# Bounding the maximum likelihood degree

@article{Budur2014BoundingTM,
title={Bounding the maximum likelihood degree},
author={Nero Budur and Botong Wang},
journal={arXiv: Algebraic Geometry},
year={2014}
}
• Published 13 November 2014
• Mathematics
• arXiv: Algebraic Geometry
Maximum likelihood estimation is a fundamental computational problem in statistics. In this note, we give a bound for the maximum likelihood degree of algebraic statistical models for discrete data. As usual, such models are identified with special very affine varieties. Using earlier work of Franecki and Kapranov, we prove that the maximum likelihood degree is always less or equal to the signed intersection-cohomology Euler characteristic. We construct counterexamples to a bound in terms of…
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