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Maths Question
Jul. 29th, 2005 09:14 pmOkay, this is one of those questions that used to get me detentions in school because the teachers thought I was being deliberately obstreperous; either that or they were embarrassed that they didn't know the answer. I suspect the latter.
Anyway, suffice to say I am the kind of person that likes to know things. I like to know how and most importantly why, and then I can work out the what for myself. Teachers get kinda freaked out when presented with kids like that. Anyway, I digress.
Chi-Squared:
I know how to calculate Chi-Squared and degrees of freedom. I know why you need to calculate them, and what it tells you about statistical significance, and how to apply that to a practical level. To be honest, any idiot can do that, because it's just about following a series of steps. However, the only thing I'm actually interested in is why it works the way it does.
When the guy developed the chi-squared table how did he do it? Why do the numbers work out the way they do? How does the chi-squared value indicate the statistical significance, other than the fact that it just does? I want to know.
Usually when I ask this question, people just come back with an explanation of what Chi-Squared is. I know that. I want to know why it is. To use an analogy:
How do you make blue? - You mix green and yellow. That's the stage I'm at with Chi-Squared. All well and practical, but that's not what interests me.
What I want to know is the chi-squared equivilent of: When you mix green and yellow the componants of the colour molecule reconfigure to make a new molecule which reflects the light in a different (blue) way. I'll settle for that. Once I know that, I can go away and investigate the chi-squared equivilent of what the molecules actually do to reconfigure, how the light interacts with said molecules and the role of your eye in interpreting colour.
Okay? Are you all with me? Don't all look at me in that way.
Anyway, suffice to say I am the kind of person that likes to know things. I like to know how and most importantly why, and then I can work out the what for myself. Teachers get kinda freaked out when presented with kids like that. Anyway, I digress.
Chi-Squared:
I know how to calculate Chi-Squared and degrees of freedom. I know why you need to calculate them, and what it tells you about statistical significance, and how to apply that to a practical level. To be honest, any idiot can do that, because it's just about following a series of steps. However, the only thing I'm actually interested in is why it works the way it does.
When the guy developed the chi-squared table how did he do it? Why do the numbers work out the way they do? How does the chi-squared value indicate the statistical significance, other than the fact that it just does? I want to know.
Usually when I ask this question, people just come back with an explanation of what Chi-Squared is. I know that. I want to know why it is. To use an analogy:
How do you make blue? - You mix green and yellow. That's the stage I'm at with Chi-Squared. All well and practical, but that's not what interests me.
What I want to know is the chi-squared equivilent of: When you mix green and yellow the componants of the colour molecule reconfigure to make a new molecule which reflects the light in a different (blue) way. I'll settle for that. Once I know that, I can go away and investigate the chi-squared equivilent of what the molecules actually do to reconfigure, how the light interacts with said molecules and the role of your eye in interpreting colour.
Okay? Are you all with me? Don't all look at me in that way.
