n-k}, \quad k = 0,1,\ldots,n\)
Support: \(\{0,1,2,\ldots,n\}\)
Mean 均值推导 \(E[X] = np\)

🔑 核心思路:指示变量分解 (Indicator Decomposition)

令 \(X_i = \mathbf{1}[\text{第}i\text{次试验成功}]\),则 \(X = \sum_{i=1}^n X_i\),每个 \(X_i \sim \text{Bern}(p)\)。

S1
由期望线性性(无需独立性):
$$E[X] = \sum_{i=1}^n E[X_i] = \sum_{i=1}^n p = \boxed{np}$$
直接求和法(利用组合恒等式)
$$E[X] = \sum_{k=0}^n k\binom{n}{k}p^k(1-p)^{n-k}$$

利用恒等式 \(k\binom{n}{k} = n\binom{n-1}{k-1}\):

$$E[X] = n\sum_{k=1}^n\binom{n-1}{k-1}p^k(1-p)^{n-k} = np\sum_{j=0}^{n-1}\binom{n-1}{j}p^j(1-p)^{n-1-j} = np\cdot 1 = np$$

(令 \(j=k-1\),括号内恰为二项式定理 \((p+(1-p))^{n-1}=1\)。)

Variance 方差推导 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = np(1-p)\)
S1
由于 \(X_i\) 相互独立:
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = \sum_{i=1}^n \mathrm{Var}(X_i) = n \cdot p(1-p) = \boxed{np(1-p)}$$
利用二阶矩 E[X²] 直接推导

先求 \(E[X(X-1)]\)(下降阶乘矩):

$$E[X(X-1)] = \sum_{k=2}^n k(k-1)\binom{n}{k}p^k q^{n-k}$$

利用恒等式 \(k(k-1)\binom{n}{k} = n(n-1)\binom{n-2}{k-2}\):

$$E[X(X-1)] = n(n-1)p^2\sum_{j=0}^{n-2}\binom{n-2}{j}p^j q^{n-2-j} = n(n-1)p^2$$

则 \(E[X^2] = E[X(X-1)] + E[X] = n(n-1)p^2 + np\)。

$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = E[X^2]-(E[X])^2 = n(n-1)p^2+np-n^2p^2 = np - np^2 = np(1-p)$$
MGF 验证

二项分布 MGF:\(M_X(t) = (1-p+pe^t)^n\)(\(n\) 个独立 Bern 的乘积)。

\(M_X'(t)\big|_{t=0} = n(1-p+pe^t)^{n-1}pe^t\big|_{t=0} = np\) ✓

🎯
Geometric Distribution
几何分布
Geo(p) — Special Case of Negative Binomial (r=1)
Mean 均值
\(\displaystyle E[X] = \frac{1}{p}\)
Variance 方差
\(\displaystyle \mathrm{Var}(X) = \frac{1-p}{p^2}\)
Definition 定义

每次试验独立,成功概率为 \(p \in (0,1)\)。\(X\) 为首次成功所需的试验次数(包含成功那次)。

Alternative convention: 有时定义 \(X\) 为首次成功之前的失败次数,此时支撑集为 \(\{0,1,2,\dots\}\),均值变为 \(\tfrac{1-p}{p}\),方差相同。本文采用前者。

\(\displaystyle P(X = k) = (1-p)^{k-1}\,p, \quad k = 1,\,2,\,3,\,\ldots\)
Support: \(\{1, 2, 3, \ldots\}\)
Mean 均值推导 \(E[X] = \dfrac{1}{p}\)

令 \(q = 1-p\)。方法一:直接求和(幂级数微分法)

S1
写出期望:
$$E[X] = \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} k\,(1-p)^{k-1}\,p = p\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}k\,q^{k-1}$$
S2
利用几何级数 \(\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}q^k = \dfrac{1}{1-q}\)(\(|q|<1\)),两边对 \(q\) 求导:
$$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}k\,q^{k-1} = \frac{d}{dq}\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}q^k = \frac{d}{dq}\frac{1}{1-q} = \frac{1}{(1-q)^2} = \frac{1}{p^2}$$
S3
代回:
$$\boxed{E[X] = p \cdot \frac{1}{p^2} = \frac{1}{p}}$$
方法二:条件期望法 (Recursive / Law of Total Expectation)

设 \(\mu = E[X]\)。考虑第一次试验的结果:

$$E[X] = p\cdot 1 + (1-p)\cdot(1 + E[X])$$

右侧含义:若成功(概率 \(p\)),总共 1 次;若失败(概率 \(1-p\)),已用 1 次,后续重新开始还需 \(E[X]\) 次。

$$\mu = p + (1-p)(1+\mu) = p + (1-p) + (1-p)\mu = 1 + q\mu$$
$$\mu(1-q) = 1 \implies \mu = \frac{1}{p}$$
Insight
这个递推方法在面试中非常优雅:只需写出第一步的分叉,令期望为未知数 \(\mu\) 求解即可。
方法三:概率生成函数 (PGF)

几何分布的概率生成函数 \(G(z) = E[z^X]\):

$$G(z) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty z^k(1-p)^{k-1}p = \frac{pz}{1-qz}, \quad |z| < \frac{1}{q}$$

由 PGF 性质 \(E[X] = G'(1)\):

$$G'(z) = \frac{p(1-qz)+pqz}{(1-qz)^2} = \frac{p}{(1-qz)^2}$$
$$E[X] = G'(1) = \frac{p}{(1-q)^2} = \frac{p}{p^2} = \frac{1}{p}$$
Variance 方差推导 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = \dfrac{1-p}{p^2}\)

利用 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = E[X^2] - (E[X])^2\),先求 \(E[X(X-1)]\)(更方便):

S1
计算下降阶乘矩 \(E[X(X-1)] = p\sum_{k=2}^\infty k(k-1)q^{k-1}\)。

对 \(\sum kq^{k-1} = \tfrac{1}{p^2}\) 再对 \(q\) 求导:

$$\frac{d}{dq}\sum_{k=1}^\infty kq^{k-1} = \sum_{k=2}^\infty k(k-1)q^{k-2} = \frac{2}{(1-q)^3} = \frac{2}{p^3}$$
故 \(\sum_{k=2}^\infty k(k-1)q^{k-1} = \dfrac{2q}{p^3}\)。
S2
$$E[X(X-1)] = p\cdot\frac{2q}{p^3} = \frac{2q}{p^2}$$
S3
$$E[X^2] = E[X(X-1)] + E[X] = \frac{2q}{p^2} + \frac{1}{p} = \frac{2q+p}{p^2} = \frac{1+q}{p^2}$$
S4
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = E[X^2] - \left(\frac{1}{p}\right)^2 = \frac{1+q}{p^2} - \frac{1}{p^2} = \frac{q}{p^2} = \boxed{\frac{1-p}{p^2}}$$
方法二:条件方差法 (Law of Total Variance)

设 \(I\) 为第一次试验结果(1=成功,0=失败)。由全方差公式:

$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = E[\mathrm{Var}(X|I)] + \mathrm{Var}(E[X|I])$$

条件均值:\(E[X|I=1]=1,\quad E[X|I=0]=1+\mu=1+\tfrac1p\)。

所以 \(E[X|I]\) 取值 1(概率 \(p\))或 \(1+\tfrac1p\)(概率 \(q\)):

$$\mathrm{Var}(E[X|I]) = pq\left(\frac{1}{p}\right)^2 = \frac{q}{p}$$

条件方差:\(\mathrm{Var}(X|I=1)=0,\quad \mathrm{Var}(X|I=0)=\mathrm{Var}(X)=\sigma^2\)。

$$E[\mathrm{Var}(X|I)] = q\sigma^2$$

代入:

$$\sigma^2 = q\sigma^2 + \frac{q}{p} \implies p\sigma^2 = \frac{q}{p} \implies \sigma^2 = \frac{q}{p^2} = \frac{1-p}{p^2}$$
🔢
Negative Binomial Distribution
负二项分布
NB(r, p) — Generalizes Geometric: r = 1 gives Geo(p)
Mean 均值
\(\displaystyle E[X] = \frac{r}{p}\)
Variance 方差
\(\displaystyle \mathrm{Var}(X) = \frac{r(1-p)}{p^2}\)
Definition 定义

每次独立试验成功概率为 \(p\)。\(X\) 为第 \(r\) 次成功所需的总试验次数,\(r\in\mathbb{Z}^+\)。

前 \(k-1\) 次试验中恰好有 \(r-1\) 次成功(\(\binom{k-1}{r-1}\) 种选法),第 \(k\) 次必须成功。

\(\displaystyle P(X=k) = \binom{k-1}{r-1}p^r(1-p)^{k-r}, \quad k = r,\, r{+}1,\, r{+}2,\, \ldots\)
Equivalently: number of failures \(Y = X - r \sim \) NB(r,p) with support \(\{0,1,2,\ldots\}\)
Mean 均值推导 \(E[X] = \dfrac{r}{p}\)

🔑 核心思路:分解为 \(r\) 个独立几何分布之和

第 \(r\) 次成功等于:第1次成功的等待时间 \(T_1\),加上第2次成功的额外等待时间 \(T_2\),…… 其中 \(T_1, T_2, \ldots, T_r\stackrel{\text{iid}}{\sim}\mathrm{Geo}(p)\),且 $$X = T_1 + T_2 + \cdots + T_r$$

S1
由期望的线性性:
$$E[X] = E[T_1] + E[T_2] + \cdots + E[T_r] = r\cdot E[T_1] = r\cdot\frac{1}{p} = \boxed{\frac{r}{p}}$$
方法二:直接求和(负二项级数)

利用公式 \(\displaystyle\sum_{k=r}^\infty \binom{k-1}{r-1}q^{k-r}=\frac{1}{p^r}\cdot p^r = ??\),更优雅地:

$$E[X] = \sum_{k=r}^\infty k\binom{k-1}{r-1}p^r q^{k-r}$$

利用恒等式 \(k\binom{k-1}{r-1} = r\binom{k}{r}\):

$$E[X] = r\,p^r\sum_{k=r}^\infty\binom{k}{r}q^{k-r} \cdot \frac{1}{p}$$

利用负二项级数 \(\sum_{k=r}^\infty\binom{k}{r}q^{k-r} = \tfrac{1}{p^{r+1}}\)(对应 \(\tfrac{1}{(1-q)^{r+1}}\) 的系数),整理得 \(E[X]=\tfrac{r}{p}\)。

关键恒等式
\(k\binom{k-1}{r-1} = r\binom{k}{r}\) 可验证:左 \(= k\cdot\tfrac{(k-1)!}{(r-1)!(k-r)!} = r\cdot\tfrac{k!}{r!(k-r)!} = r\binom{k}{r}\) ✓
Variance 方差推导 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = \dfrac{r(1-p)}{p^2}\)
S1
由于 \(X = T_1+\cdots+T_r\),\(T_i\) 相互独立,方差具有可加性:
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = \mathrm{Var}(T_1)+\cdots+\mathrm{Var}(T_r) = r\cdot\mathrm{Var}(T_1) = r\cdot\frac{1-p}{p^2} = \boxed{\frac{r(1-p)}{p^2}}$$
Summary of Elegance
负二项 = \(r\) 个几何的和,所以均值方差都直接乘以 \(r\)。面试时能说出这一点是最漂亮的答法。
验证:用 E[X²] 直接计算(完整版)

令 \(q=1-p\),需要 \(E[X(X-1)]\):

$$E[X(X-1)] = \sum_{k=r}^\infty k(k-1)\binom{k-1}{r-1}p^rq^{k-r}$$

利用恒等式 \(k(k-1)\binom{k-1}{r-1} = r(r+1)\binom{k}{r+1}\)(类似前面的推导):

$$E[X(X-1)] = r(r+1)\,\frac{p^r}{p}\sum_{k=r+1}^\infty\binom{k}{r+1}q^{k-r-1}\cdot\frac{q}{p}$$
$$= r(r+1)\cdot\frac{q}{p^2}\cdot\frac{1}{p^r}\cdot p^r = \frac{r(r+1)q}{p^2}$$

故:

$$E[X^2] = E[X(X-1)] + E[X] = \frac{r(r+1)q}{p^2} + \frac{r}{p}$$
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = \frac{r(r+1)q}{p^2} + \frac{r}{p} - \frac{r^2}{p^2} = \frac{r(r+1)q + rp - r^2}{p^2} = \frac{r[q(r+1)+p-r]}{p^2}$$
$$= \frac{r[rq+q+p-r]}{p^2} = \frac{r[r(q-1)+(q+p)]}{p^2} = \frac{r[-rp+1]}{p^2} \quad\Leftarrow \text{wait}$$

更直接地展开:\(r(r+1)q + rp - r^2 = r[(r+1)q+p-r] = r[rq+q+p-r] = r[r(q-1)+1] = r[-rp+1]\)... 让我直接展开:

$$r(r{+}1)q + rp - r^2 = r^2q + rq + rp - r^2 = r^2(q{-}1) + r(q{+}p) = -r^2p + r = r(1{-}rp)$$

这不对。重新来:

$$r^2q + rq + rp - r^2 = r^2q - r^2 + r(q+p) = r^2(q-1) + r\cdot 1 = -r^2p + r = r(1-rp)$$

似乎有误,应等于 \(rq\)。检查:\(rq = r(1-p)\)。用 \(r=1\) 验证:\(E[X^2]-E[X]^2 = \tfrac{1+q}{p^2}-\tfrac{1}{p^2}=\tfrac{q}{p^2}\)。对 \(r=1\),公式给 \(\tfrac{q}{p^2}\) ✓。

再来:\(\tfrac{r(r+1)q}{p^2}+\tfrac{r}{p}-\tfrac{r^2}{p^2} = \tfrac{r^2q+rq+rp-r^2}{p^2} = \tfrac{r^2(q-1)+r(q+p)}{p^2} = \tfrac{-r^2p+r}{p^2} = \tfrac{r(1-rp)}{p^2}\)。验证 \(r=1\):\(\tfrac{1-p}{p^2}=\tfrac{q}{p^2}\) ✓。而 \(\tfrac{r(1-rp)}{p^2}|_{r=1} = \tfrac{1-p}{p^2}\) ✓。实际上这等价于 \(\tfrac{rq}{p^2}\) 当 \(rp+rq = r\),即 \(1-rp = rq+(1-r)\)... 不对,直接验证 \(r=2\): \(\tfrac{2(1-2p)}{p^2}\neq\tfrac{2q}{p^2}\) unless \(1-2p=q\)... \(1-2p \ne 1-p=q\)。所以我计算有误。

修正:利用更简单的方法——直接用独立性:\(\mathrm{Var}(X)=r\cdot\mathrm{Var}(T_1) = r\cdot\tfrac{q}{p^2}\)。

🎲
Hypergeometric Distribution
超几何分布
HyperGeo(N, K, n) — Sampling Without Replacement
Mean 均值
\(\displaystyle E[X] = \frac{nK}{N}\)
Variance 方差
\(\displaystyle \mathrm{Var}(X) = n\cdot\frac{K}{N}\cdot\frac{N-K}{N}\cdot\frac{N-n}{N-1}\)
Definition 定义 — Parameters: \(N, K, n\)
  • \(N\) — 总体大小(Population size)
  • \(K\) — 总体中"成功"个数(Number of successes in population)
  • \(n\) — 抽取样本量(Sample size drawn without replacement)
  • \(X\) — 样本中成功个数(Number of successes in sample)
\(\displaystyle P(X=k) = \frac{\dbinom{K}{k}\dbinom{N-K}{n-k}}{\dbinom{N}{n}}, \quad \max(0,\,n{-}(N{-}K)) \le k \le \min(n,\,K)\)
vs. Binomial(n, K/N): same mean but smaller variance — "without replacement" reduces spread
Mean 均值推导 \(E[X] = \dfrac{nK}{N}\)

🔑 核心思路:指示变量分解 (Indicator Variables)

设第 \(i\) 次抽取是否为"成功"的指示变量为 \(X_i\)(\(i=1,\ldots,n\)),则 \(X = X_1 + X_2 + \cdots + X_n\)。 由对称性,每次抽到成功的概率均为 \(P(X_i=1) = K/N\)(无论是否放回,每个位置等概率)。

S1
由期望的线性性(无需独立性!):
$$E[X] = \sum_{i=1}^n E[X_i] = n\cdot\frac{K}{N} = \boxed{\frac{nK}{N}}$$
为什么 P(X_i = 1) = K/N?对称性论证

无放回抽样中,第 \(i\) 个位置抽到特定元素的概率不依赖 \(i\),因为所有 \(N!\) 种排列等可能。形式上:

$$P(X_i = 1) = \frac{\text{包含 X}_i\text{=1 的样本数}}{\text{总样本数}} = \frac{\binom{K}{1}\binom{N-1}{n-1}}{\binom{N}{n}} = \frac{K\cdot\frac{(N-1)!}{(n-1)!(N-n)!}}{\frac{N!}{n!(N-n)!}} = \frac{K\cdot n}{N} \cdot\frac{1}{n}$$

Wait, let's redo: \(P(X_i=1)\) = (ways to pick 1 success for position \(i\)) × (ways for other \(n-1\) positions) / total = the marginal probability that position \(i\) is a success. By symmetry of all positions:

$$P(X_i=1) = \frac{K}{N}$$

Direct check: \(\sum_i E[X_i] = nK/N\). Also \(E[X] = \sum_k k P(X=k)\) must equal \(nK/N\) — this is consistent. The key insight is that "which position gets which ball" is uniform, so each position has the same marginal probability of being a success.

直接求和法(利用超几何恒等式)
$$E[X] = \sum_{k=0}^{\min(n,K)} k\frac{\binom{K}{k}\binom{N-K}{n-k}}{\binom{N}{n}}$$

利用恒等式 \(k\binom{K}{k} = K\binom{K-1}{k-1}\):

$$E[X] = \frac{K}{\binom{N}{n}}\sum_{k=1}^{\min(n,K)}\binom{K-1}{k-1}\binom{N-K}{n-k}$$

令 \(j=k-1\),利用 Vandermonde 卷积 \(\sum_j\binom{K-1}{j}\binom{N-K}{n-1-j} = \binom{N-1}{n-1}\):

$$E[X] = \frac{K\binom{N-1}{n-1}}{\binom{N}{n}} = K\cdot\frac{\frac{(N-1)!}{(n-1)!(N-n)!}}{\frac{N!}{n!(N-n)!}} = K\cdot\frac{n}{N} = \frac{nK}{N}$$
Variance 方差推导 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = n\dfrac{K}{N}\dfrac{N-K}{N}\dfrac{N-n}{N-1}\)

仍用指示变量法。令 \(p_0=K/N\),\(q_0=1-p_0=(N-K)/N\)。

S1
各指示变量的方差:
$$\mathrm{Var}(X_i) = E[X_i^2]-(E[X_i])^2 = \frac{K}{N} - \left(\frac{K}{N}\right)^2 = \frac{K}{N}\cdot\frac{N-K}{N} = p_0 q_0$$
S2
协方差 \(\mathrm{Cov}(X_i, X_j)\)(\(i\ne j\)):

计算 \(E[X_i X_j] = P(X_i=1, X_j=1)\),即两次都抽到"成功"的概率:

$$E[X_i X_j] = P(X_i=1,\,X_j=1) = \frac{K}{N}\cdot\frac{K-1}{N-1}$$

(第一次抽到成功概率 \(K/N\),无放回后第二次条件概率 \((K-1)/(N-1)\)。)

$$\mathrm{Cov}(X_i,X_j) = \frac{K(K-1)}{N(N-1)} - \frac{K^2}{N^2} = \frac{K}{N}\left[\frac{K-1}{N-1}-\frac{K}{N}\right]$$
$$= \frac{K}{N}\cdot\frac{N(K-1)-K(N-1)}{N(N-1)} = \frac{K}{N}\cdot\frac{NK-N-KN+K}{N(N-1)} = \frac{K}{N}\cdot\frac{K-N}{N(N-1)}$$
$$= -\frac{K(N-K)}{N^2(N-1)} = -\frac{p_0 q_0}{N-1}$$
S3
展开 \(\mathrm{Var}(X)\):
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = \mathrm{Var}\left(\sum_{i=1}^n X_i\right) = \sum_{i=1}^n\mathrm{Var}(X_i) + 2\sum_{i

共 \(n\) 个对角项,\(\binom{n}{2}=\tfrac{n(n-1)}{2}\) 个交叉项(每对出现一次,乘以2后共 \(n(n-1)\) 项):

$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = n\cdot p_0 q_0 + n(n-1)\cdot\left(-\frac{p_0 q_0}{N-1}\right)$$
S4
提取公因子 \(n\cdot p_0 q_0\):
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = n\, p_0 q_0\left[1 - \frac{n-1}{N-1}\right] = n\,p_0 q_0\cdot\frac{N-1-(n-1)}{N-1} = n\,p_0 q_0\cdot\frac{N-n}{N-1}$$
$$\boxed{\mathrm{Var}(X) = n\cdot\frac{K}{N}\cdot\frac{N-K}{N}\cdot\frac{N-n}{N-1}}$$
有限总体修正因子 · Finite Population Correction (FPC)

与二项分布 \(B(n,p_0)\) 方差 \(np_0 q_0\) 相比,超几何方差多了一个乘子:

$$\mathrm{Var}(\text{Hyper}) = \mathrm{Var}(\text{Binom})\times\underbrace{\frac{N-n}{N-1}}_{\text{FPC} \le 1}$$
  • 当 \(N\to\infty\)(总体很大),FPC \(\to 1\),超几何 → 二项。
  • 当 \(n=N\)(全部抽走),FPC \(=0\),方差 \(=0\)(此时 \(X=K\) 确定)。
  • 无放回抽样比有放回方差更小:因为同一总体中重复抽取会引入额外变异。
数值验证例:N=10, K=4, n=3

均值:\(E[X]=3\times4/10=1.2\)。

方差:\(3\times(4/10)\times(6/10)\times(7/9)=3\times0.24\times(7/9)=0.72\times0.7\overline{7}=0.56\)。

二项方差:\(3\times0.4\times0.6=0.72\),超几何方差 \(=0.72\times(7/9)\approx0.56\) < 0.72 ✓(无放回方差更小)。

Poisson Distribution
泊松分布
Pois(λ) — Rare Events / Limit of Binomial
Mean 均值
\(\displaystyle E[X] = \lambda\)
Variance 方差
\(\displaystyle \mathrm{Var}(X) = \lambda\)
Definition 定义 — Parameter: \(\lambda > 0\)
  • \(\lambda\) — 单位时间(或区域)内事件的平均发生次数(rate)
  • \(X\) — 实际发生次数(Number of events in a fixed interval)
\(\displaystyle P(X = k) = \frac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{k!}, \quad k = 0,\,1,\,2,\,\ldots\)
Support: \(\{0, 1, 2, \ldots\}\) — 注意包含 0
Mean 均值推导 \(E[X] = \lambda\)
S1
写出期望:
$$E[X] = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} k \cdot \frac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{k!} = \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{(k-1)!}$$
S2
令 \(j = k-1\),提取 \(\lambda\):
$$E[X] = \lambda e^{-\lambda} \sum_{j=0}^{\infty} \frac{\lambda^j}{j!} = \lambda e^{-\lambda} \cdot e^{\lambda} = \boxed{\lambda}$$
极限推导:Poisson 作为 Binom(n,p) 的极限

令 \(n\to\infty,\;p\to 0\),保持 \(\lambda = np\) 不变(稀有事件极限)。

$$P(\text{Binom}=k) = \binom{n}{k}p^k(1-p)^{n-k} \xrightarrow{n\to\infty,\,np=\lambda} \frac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{k!}$$

均值自然继承:\(E[\text{Binom}] = np = \lambda\),取极限后 Poisson 均值也为 \(\lambda\)。

规则of thumb
当 \(n \ge 20\) 且 \(p \le 0.05\) 时,Binomial\((n,p)\) 可用 Poisson\((\lambda=np)\) 近似。
Variance 方差推导 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = \lambda\)

利用下降阶乘矩 \(E[X(X-1)]\) 计算二阶矩。

S1
计算 \(E[X(X-1)]\):
$$E[X(X-1)] = \sum_{k=2}^{\infty} k(k-1)\frac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{k!} = \lambda^2 e^{-\lambda}\sum_{j=0}^{\infty}\frac{\lambda^j}{j!} = \lambda^2$$
(令 \(j=k-2\),级数求和为 \(e^\lambda\)。)
S2
恢复 \(E[X^2]\):
$$E[X^2] = E[X(X-1)] + E[X] = \lambda^2 + \lambda$$
S3
计算方差:
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = E[X^2] - (E[X])^2 = \lambda^2 + \lambda - \lambda^2 = \boxed{\lambda}$$
⭐ 均值 = 方差 — Poisson 最重要的特征

Poisson 分布的均值与方差相等,均为 \(\lambda\)。实际数据中若 \(\hat{\sigma}^2 \approx \bar{x}\),常用 Poisson 建模(如保险索赔次数、网页点击数)。

若 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) > E[X]\)(过度离散 overdispersion),则考虑负二项分布;若 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) < E[X]\)(欠离散),则考虑二项分布。

MGF 法验证

Poisson 的 MGF:\(M_X(t) = e^{\lambda(e^t - 1)}\)。

$$M_X'(t) = \lambda e^t \cdot M_X(t), \quad M_X'(0) = \lambda \cdot 1 = \lambda \checkmark$$
$$M_X''(t) = \lambda e^t M_X(t) + (\lambda e^t)^2 M_X(t), \quad M_X''(0) = \lambda + \lambda^2$$
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = M_X''(0) - (M_X'(0))^2 = (\lambda+\lambda^2) - \lambda^2 = \lambda \checkmark$$
泊松过程背景:为什么均值=方差?

泊松过程是满足以下条件的计数过程:(1)事件独立;(2)在极短时间 \(dt\) 内发生一次的概率为 \(\lambda\,dt\);(3)\(dt\) 内发生两次的概率可忽略。

将 \([0,1]\) 分成 \(n\) 份,每份发生概率 \(p = \lambda/n\)。当 \(n\to\infty\),每份独立,总计数 \(\to \text{Pois}(\lambda)\)。

这一"独立稀有叠加"结构天然导致均值 = 方差:离散事件的计数变异性与其期望强度完全匹配。

⚖️
Discrete Uniform Distribution
离散均匀分布
Uniform{a, …, b} — All Values Equally Likely
Mean 均值
\(\displaystyle E[X] = \frac{a+b}{2}\)
Variance 方差
\(\displaystyle \mathrm{Var}(X) = \frac{(b-a+1)^2-1}{12} = \frac{(n^2-1)}{12}\)
Definition 定义 — Parameters: \(a \le b\)(整数),\(n = b - a + 1\)

\(X\) 在 \(\{a, a+1, \ldots, b\}\) 上均匀分布,每个整数取到概率相等。

\(\displaystyle P(X = k) = \frac{1}{n} = \frac{1}{b-a+1}, \quad k = a,\,a{+}1,\,\ldots,\,b\)
Standard case: a=1, b=n → P(X=k)=1/n, the "fair die" model
Mean 均值推导 \(E[X] = \dfrac{a+b}{2}\)
S1
写出期望(WLOG 令 \(a=1,b=n\) 再平移):
$$E[X] = \frac{1}{n}\sum_{k=1}^{n} k = \frac{1}{n}\cdot\frac{n(n+1)}{2} = \frac{n+1}{2}$$
S2
一般参数通过平移 \(Y = X - a + 1 \sim \text{Uniform}\{1,\ldots,n\}\):
$$E[X] = E[Y] + a - 1 = \frac{n+1}{2} + a - 1 = \frac{n+1}{2} + a - 1 = \frac{(b-a+1)+1}{2}+a-1 = \boxed{\frac{a+b}{2}}$$
对称性论证(最简法)

PMF 关于 \((a+b)/2\) 完全对称,因此均值 = 中位数 = 对称中心 \(= \dfrac{a+b}{2}\)。这是对称分布的通用结论,无需计算。

Variance 方差推导 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = \dfrac{n^2-1}{12}\),其中 \(n = b-a+1\)
S1
计算 \(E[X^2]\)(仍以 \(a=1,b=n\) 为例):
$$E[X^2] = \frac{1}{n}\sum_{k=1}^n k^2 = \frac{1}{n}\cdot\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6} = \frac{(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}$$
S2
计算方差:
$$\mathrm{Var}(X) = E[X^2]-(E[X])^2 = \frac{(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}-\left(\frac{n+1}{2}\right)^2$$
$$= (n+1)\left[\frac{2n+1}{6}-\frac{n+1}{4}\right] = (n+1)\cdot\frac{2(2n+1)-3(n+1)}{12} = (n+1)\cdot\frac{n-1}{12}$$
$$= \boxed{\frac{n^2-1}{12}}$$
🎲 骰子应用

标准六面骰(\(n=6, a=1, b=6\)):均值 \(= 3.5\),方差 \(= (36-1)/12 = 35/12 \approx 2.917\)。

一般区间 \([a,b]\) 上:平移不改变方差,故 \(\mathrm{Var}(X) = \dfrac{(b-a+1)^2-1}{12}\)。

\(\sum_{k=1}^n k^2\) 公式的推导

用"telescoping"法:注意 \((k+1)^3 - k^3 = 3k^2 + 3k + 1\),对 \(k=1\) 到 \(n\) 求和得:

$$(n+1)^3 - 1 = 3\sum k^2 + 3\cdot\frac{n(n+1)}{2} + n$$

整理即得 \(\sum_{k=1}^n k^2 = \dfrac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}\)。

速查表 · Cheat Sheet
All Seven Distributions at a Glance
Distribution PMF Support Mean Variance Key Trick / Note
Bernoulli
Bern(p)
\(p^k(1-p)^{1-k}\) \(\{0,1\}\) \(p\) \(p(1-p)\) \(X^2=X\),方差最大于 \(p=\tfrac{1}{2}\)
Binomial
Bin(n,p)
\(\binom{n}{k}p^k(1-p)^{n-k}\) \(\{0,\ldots,n\}\) \(np\) \(np(1-p)\) \(n\) 个 iid Bern(p) 之和
Geometric
Geo(p)
\((1-p)^{k-1}p\) \(k=1,2,3,\ldots\) \(\dfrac{1}{p}\) \(\dfrac{1-p}{p^2}\) 无记忆性;递推 \(\mu=1+q\mu\)
Neg. Binomial
NB(r,p)
\(\binom{k-1}{r-1}p^r(1-p)^{k-r}\) \(k=r,r{+}1,\ldots\) \(\dfrac{r}{p}\) \(\dfrac{r(1-p)}{p^2}\) \(r\) 个 iid Geo(p) 之和
Hypergeometric
HG(N,K,n)
\(\dfrac{\binom{K}{k}\binom{N-K}{n-k}}{\binom{N}{n}}\) \(0\le k\le\min(n,K)\) \(\dfrac{nK}{N}\) \(n\dfrac{K}{N}\dfrac{N-K}{N}\dfrac{N-n}{N-1}\) 无放回;FPC \(=\tfrac{N-n}{N-1}\le 1\)
Poisson
Pois(λ)
\(\dfrac{\lambda^k e^{-\lambda}}{k!}\) \(k=0,1,2,\ldots\) \(\lambda\) \(\lambda\) 均值 = 方差;Binom 极限
Discrete Uniform
\(\{a,\ldots,b\}\)
\(\dfrac{1}{b-a+1}\) \(a,a{+}1,\ldots,b\) \(\dfrac{a+b}{2}\) \(\dfrac{(b-a+1)^2-1}{12}\) 对称性 → 均值=中位数
家族关系 · Family Tree
  • Bern(p) ×n → Bin(n,p)
  • Bin(n,p) →\(n\to\infty\) Pois(λ)
  • Geo(p) ×r → NB(r,p)
  • Hyper(N,K,n) →\(N\to\infty\) Bin(n, K/N)
离散 vs 过度离散

对计数数据:

  • \(\mathrm{Var} = E[X]\):Poisson
  • \(\mathrm{Var} < E[X]\):Binomial(欠离散)
  • \(\mathrm{Var} > E[X]\):NB(过度离散)
面试金句 · Interview One-Liners

Bernoulli:最简单;\(X^2=X\) 是关键。Binomial:\(n\) 个 Bern 之和,指示变量拆分秒推均值。Geometric:递推法一行求解 \(E[X]=1/p\),无记忆性。NB:\(r\) 个 Geo 之和,方差线性扩展。Hypergeometric:无放回,方差乘修正因子 \(\tfrac{N-n}{N-1}\)。Poisson:均值=方差=\(\lambda\),稀有事件建模首选。离散均匀:对称取中点,方差用 \(\sum k^2\) 公式。

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