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Cramer-Rao Inequality

Probability and Statistics

The Cramer-Rao Inequality gives a lower bound on the variance of any unbiased estimator of a parameter, stating that the variance can never be smaller than the reciprocal of the Fisher information for that parameter. Named for Harald Cramer and Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, it is a foundational result of statistical estimation theory used to judge how efficient an estimator can possibly be.

Facts
Statement
The precision of any unbiased estimator is at most the Fisher information; equivalently, the reciprocal of the Fisher information is a lower bound on its variance. 1
Classification
Statement Form
Inequality 1
Connections

Has Statement Form

Inequality, Concepts

In Branch

Proved By

Source Cramer-Rao inequality (bound), Wikipedia
Source Cramer-Rao inequality (bound), Wikipedia
Sources
1. Cramer-Rao inequality (bound), Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph
    It states that the precision of any unbiased estimator is at most the Fisher information; or (equivalently) the reciprocal of the Fisher information is a lower bound on its variance.
  • In Group: Mathematical Statistics and Estimation, Lead
    In estimation theory and statistics, the Cramér-Rao bound (CRB) relates to estimation of a deterministic (fixed, though unknown) parameter.
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