Gauss M. Cordeiro

A new family of generalized distributions

Kumaraswamy [Generalized probability density-function for double-bounded random-processes, J. Hydrol. 462 (1980), pp. 79–88] introduced a distribution for double-bounded random processes with hydrological applications. For the first time, based on this distribution, we describe a new family of generalized distributions (denoted with the prefix ‘Kw’) to extend the normal, Weibull, gamma, Gumbel, inverse Gaussian distributions, among several well-known distributions. Some special distributions in the new family such as the Kw-normal, Kw-Weibull, Kw-gamma, Kw-Gumbel and Kw-inverse Gaussian distribution are discussed. We express the ordinary moments of any Kw generalized distribution as linear functions of probability weighted moments (PWMs) of the parent distribution. We also obtain the ordinary moments of order statistics as functions of PWMs of the baseline distribution. We use the method of maximum likelihood to fit the distributions in the new class and illustrate the potentiality of the new model with an application to real data.

A generalized modified Weibull distribution for lifetime modeling

A four parameter generalization of the Weibull distribution capable of modeling a bathtub-shaped hazard rate function is defined and studied. The beauty and importance of this distribution lies in its ability to model monotone as well as non-monotone failure rates, which are quite common in lifetime problems and reliability. The new distribution has a number of well-known lifetime special sub-models, such as the Weibull, extreme value, exponentiated Weibull, generalized Rayleigh and modified Weibull distributions, among others. We derive two infinite sum representations for its moments. The density of the order statistics is obtained. The method of maximum likelihood is used for estimating the model parameters. Also, the observed information matrix is obtained. Two applications are presented to illustrate the proposed distribution.

The Weibull-geometric distribution

For the first time, we propose the Weibull-geometric (WG) distribution which generalizes the extended exponential-geometric (EG) distribution introduced by Adamidis et al. [K. Adamidis, T. Dimitrakopoulou, and S. Loukas, On a generalization of the exponential-geometric distribution, Statist. Probab. Lett. 73 (2005), pp. 259–269], the exponential-geometric distribution discussed by Adamidis and Loukas [K. Adamidis and S. Loukas, A lifetime distribution with decreasing failure rate, Statist. Probab. Lett. 39 (1998), pp. 35–42] and the Weibull distribution. We derive many of its standard properties. The hazard function of the EG distribution is monotone decreasing, but the hazard function of the WG distribution can take more general forms. Unlike the Weibull distribution, the new distribution is useful for modelling unimodal failure rates. We derive the cumulative distribution and hazard functions, moments, density of order statistics and their moments. We provide expressions for the Rényi and Shannon entropies. The maximum likelihood estimation procedure is discussed and an EM algorithm [A.P. Dempster, N.M. Laird, and D.B. Rubim, Maximum likelihood from incomplete data via the EM algorithm (with discussion), J. R. Stat. Soc. B 39 (1977), pp. 1–38; G.J. McLachlan and T. Krishnan, The EM Algorithm and Extension, Wiley, New York, 1997] is given for estimating the parameters. We obtain the observed information matrix and discuss inference issues. The flexibility and potentiality of the new distribution is illustrated by means of a real data set.

The Kumaraswamy Weibull distribution with application to failure data

For the first time, we introduce and study some mathematical properties of the Kumaraswamy Weibull distribution that is a quite flexible model in analyzing positive data. It contains as special sub-models the exponentiated Weibull, exponentiated Rayleigh, exponentiated exponential, Weibull and also the new Kumaraswamy exponential distribution. We provide explicit expressions for the moments and moment generating function. We examine the asymptotic distributions of the extreme values. Explicit expressions are derived for the mean deviations, Bonferroni and Lorenz curves, reliability and Renyi entropy. The moments of the order statistics are calculated. We also discuss the estimation of the parameters by maximum likelihood. We obtain the expected information matrix. We provide applications involving two real data sets on failure times. Finally, some multivariate generalizations of the Kumaraswamy Weibull distribution are discussed.

The beta generalized exponential distribution

A new distribution called the beta generalized exponential distribution is proposed. It includes the beta exponential and generalized exponential (GE) distributions as special cases. We provide a comprehensive mathematical treatment of this distribution. The density function can be expressed as a mixture of generalized exponential densities. This is important to obtain some mathematical properties of the new distribution in terms of the corresponding properties of the GE distribution. We derive the moment generating function (mgf) and the moments, thus generalizing some results in the literature. Expressions for the density, mgf and moments of the order statistics are also obtained. We discuss estimation of the parameters by maximum likelihood and obtain the information matrix that is easily numerically determined. We observe in one application to a real skewed data set that this model is quite flexible and can be used effectively in analyzing positive data in place of the beta exponential and GE distributions.

Generalized beta-generated distributions

This article introduces generalized beta-generated (GBG) distributions. Sub-models include all classical beta-generated, Kumaraswamy-generated and exponentiated distributions. They are maximum entropy distributions under three intuitive conditions, which show that the classical beta generator skewness parameters only control tail entropy and an additional shape parameter is needed to add entropy to the centre of the parent distribution. This parameter controls skewness without necessarily differentiating tail weights. The GBG class also has tractable properties: we present various expansions for moments, generating function and quantiles. The model parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood and the usefulness of the new class is illustrated by means of some real data sets.

The beta modified Weibull distribution

A five-parameter distribution so-called the beta modified Weibull distribution is defined and studied. The new distribution contains, as special submodels, several important distributions discussed in the literature, such as the generalized modified Weibull, beta Weibull, exponentiated Weibull, beta exponential, modified Weibull and Weibull distributions, among others. The new distribution can be used effectively in the analysis of survival data since it accommodates monotone, unimodal and bathtub-shaped hazard functions. We derive the moments and examine the order statistics and their moments. We propose the method of maximum likelihood for estimating the model parameters and obtain the observed information matrix. A real data set is used to illustrate the importance and flexibility of the new distribution.

Bias correction in ARMA models

We give a general matrix formula for computing the bias of the exact unconditional maximum likelihood estimate in ARMA models, with known and unknown mean, up to order 1/n, where n is the length of the series. Some illustrative examples are presented.

The β-Birnbaum-Saunders distribution: An improved distribution for fatigue life modeling

Birnbaum and Saunders (1969a) introduced a probability distribution which is commonly used in reliability studies. For the first time, based on this distribution, the so-called @b-Birnbaum-Saunders distribution is proposed for fatigue life modeling. Various properties of the new model including expansions for the moments, moment generating function, mean deviations, density function of the order statistics and their moments are derived. We discuss maximum likelihood estimation of the models parameters. The superiority of the new model is illustrated by means of three failure real data sets.

The Weibull-G Family of Probability Distributions

The Weibull distribution is the most important distribution for problems in reliability. We study some mathematical properties of the new wider Weibull-G family of distributions. Some special models in the new family are discussed. The properties derived hold to any distribution in this family. We obtain general explicit expressions for the quantile function, ordinary and incomplete moments, generating function and order statistics. We discuss the estimation of the model parameters by maximum likelihood and illustrate the potentiality of the extended family with two applications to real data.