Wrapped Normal Distribution - Moments

Moments

In terms of the circular variable the circular moments of the wrapped Normal distribution are the characteristic function of the Normal distribution evaluated at integer arguments:

where is some interval of length . The first moment is then the average value of z, also known as the mean resultant, or mean resultant vector:


\langle z \rangle=e^{i\mu-\sigma^2/2}

The mean angle is


\theta_\mu=\mathrm{Arg}\langle z \rangle = \mu

and the length of the mean resultant is


R=|\langle z \rangle| = e^{-\sigma^2/2}

The circular standard deviation, which is a useful measure of dispersion for the wrapped Normal distribution and its close relative, the von Mises distribution is given by:


s=\sqrt{\ln(1/R^2)} = \sigma

Read more about this topic:  Wrapped Normal Distribution

Famous quotes containing the word moments:

    There are thoughts which are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees.
    Victor Hugo (1802–1885)

    Self-expression is not enough; experiment is not enough; the recording of special moments or cases is not enough. All of the arts have broken faith or lost connection with their origin and function. They have ceased to be concerned with the legitimate and permanent material of art.
    Jane Heap (c. 1880–1964)

    Marriage is like a war. There are moments of chivalry and gallantry that attend the victorious advances and strategic retreats, the birth or death of children, the momentary conquest of loneliness, the sacrifice that ennobles him who makes it. But mostly there are the long dull sieges, the waiting, the terror and boredom. Women understand this better than men; they are better able to survive attrition.
    Helen Hayes (1900–1993)