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Arthur B
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Local extrema of a posterior probability

Let $x$ be a binary random variable and $z$ be an arbitrary random variable. $x$ and $z$ are, in general, not independent.

Let $y_1, \ldots y_n$ be $n$ identically distributed binary random variables conditionally independent given $z$.

A graphical model would have $x$ at the root, pointing to $z$, and $z$ pointing to each of the $y_i$.

Consider random variable $c = \sum y_i$ and function $f(k) = p(x=1|c=k)$ defined from $k=0$ to $n$.

How many local extrema can $f$ have, at most? That is, points where $(f(k)-f(k-1))(f(k+1)-f(k)) < 0$

Arthur B
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