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Effective sample size
An importance sampling run has draws with weights , , , , . The effective sample size is the squared sum of the weights divided by the sum of their squares. What is it? Answer as a fraction in lowest terms.
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Hint
Add the weights and square the total, then add the squares of the weights.
Solution
- The weights sum to , and the squared sum is .
- The squares sum to .
- The effective sample size is , so the answer is .
Answer: