Module 8 · Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference Lesson 73 of 120
Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label.
Transcript
23 sentences · select one to jump thereCheck your understanding
Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
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 073 of 120
* Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
* Module 08: Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference
*
* Scenario: Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label
* Rule: MSE = variance + bias²
*
* Try it: Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
export function lesson073() {
const truth=10, estimates=[9,10,11];
const avg=(a:number[])=>a.reduce((s,x)=>s+x,0)/a.length;
const mean=avg(estimates), bias=mean-truth;
const variance=avg(estimates.map(x=>(x-mean)**2));
const mse=avg(estimates.map(x=>(x-truth)**2));
const result={bias,variance,mse};
return result;
}
export const checkedResult = {"bias":0,"variance":0.6666666666666666,"mse":0.6666666666666666};
// Run this file directly: npx tsx lessons/08-sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/073-estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness.ts
if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url.endsWith(process.argv[1].replace(/\\/g, "/").split("/").pop()!)) {
console.log(JSON.stringify(lesson073(), null, 2));
}
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"bias": 0,
"variance": 0.6666666666666666,
"mse": 0.6666666666666666
}"""
Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 073 of 120
Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
Module 08: Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference
Scenario: Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label
Rule: MSE = variance + bias²
Try it: Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness/
Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
"""
import json
def average(values):
total = 0
for x in values:
total += x
return total / len(values)
def lesson_073():
truth, estimates = 10, [9, 10, 11]
mean = average(estimates)
bias = mean - truth
variance = average([(x - mean) ** 2 for x in estimates])
mse = average([(x - truth) ** 2 for x in estimates])
return {"bias": bias, "variance": variance, "mse": mse}
if __name__ == "__main__":
print(json.dumps(lesson_073(), indent=2))
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"bias": 0,
"variance": 0.6666666666666666,
"mse": 0.6666666666666666
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp - Lesson 073 of 120
// Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
// Module 08: Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference
//
// Scenario: Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label
// Rule: MSE = variance + bias^2
//
// Try it: Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
public class Main {
static double average(double[] values) {
double total = 0;
for (double x : values) total += x;
return total / values.length;
}
// (x - center)^2 for each value
static double[] squaredDeviations(double[] values, double center) {
double[] out = new double[values.length];
for (int i = 0; i < values.length; i++) {
out[i] = Math.pow(values[i] - center, 2);
}
return out;
}
static Map<String, Object> lesson073() {
double truth = 10;
double[] estimates = {9, 10, 11};
double mean = average(estimates), bias = mean - truth;
Map<String, Object> result = new LinkedHashMap<String, Object>();
result.put("bias", bias);
result.put("variance", average(squaredDeviations(estimates, mean)));
result.put("mse", average(squaredDeviations(estimates, truth)));
return result;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(toJson(lesson073(), ""));
}
// Minimal JSON writer: two-space indent, whole numbers without a decimal point, NaN as null.
static String toJson(Object value, String indent) {
if (value == null) return "null";
if (value instanceof Boolean) return value.toString();
if (value instanceof Number) return formatNumber(((Number) value).doubleValue());
if (value instanceof String) return quote((String) value);
if (value instanceof double[]) {
List<Object> boxed = new ArrayList<Object>();
for (double d : (double[]) value) boxed.add(d);
return toJson(boxed, indent);
}
if (value instanceof Object[]) return toJson(Arrays.asList((Object[]) value), indent);
String inner = indent + " ";
StringBuilder out = new StringBuilder();
if (value instanceof Map) {
Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) value;
if (map.isEmpty()) return "{}";
out.append("{\n");
int i = 0;
for (Map.Entry<?, ?> entry : map.entrySet()) {
out.append(inner).append(quote(entry.getKey().toString())).append(": ")
.append(toJson(entry.getValue(), inner));
out.append(++i < map.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return out.append(indent).append("}").toString();
}
List<?> list = (List<?>) value;
if (list.isEmpty()) return "[]";
out.append("[\n");
for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
out.append(inner).append(toJson(list.get(i), inner));
out.append(i + 1 < list.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return out.append(indent).append("]").toString();
}
static String formatNumber(double x) {
if (Double.isNaN(x) || Double.isInfinite(x)) return "null";
if (x == Math.rint(x) && Math.abs(x) < 1e15) return Long.toString((long) x);
return Double.toString(x);
}
static String quote(String s) {
StringBuilder out = new StringBuilder("\"");
for (char c : s.toCharArray()) {
if (c == '"' || c == '\\') out.append('\\').append(c);
else if (c == '\n') out.append("\\n");
else if (c < 0x20) out.append(String.format("\\u%04x", (int) c));
else out.append(c);
}
return out.append('"').toString();
}
}
No browser runner for Java yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"bias": 0,
"variance": 0.6666666666666666,
"mse": 0.6666666666666666
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 073 of 120
// Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
// Module 08: Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference
//
// Scenario: Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label
// Rule: MSE = variance + bias²
//
// Try it: Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
package main
import (
"encoding/json"
"fmt"
"math"
)
type Lesson073Result struct {
Bias float64 `json:"bias"`
Variance float64 `json:"variance"`
MSE float64 `json:"mse"`
}
// average returns the arithmetic mean, summed left to right.
func average(values []float64) float64 {
total := 0.0
for _, x := range values {
total += x
}
return total / float64(len(values))
}
// squaredDeviations returns (x - center)^2 for each value.
func squaredDeviations(values []float64, center float64) []float64 {
out := make([]float64, len(values))
for i, x := range values {
out[i] = math.Pow(x-center, 2)
}
return out
}
func lesson073() Lesson073Result {
truth := 10.0
estimates := []float64{9, 10, 11}
mean := average(estimates)
return Lesson073Result{
Bias: mean - truth,
Variance: average(squaredDeviations(estimates, mean)),
MSE: average(squaredDeviations(estimates, truth)),
}
}
func main() {
out, err := json.MarshalIndent(lesson073(), "", " ")
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
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
{
"bias": 0,
"variance": 0.6666666666666666,
"mse": 0.6666666666666666
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 073 of 120
// Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
// Module 08: Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference
//
// Scenario: Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label
// Rule: MSE = variance + bias²
//
// Try it: Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
#include <cmath>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
#include <optional>
#include <stdexcept>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
// A minimal JSON value, enough to print this lesson's result.
struct Json {
enum class Kind { Null, Bool, Number, String, Array, Object };
Kind kind = Kind::Null;
bool flag = false;
double number = 0.0;
std::string text;
std::vector<std::string> keys; // object keys, parallel to items
std::vector<Json> items; // array elements or object values
Json() = default;
Json(bool value) : kind(Kind::Bool), flag(value) {}
Json(int value) : kind(Kind::Number), number(value) {}
Json(double value) : kind(Kind::Number), number(value) {}
Json(const char* value) : kind(Kind::String), text(value) {}
Json(const std::string& value) : kind(Kind::String), text(value) {}
Json(const std::vector<double>& values) : kind(Kind::Array) {
for (double v : values) items.push_back(Json(v));
}
};
Json jsonArray(const std::vector<Json>& values) {
Json array;
array.kind = Json::Kind::Array;
array.items = values;
return array;
}
Json jsonObject(const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Json>>& fields) {
Json object;
object.kind = Json::Kind::Object;
for (const auto& field : fields) {
object.keys.push_back(field.first);
object.items.push_back(field.second);
}
return object;
}
// Shortest decimal form that reads back as the same double.
std::string formatNumber(double x) {
if (!std::isfinite(x)) return "null";
char buffer[32];
if (x == std::floor(x) && std::fabs(x) < 1e15) {
std::snprintf(buffer, sizeof buffer, "%.0f", x);
return buffer;
}
for (int precision = 1; precision <= 17; ++precision) {
std::snprintf(buffer, sizeof buffer, "%.*g", precision, x);
if (std::strtod(buffer, nullptr) == x) break;
}
return buffer;
}
std::string quote(const std::string& s) {
std::string out = "\"";
for (char c : s) {
if (c == '"' || c == '\\') { out += '\\'; out += c; }
else if (c == '\n') out += "\\n";
else out += c;
}
return out + "\"";
}
std::string toJson(const Json& value, const std::string& indent = "") {
switch (value.kind) {
case Json::Kind::Null: return "null";
case Json::Kind::Bool: return value.flag ? "true" : "false";
case Json::Kind::Number: return formatNumber(value.number);
case Json::Kind::String: return quote(value.text);
default: break;
}
const bool isObject = value.kind == Json::Kind::Object;
if (value.items.empty()) return isObject ? "{}" : "[]";
const std::string inner = indent + " ";
std::string out = isObject ? "{\n" : "[\n";
for (std::size_t i = 0; i < value.items.size(); ++i) {
out += inner;
if (isObject) out += quote(value.keys[i]) + ": ";
out += toJson(value.items[i], inner);
out += i + 1 < value.items.size() ? ",\n" : "\n";
}
return out + indent + (isObject ? "}" : "]");
}
double average(const std::vector<double>& values) {
double total = 0.0;
for (double x : values) total += x;
return total / values.size();
}
// (x - center)^2 for each value
std::vector<double> squaredDeviations(const std::vector<double>& values, double center) {
std::vector<double> out;
for (double x : values) out.push_back(std::pow(x - center, 2));
return out;
}
Json lesson073() {
const double truth = 10;
const std::vector<double> estimates = {9, 10, 11};
const double mean = average(estimates), bias = mean - truth;
return jsonObject({
{"bias", bias},
{"variance", average(squaredDeviations(estimates, mean))},
{"mse", average(squaredDeviations(estimates, truth))},
});
}
int main() {
std::cout << toJson(lesson073()) << '\n';
return 0;
}
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
{
"bias": 0,
"variance": 0.6666666666666666,
"mse": 0.6666666666666666
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 073 of 120
// Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
// Module 08: Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference
//
// Scenario: Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label
// Rule: MSE = variance + bias²
//
// Try it: Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
/// A minimal JSON value, enough to print this lesson's result.
#[allow(dead_code)]
enum Json {
Null,
Bool(bool),
Num(f64),
Str(String),
Arr(Vec<Json>),
Obj(Vec<(String, Json)>),
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
impl Json {
fn obj(fields: Vec<(&str, Json)>) -> Json {
Json::Obj(fields.into_iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.to_string(), v)).collect())
}
fn nums(values: &[f64]) -> Json {
Json::Arr(values.iter().map(|&v| Json::Num(v)).collect())
}
/// Pretty-prints with two-space indentation.
fn pretty(&self, indent: &str) -> String {
let inner = format!("{} ", indent);
match self {
Json::Null => "null".to_string(),
Json::Bool(b) => b.to_string(),
Json::Num(x) => format_number(*x),
Json::Str(s) => quote(s),
Json::Arr(items) if items.is_empty() => "[]".to_string(),
Json::Obj(fields) if fields.is_empty() => "{}".to_string(),
Json::Arr(items) => {
let body: Vec<String> = items
.iter()
.map(|v| format!("{}{}", inner, v.pretty(&inner)))
.collect();
format!("[\n{}\n{}]", body.join(",\n"), indent)
}
Json::Obj(fields) => {
let body: Vec<String> = fields
.iter()
.map(|(k, v)| format!("{}{}: {}", inner, quote(k), v.pretty(&inner)))
.collect();
format!("{{\n{}\n{}}}", body.join(",\n"), indent)
}
}
}
}
fn format_number(x: f64) -> String {
if !x.is_finite() {
"null".to_string()
} else if x == x.trunc() && x.abs() < 1e15 {
format!("{}", x as i64)
} else {
format!("{}", x)
}
}
fn quote(s: &str) -> String {
let mut out = String::from("\"");
for c in s.chars() {
match c {
'"' => out.push_str("\\\""),
'\\' => out.push_str("\\\\"),
'\n' => out.push_str("\\n"),
c => out.push(c),
}
}
out.push('"');
out
}
fn average(values: &[f64]) -> f64 {
values.iter().fold(0.0_f64, |s, x| s + x) / values.len() as f64
}
/// (x - center)^2 for each value.
fn squared_deviations(values: &[f64], center: f64) -> Vec<f64> {
values.iter().map(|x| (x - center).powf(2.0)).collect()
}
fn lesson_073() -> Json {
let truth = 10.0;
let estimates = [9.0_f64, 10.0, 11.0];
let mean = average(&estimates);
let bias = mean - truth;
Json::obj(vec![
("bias", Json::Num(bias)),
("variance", Json::Num(average(&squared_deviations(&estimates, mean)))),
("mse", Json::Num(average(&squared_deviations(&estimates, truth)))),
])
}
fn main() {
println!("{}", lesson_073().pretty(""));
}
No browser runner for Rust yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"bias": 0,
"variance": 0.6666666666666666,
"mse": 0.6666666666666666
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 073 of 120
// Estimator Bias, Consistency, Efficiency, and Robustness
// Module 08: Sampling, Estimation, and Statistical Inference
//
// Scenario: Comparing estimators on error rather than a fashionable label
// Rule: MSE = variance + bias²
//
// Try it: Does shifting every estimate by one change its variance?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/sampling-estimation-and-statistical-inference/estimator-bias-consistency-efficiency-and-robustness/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text.Json;
var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true };
Console.WriteLine(JsonSerializer.Serialize(Lesson073(), options));
static double Average(IEnumerable<double> values)
{
double total = 0;
int count = 0;
foreach (double x in values)
{
total += x;
count++;
}
return total / count;
}
static object Lesson073()
{
double truth = 10;
double[] estimates = { 9, 10, 11 };
double mean = Average(estimates), bias = mean - truth;
double variance = Average(estimates.Select(x => Math.Pow(x - mean, 2)));
double mse = Average(estimates.Select(x => Math.Pow(x - truth, 2)));
return new { bias, variance, mse };
}
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
{
"bias": 0,
"variance": 0.6666666666666666,
"mse": 0.6666666666666666
}Prefer your own machine? Every file is in the course repository · open it in Codespaces.
Lesson notes
The rule
MSE = variance + bias²