Why moments of expectation are known as “moments”

Asked Apr 23 '15 at 08:30

Active Apr 23 '15 at 08:58

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I am studying moments of expectation, and seen the formulas for computing the moments. There is one thing I am not clear of, and not getting answer for that.

Why moments are named as moments? To my understanding, the word "moment" has relationship with time, so what is the role of time in computing expectation moments?

edited Apr 23 '15 at 08:58

Tim

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asked Apr 23 '15 at 08:30

Osman Khalid

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The terminology was introduced by analogy with moments in classical mechanics. Moments in time are not implied. – Nick Cox Apr 23 '15 at 08:44
To quote Macbeth: "Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a _moment_?" [Act ii. Sc. 3] – wolfies Apr 23 '15 at 08:44
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In physics moments are a combination of physical quantity and distance to some reference point. Variation about mean value is then quite naturally a moment (central moment). – Analyst Apr 23 '15 at 08:47
@NickCox you were faster than I about this connection to physics (+1) – Analyst Apr 23 '15 at 08:48
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@Analyst You were only a moment behind.... – Nick Cox Apr 23 '15 at 08:49
In addition to the duplicate, also see http://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/17595 – whuber Apr 23 '15 at 14:23

Why moments of expectation are known as “moments”

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