Likelihood
Likelihood
Likelihood (/ˈlaɪklihʊd/) is a term used in statistics and probability theory to describe the plausibility of a given event occurring.
Etymology
The term "likelihood" originates from the Old English word "liclīc," which means "probable" or "credible." It is a combination of the words "lic," meaning "body" or "form," and "-līc," a suffix indicating "like" or "similar to."
Definition
In statistics, likelihood refers to the probability that an event will occur given a specific set of parameters or conditions. It is often used in the context of likelihood functions, which are mathematical functions that describe the likelihood of a set of data given a specific set of parameters.
Related Terms
- Likelihood function: A function that describes the likelihood of a set of data given a specific set of parameters.
- Maximum likelihood estimation: A method of estimating the parameters of a statistical model that maximizes the likelihood function.
- Likelihood ratio: A ratio of the likelihood of two different sets of parameters given the same set of data.
- Log-likelihood: The natural logarithm of the likelihood function, often used to simplify calculations.
Usage
In the field of medicine, likelihood is often used to describe the probability of a patient having a certain disease given a set of symptoms or test results. For example, the likelihood of a patient having diabetes might be determined based on their blood sugar levels and other risk factors.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Likelihood
- Wikipedia's article - Likelihood
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