Module 5 · Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics Lesson 50 of 120
Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe.
Transcript
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Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
Code lab
Run it yourself
The lesson source in 7 languages. Edit it, run TypeScript and Python right here, and compare with the expected output.
/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 050 of 120
* Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe
* Rule: kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3
*
* Try it: Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
export function lesson050() {
const x = [1,2,2,4,9];
const mean = x.reduce((a,b)=>a+b,0)/x.length;
const m = (k:number) => x.reduce((s,v)=>s+(v-mean)**k,0)/x.length;
const kurtosis = m(4)/m(2)**2;
const result = {kurtosis, excess: kurtosis-3};
return result;
}
export const checkedResult = {"kurtosis":2.6779621076444537,"excess":-0.32203789235554625};
// Run this file directly: npx tsx lessons/05-dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/050-kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight.ts
if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url.endsWith(process.argv[1].replace(/\\/g, "/").split("/").pop()!)) {
console.log(JSON.stringify(lesson050(), null, 2));
}
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"kurtosis": 2.6779621076444537,
"excess": -0.32203789235554625
}# Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 050 of 120
# Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
# Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
#
# Scenario: Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe
# Rule: kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3
#
# Try it: Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
#
# Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight/
# Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
# Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
import json
def lesson050() -> dict:
x = [1, 2, 2, 4, 9]
mean = sum(x) / len(x)
def m(k: int) -> float: # k-th central moment
return sum((v - mean) ** k for v in x) / len(x)
kurtosis = m(4) / m(2) ** 2
return {"kurtosis": kurtosis, "excess": kurtosis - 3}
if __name__ == "__main__":
print(json.dumps(lesson050(), indent=2))
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"kurtosis": 2.6779621076444537,
"excess": -0.32203789235554625
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 050 of 120
* Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe
* Rule: kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3
*
* Try it: Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
public class Main {
// k-th central moment of x around mean.
static double centralMoment(double[] x, double mean, int k) {
double s = 0;
for (double v : x) s += Math.pow(v - mean, k);
return s / x.length;
}
static Map<String, Object> lesson050() {
double[] x = {1, 2, 2, 4, 9};
double mean = 0;
for (double v : x) mean += v;
mean /= x.length;
double kurtosis = centralMoment(x, mean, 4) / Math.pow(centralMoment(x, mean, 2), 2);
Map<String, Object> result = new LinkedHashMap<String, Object>();
result.put("kurtosis", kurtosis);
result.put("excess", kurtosis - 3);
return result;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(toJson(lesson050(), ""));
}
// --- Minimal JSON printer: maps keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
static String toJson(Object value, String indent) {
if (value == null) return "null";
if (value instanceof String) return "\"" + value + "\"";
if (value instanceof Double) return formatNumber((Double) value);
if (value instanceof Number) return value.toString();
if (value instanceof double[]) {
List<Object> items = new ArrayList<Object>();
for (double v : (double[]) value) items.add(v);
return toJson(items, indent);
}
String inner = indent + " ";
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
if (value instanceof Map) {
Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) value;
if (map.isEmpty()) return "{}";
sb.append("{\n");
int i = 0;
for (Map.Entry<?, ?> entry : map.entrySet()) {
sb.append(inner).append('"').append(entry.getKey()).append("\": ")
.append(toJson(entry.getValue(), inner))
.append(++i < map.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append('}').toString();
}
List<?> list = (List<?>) value;
if (list.isEmpty()) return "[]";
sb.append("[\n");
for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
sb.append(inner).append(toJson(list.get(i), inner))
.append(i + 1 < list.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append(']').toString();
}
static String formatNumber(double v) {
if (Double.isNaN(v) || Double.isInfinite(v)) return "null";
if (v == Math.rint(v) && Math.abs(v) < 1e15) return Long.toString((long) v);
return Double.toString(v);
}
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"kurtosis": 2.6779621076444537,
"excess": -0.32203789235554625
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 050 of 120
// Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
// Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
//
// Scenario: Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe
// Rule: kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3
//
// Try it: Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
package main
import (
"encoding/json"
"fmt"
"math"
)
// Kurtosis holds the fourth-moment ratio and its excess over the normal value 3.
type Kurtosis struct {
Kurtosis float64 `json:"kurtosis"`
Excess float64 `json:"excess"`
}
// centralMoment returns the k-th central moment of x around mean.
func centralMoment(x []float64, mean float64, k float64) float64 {
s := 0.0
for _, v := range x {
s += math.Pow(v-mean, k)
}
return s / float64(len(x))
}
func lesson050() Kurtosis {
x := []float64{1, 2, 2, 4, 9}
mean := 0.0
for _, v := range x {
mean += v
}
mean /= float64(len(x))
kurtosis := centralMoment(x, mean, 4) / math.Pow(centralMoment(x, mean, 2), 2)
return Kurtosis{Kurtosis: kurtosis, Excess: kurtosis - 3}
}
func main() {
out, _ := json.MarshalIndent(lesson050(), "", " ")
fmt.Println(string(out))
}
No browser runner for Go yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"kurtosis": 2.6779621076444537,
"excess": -0.32203789235554625
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 050 of 120
* Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe
* Rule: kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3
*
* Try it: Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
#include <charconv>
#include <cmath>
#include <iostream>
#include <numeric>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
struct Json {
enum class Kind { Null, Number, Text, Array, Object };
Kind kind = Kind::Null;
double number = 0;
std::string text;
std::vector<std::string> keys; // object keys, parallel to items
std::vector<Json> items; // array elements or object values
};
Json num(double v) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Number; j.number = v; return j; }
Json str(const std::string& s) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Text; j.text = s; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<Json>& values) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Array; j.items = values; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<double>& values) {
std::vector<Json> items;
for (double v : values) items.push_back(num(v));
return arr(items);
}
Json obj(const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Json>>& fields) {
Json j;
j.kind = Json::Kind::Object;
for (const auto& [key, value] : fields) { j.keys.push_back(key); j.items.push_back(value); }
return j;
}
std::string formatNumber(double v) {
if (!std::isfinite(v)) return "null";
char buf[64];
auto end = std::to_chars(buf, buf + sizeof buf, v).ptr; // shortest round-trip form
return std::string(buf, end);
}
void writeJson(std::ostream& out, const Json& j, const std::string& indent) {
switch (j.kind) {
case Json::Kind::Null: out << "null"; return;
case Json::Kind::Number: out << formatNumber(j.number); return;
case Json::Kind::Text: out << '"' << j.text << '"'; return;
default: break;
}
bool isObject = j.kind == Json::Kind::Object;
if (j.items.empty()) { out << (isObject ? "{}" : "[]"); return; }
std::string inner = indent + " ";
out << (isObject ? "{\n" : "[\n");
for (size_t i = 0; i < j.items.size(); ++i) {
out << inner;
if (isObject) out << '"' << j.keys[i] << "\": ";
writeJson(out, j.items[i], inner);
out << (i + 1 < j.items.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
out << indent << (isObject ? '}' : ']');
}
// --- Lesson ---
// k-th central moment of x around mean.
double centralMoment(const std::vector<double>& x, double mean, int k) {
double s = 0;
for (double v : x) s += std::pow(v - mean, k);
return s / x.size();
}
Json lesson050() {
const std::vector<double> x = {1, 2, 2, 4, 9};
double mean = std::accumulate(x.begin(), x.end(), 0.0) / x.size();
double kurtosis = centralMoment(x, mean, 4) / std::pow(centralMoment(x, mean, 2), 2);
return obj({{"kurtosis", num(kurtosis)}, {"excess", num(kurtosis - 3)}});
}
int main() {
writeJson(std::cout, lesson050(), "");
std::cout << '\n';
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"kurtosis": 2.6779621076444537,
"excess": -0.32203789235554625
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 050 of 120
// Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
// Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
//
// Scenario: Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe
// Rule: kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3
//
// Try it: Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
#[allow(dead_code)]
enum Json {
Null,
Num(f64),
Str(String),
Arr(Vec<Json>),
Obj(Vec<(String, Json)>),
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn nums(values: &[f64]) -> Json {
Json::Arr(values.iter().map(|&v| Json::Num(v)).collect())
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn obj(fields: Vec<(&str, Json)>) -> Json {
Json::Obj(fields.into_iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.to_string(), v)).collect())
}
fn format_number(v: f64) -> String {
if !v.is_finite() {
return "null".to_string();
}
if v.fract() == 0.0 && v.abs() < 1e15 {
return format!("{}", v as i64);
}
format!("{:?}", v) // shortest round-trip form
}
impl Json {
fn render(&self, indent: &str) -> String {
let inner = format!("{} ", indent);
match self {
Json::Null => "null".to_string(),
Json::Num(v) => format_number(*v),
Json::Str(s) => format!("\"{}\"", s),
Json::Arr(items) if items.is_empty() => "[]".to_string(),
Json::Obj(fields) if fields.is_empty() => "{}".to_string(),
Json::Arr(items) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = items.iter().map(|v| format!("{}{}", inner, v.render(&inner))).collect();
format!("[\n{}\n{}]", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
Json::Obj(fields) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = fields
.iter()
.map(|(k, v)| format!("{}\"{}\": {}", inner, k, v.render(&inner)))
.collect();
format!("{{\n{}\n{}}}", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
}
}
}
// --- Lesson ---
/// k-th central moment of `x` around `mean`.
fn central_moment(x: &[f64], mean: f64, k: i32) -> f64 {
x.iter().map(|&v| (v - mean).powi(k)).sum::<f64>() / x.len() as f64
}
fn lesson050() -> Json {
let x: [f64; 5] = [1.0, 2.0, 2.0, 4.0, 9.0];
let mean = x.iter().sum::<f64>() / x.len() as f64;
let kurtosis = central_moment(&x, mean, 4) / central_moment(&x, mean, 2).powi(2);
obj(vec![("kurtosis", Json::Num(kurtosis)), ("excess", Json::Num(kurtosis - 3.0))])
}
fn main() {
println!("{}", lesson050().render(""));
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"kurtosis": 2.6779621076444537,
"excess": -0.32203789235554625
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 050 of 120
* Kurtosis, Excess Kurtosis, and Tail Weight
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Interpreting fourth moments without declaring a tail safe
* Rule: kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3
*
* Try it: Does negative sample excess kurtosis certify light future tails?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/kurtosis-excess-kurtosis-and-tail-weight/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text.Json;
var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true };
Console.WriteLine(JsonSerializer.Serialize(Lesson050(), options));
static object Lesson050()
{
double[] x = { 1, 2, 2, 4, 9 };
double mean = x.Average();
double M(int k) => x.Sum(v => Math.Pow(v - mean, k)) / x.Length; // k-th central moment
double kurtosis = M(4) / Math.Pow(M(2), 2);
return new { kurtosis, excess = kurtosis - 3 };
}
No browser runner for C# yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"kurtosis": 2.6779621076444537,
"excess": -0.32203789235554625
}Prefer your own machine? Every file is in the course repository · open it in Codespaces.
Lesson notes
The rule
kurtosis = m₄/m₂²; excess = kurtosis − 3