On a Special Weighted Version of the Odd Weibull-Generated Class of Distributions

• Main Authors: Zichuan Mi, Saddam Hussain, Christophe Chesneau
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Mathematical and Computational Applications
• Subjects: Weibull distribution; general class of distributions; statistical model; stochastic ordering; moments; real data analysis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8747/26/3/62
• ISSN: 1300-686X; 2297-8747

In recent advances in distribution theory, the Weibull distribution has often been used to generate new classes of univariate continuous distributions. They find many applications in important disciplines such as medicine, biology, engineering, economics, informatics, and finance; their usefulness is synonymous with success. In this study, a new Weibull-generated-type class is presented, called the weighted odd Weibull generated class. Its definition is based on a cumulative distribution function, which combines a specific weighted odd function with the cumulative distribution function of the Weibull distribution. This weighted function was chosen to make the new class a real alternative in the first-order stochastic sense to two of the most famous existing Weibull generated classes: the Weibull-G and Weibull-H classes. Its mathematical properties are provided, leading to the study of various probabilistic functions and measures of interest. In a consequent part of the study, the focus is on a special three-parameter survival distribution of the new class defined with the standard exponential distribution as a reference. The exploratory analysis reveals a high level of adaptability of the corresponding probability density and hazard rate functions; the curves of the probability density function can be decreasing, reversed N shaped, and unimodal with heterogeneous skewness and tail weight properties, and the curves of the hazard rate function demonstrate increasing, decreasing, almost constant, and bathtub shapes. These qualities are often required for diverse data fitting purposes. In light of the above, the corresponding data fitting methodology has been developed; we estimate the model parameters via the likelihood function maximization method, the efficiency of which is proven by a detailed simulation study. Then, the new model is applied to engineering and environmental data, surpassing several generalizations or extensions of the exponential model, including some derived from established Weibull-generated classes; the Weibull-G and Weibull-H classes are considered. Standard criteria give credit to the proposed model; for the considered data, it is considered the best.