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Math gurus...Is it possible to find the missing variable... Lanfear Send a noteboard - 21/11/2012 05:12:24 PM
Hi all,

My question is how many standard deviations is Lanfear above the mean? Is she 4, 5, 6, or some other number? According to Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_deviation, (see the chart in the middle of the page) we get the following probabilities:

4 SD = 99.993 666% or in other words, 1 / 15,787

5 SD = 99.999 942 6697% or in other words, 1 / 1,744,278

6 SD = 99.999 999 8027% or in other words, 1 / 506,797,346

Now, if you like round numbers then you might want to use the following (also taken from the same chart on Wikipedia):

1 out of 100,000 = 4.417 173 SD from the mean

1 out of 1,000,000 = 4.891 638 SD from the mean

1 out of 10,000,000 = 5.326 724 SD from the mean.

I don't know if it is possible for us to come to a consensus on where Lanfear is, that is, how many standard deviations is she above the mean. But if we know her level, by extrapolation we can also assign Morgase the exact opposite SD below the mean. Then we can assign Daigian and that should allow us to fill in everybody else.

Any insights are appreciated.

Thanks


Some of you (Tor and Shannow) appear to be math gurus. I don't understand how to calculate a missing variable.

I do know, however, that in math if you have one unknown variable then you can solve the equation and find the answer. So please help me with the following calculation and tell me if it is possible to find the answer. I believe that in order for the math equation to work we have to make a few basic assumptions (and I understand that some of you may disagree with those assumptions). Please humor me for a minute and just help me see if it is possible to find an answer using the assumptions I put forth below.

Please take the following facts as true (for the purpose of the calculation): WoT world is like our own. Thus, 7 billion people. 3% can channel. Therefore, 210 million channelers. Half are men, half are women. Therefore, at any given time there are roughly 105 million women channelers.

Assumption: Morgase is the weakest channeler possible. Since she is 1 out of 105 million that makes her 5.730 729 SD below the mean. See the standard deviation chart on wikipedia that I linked to in the original post.

Assumption: The bell curve is symmetrical and not skewed in one direction or the other. I know some of you disagree (but please humor me for a minute).

Since I don't like strengths less than 0 what I want to do is assign Morgase a strength equal to 1 unit of power. If I assign Morgase 1 unit of power do I have enough information to figure out the mean? In other words if 1 unit of power is equivalent to 5.730 729 SD below the mean can't I figure out the mean? If so, what is the mean?

If it is impossible to figure out the mean using Morgase equal to 1 unit of power and Morgase equal to 5.730 729 SD below the mean, then what other variables need to be known in the math equation?

Thanks for your help.
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How many standard deviations is Lanfear - 15/11/2012 06:04:39 PM 2370 Views
Well... - 15/11/2012 07:02:45 PM 1384 Views
Hmm... - 15/11/2012 07:25:34 PM 1497 Views
see we CAN agree on stuff - 15/11/2012 07:56:12 PM 1336 Views
- 18/11/2012 08:37:22 PM 1194 Views
We've always been close with everything except the scale - 18/11/2012 10:29:07 PM 1238 Views
Re: - 18/11/2012 11:07:17 PM 1417 Views
Re: - 19/11/2012 05:16:00 AM 1249 Views
Re: - 19/11/2012 03:13:01 PM 1236 Views
They only reject 37.5%, not 62.5% - 19/11/2012 03:19:19 PM 1263 Views
Re: They only reject 37.5%, not 62.5% - 19/11/2012 04:01:43 PM 1455 Views
Re: They only reject 37.5%, not 62.5% - 19/11/2012 09:04:04 PM 1212 Views
Hmmm... - 20/11/2012 02:08:40 AM 1290 Views
Perhaps, but Egwene is also being a bit dramatic in the scene as she managed - 20/11/2012 04:28:57 AM 1265 Views
Nope... - 20/11/2012 03:13:13 PM 1312 Views
I believe she is being over dramatic - 20/11/2012 03:26:24 PM 1179 Views
Keep believing that... - 20/11/2012 03:30:14 PM 1322 Views
*shrugs* - 20/11/2012 03:49:10 PM 1293 Views
Tired and forkroot are the same now? - 20/11/2012 03:55:22 PM 1184 Views
No it's the literary device - 20/11/2012 04:04:28 PM 1302 Views
This is getting ridiculous... - 20/11/2012 04:43:13 PM 1183 Views
You are missing my point completely - 20/11/2012 04:50:46 PM 1132 Views
Impossible. Daigian is exactly 0.32SD below the mean - 19/11/2012 11:06:04 AM 1239 Views
You keep saying that, but it is either a linear or a non-linear distribution - 19/11/2012 09:09:32 PM 1318 Views
That's the whole point. Thanks for finally seeing it. - 19/11/2012 09:43:27 PM 1261 Views
keep believing that ... but you making up numbers isn't really relevant *NM* - 20/11/2012 04:29:44 AM 798 Views
Please show me a number that is made up. The 0.32SD for Daigian is a rule of statistics. - 20/11/2012 07:15:48 AM 1207 Views
Go read Fionwe's post about it *NM* - 20/11/2012 02:33:19 PM 802 Views
Is that before or after she started juicing? - 15/11/2012 11:04:14 PM 1238 Views
Wouldn't it be 1 in 105 million? - 21/11/2012 04:56:19 PM 1093 Views
Are you sure that it is a normal distribution? - 16/11/2012 04:21:02 PM 1300 Views
Ugh. I hate power level discussions. For real world applications, it should be kind of meaningless - 16/11/2012 10:28:49 PM 1188 Views
I don't really agree - 18/11/2012 08:40:53 PM 1160 Views
Perhaps, but we've seen that a MUCH weaker Channeler can win in a duel - 19/11/2012 09:13:48 PM 1209 Views
Re: Perhaps, but we've seen that a MUCH weaker Channeler can win in a duel - 20/11/2012 08:10:01 AM 1183 Views
probably ... Lanfear/Cyndane is clearly remarkably skilled - 20/11/2012 02:35:09 PM 1215 Views
Since I've proven that it's not a normal distribution in units of absolute strength, SDs don't apply - 17/11/2012 07:48:21 PM 1243 Views
You have proven nothing, except that you have an opinion *NM* - 18/11/2012 02:21:35 AM 775 Views
You simply don't get it. It is mathematically a fact. There is no opinion involved. - 18/11/2012 02:19:40 PM 1071 Views
Only because you've assigned numeric values. That you created. - 18/11/2012 02:40:51 PM 1213 Views
It doesn't matter what figure you use... - 18/11/2012 03:01:56 PM 1103 Views
What if Daigian is one third Lanfear's strength? - 18/11/2012 04:37:58 PM 1248 Views
We have a limit for Daigian's strength, as you well know. - 18/11/2012 05:41:49 PM 1205 Views
Are you kidding me? - 18/11/2012 09:07:38 PM 1335 Views
Sure you can - 18/11/2012 10:09:31 PM 1242 Views
Re: Sure you can - 18/11/2012 10:54:50 PM 1244 Views
You're right, though its 37.5% - 19/11/2012 12:21:29 AM 1194 Views
Oops, typo! - 19/11/2012 02:54:25 AM 1219 Views
Again, not possible, due to Daigian being just 0.3SD below the Mean - 19/11/2012 08:37:01 AM 1176 Views
Egwene is definitely not 2x Amys... - 19/11/2012 04:05:12 PM 1098 Views
Re: Egwene is definitely not 2x Amys... - 19/11/2012 05:55:02 PM 1052 Views
Egwene is about as strong as Melaine and Amys combined - 19/11/2012 09:19:50 PM 1178 Views
Re: Egwene is about as strong as Melaine and Amys combined - 20/11/2012 02:11:26 AM 1251 Views
Forkroot in every case - 20/11/2012 04:32:26 AM 1179 Views
No! - 20/11/2012 03:15:16 PM 1166 Views
I'm not going to go re-read the books to you on this - 20/11/2012 03:39:46 PM 1185 Views
You need to read it for yourself, since you're completely confused. - 20/11/2012 03:54:26 PM 1175 Views
Not going to argue this with you. - 20/11/2012 04:09:44 PM 1112 Views
Your own example disproved your point... - 20/11/2012 04:39:25 PM 1229 Views
let's see, she's both asleep and would need hours to regain her strength - 20/11/2012 04:43:17 PM 1129 Views
Enough! - 20/11/2012 05:04:06 PM 1188 Views
LOL ... whatever. You go on believing that ... no one else sees it this way. *NM* - 20/11/2012 05:20:52 PM 768 Views
What a brilliant argument! - 20/11/2012 05:25:18 PM 1199 Views
this is why I refuse to continue this debate - 20/11/2012 05:31:11 PM 1141 Views
Re: Your own example disproved your point... - 20/11/2012 05:10:15 PM 1227 Views
Barasine + Katerine isn't that much less than - 20/11/2012 05:26:31 PM 1233 Views
Re: Barasine + Katerine isn't that much less than - 20/11/2012 05:31:50 PM 1209 Views
Re: Barasine + Katerine isn't that much less than - 20/11/2012 05:42:53 PM 1185 Views
Excuse me? - 20/11/2012 05:28:48 PM 1267 Views
see we can agree on the relative strength of Egwene v. Forsaken - 20/11/2012 05:35:07 PM 1208 Views
??? - 20/11/2012 05:37:01 PM 1295 Views
2 middling sisters - 20/11/2012 05:45:27 PM 1225 Views
Re: Egwene is definitely not 2x Amys... - 20/11/2012 02:26:47 AM 1132 Views
Re: Egwene is definitely not 2x Amys... - 20/11/2012 09:03:40 AM 1159 Views
Re: Egwene is definitely not 2x Amys... - 20/11/2012 02:59:08 PM 1191 Views
None of this is backed by any evidence... - 20/11/2012 03:24:12 PM 1122 Views
who said Cadsuane was 1.5x Moiraine or more? - 20/11/2012 04:03:13 PM 1128 Views
Nope... - 20/11/2012 04:41:35 PM 1161 Views
wrong - 20/11/2012 04:48:50 PM 1100 Views
My bad. Mized up 1/3 and 2/3. - 20/11/2012 05:05:05 PM 1197 Views
gotcha *NM* - 20/11/2012 05:46:21 PM 738 Views
Better evidence? LOL! - 20/11/2012 03:18:55 PM 1178 Views
Huh? How did you come to that conclusion? - 20/11/2012 04:40:56 PM 1177 Views
Exactly *NM* - 20/11/2012 04:55:28 PM 1123 Views
BEcause Cadsuane is close on the heels of Egwene? - 20/11/2012 05:10:50 PM 1087 Views
I'm not arguing that. I agree that Cadsuane is pretty close to Egwene - 20/11/2012 05:50:34 PM 1226 Views
Re: Better evidence? LOL! - 20/11/2012 05:00:47 PM 1095 Views
Interesting, but let's go with your figures... - 19/11/2012 06:54:54 AM 1233 Views
Indeed - 19/11/2012 08:16:44 AM 1267 Views
Rand is sort of a special case - 20/11/2012 04:25:02 AM 1135 Views
Regarding Mesaana... - 20/11/2012 08:42:56 AM 1166 Views
You continue to mix two things - 20/11/2012 03:24:44 PM 1090 Views
No - 20/11/2012 04:54:19 PM 1344 Views
You are mistaken - 20/11/2012 05:04:40 PM 1173 Views
Yes she did Darius! - 20/11/2012 05:27:36 PM 1108 Views
Yet there is no duel - 20/11/2012 06:01:17 PM 1114 Views
Explain the .3xSD thing to me... - 19/11/2012 04:58:57 PM 1336 Views
Probably, but the AS have no idea what 37.5% means - 19/11/2012 02:59:26 AM 1128 Views
It's irrelevant - 19/11/2012 03:46:42 AM 1202 Views
Agreed. Daigian is the marker of the absolute bottom of Aes Sedai strength. - 19/11/2012 06:55:41 AM 1170 Views
Daigian - 19/11/2012 08:12:19 AM 1179 Views
It is a direct marker due to RJ's quote - 19/11/2012 08:50:26 AM 1200 Views
You missed my point - 19/11/2012 09:08:42 AM 1123 Views
Re: You missed my point - 19/11/2012 02:18:33 PM 1225 Views
Asmodean would never have made the comment about 13 weakest AS - 20/11/2012 04:41:11 AM 1151 Views
Re: Asmodean would never have made the comment about 13 weakest AS - 20/11/2012 09:07:49 AM 1120 Views
Which would make an average AS around a 30 - 20/11/2012 04:58:56 PM 1031 Views
Re: Sure you can - 19/11/2012 09:22:09 AM 1262 Views
Care to explain this... - 19/11/2012 05:06:28 PM 1069 Views
Indeed - 20/11/2012 07:16:37 AM 1278 Views
Explained far better than I ever could. Bravo. - 20/11/2012 07:30:29 AM 1142 Views
Well duh. - 20/11/2012 02:57:24 PM 1245 Views
Incorrect. - 20/11/2012 04:28:07 PM 1249 Views
No - 20/11/2012 04:44:16 PM 1226 Views
Re: No - 20/11/2012 04:48:36 PM 1194 Views
That depends... - 20/11/2012 05:18:46 PM 1055 Views
Re: That depends... - 20/11/2012 05:31:03 PM 1627 Views
You're integrating without lower limits... - 20/11/2012 02:55:06 PM 1185 Views
Re: You're integrating without lower limits... - 20/11/2012 04:37:57 PM 1246 Views
It matters. - 20/11/2012 05:22:40 PM 1210 Views
We are not talking about a normal distribution in any case - 20/11/2012 04:44:24 AM 1022 Views
Re: We are not talking about a normal distribution in any case - 20/11/2012 07:02:47 AM 1234 Views
You must tell me of this special math... - 20/11/2012 03:10:09 PM 1107 Views
Re: You must tell me of this special math... - 20/11/2012 04:29:40 PM 1164 Views
Morghase is a placeholder... - 20/11/2012 04:45:42 PM 1248 Views
Re: Morghase is a placeholder... - 20/11/2012 04:49:54 PM 1538 Views
Why? - 20/11/2012 05:23:29 PM 1208 Views
Re: Why? - 20/11/2012 05:36:45 PM 1512 Views
Well... - 18/11/2012 08:43:59 PM 1236 Views
Re: Well... - 19/11/2012 03:40:44 PM 1222 Views
Wow. - 19/11/2012 03:53:47 PM 1234 Views
Re: Wow. - 19/11/2012 04:26:09 PM 1266 Views
Some points - 19/11/2012 06:03:00 PM 1302 Views
Well then you're both wrong I'm afraid - 19/11/2012 06:09:36 PM 1157 Views
Re: Well then you're both wrong I'm afraid - 19/11/2012 07:42:58 PM 1020 Views
this is why I think all of the Forsaken are very close in Power - 20/11/2012 04:51:20 AM 1240 Views
Agreed - 20/11/2012 08:13:37 AM 1305 Views
probably - 20/11/2012 06:18:45 PM 1139 Views
Re: this is why I think all of the Forsaken are very close in Power - 20/11/2012 02:45:18 PM 1156 Views
I think RJ went out of his way to keep strength a bit of a mystery - 20/11/2012 08:42:44 PM 1191 Views
Indeed... - 21/11/2012 05:44:18 PM 1132 Views
I agree - 22/11/2012 01:43:02 AM 1381 Views
Math gurus...Is it possible to find the missing variable... - 21/11/2012 05:12:24 PM 1190 Views
the problem is that the Mean is not going to tell us much really - 22/11/2012 02:55:03 AM 1239 Views
Re: the problem is that the Mean is not going to tell us much really - 22/11/2012 03:15:33 AM 1550 Views
I do not think you can calculate the Mean without knowing the Units of Power - 22/11/2012 03:53:59 AM 1308 Views
Re: Math gurus...Is it possible to find the missing variable... - 23/11/2012 02:59:12 PM 1619 Views
Disregard this post *NM* - 23/11/2012 03:02:24 PM 1002 Views

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