Speaker:
Bernd Sturmfels (UC Berkeley
, UC Berkeley
Given a model in algebraic statistics and some data, the likelihood function is a rational function on a projective variety.
We discuss algebraic methods for computing all critical points of this function, with the aim of identifying the local maxima in the probability simplex. Joint work with Serkan Hosten and Amit Khetan. Reference: http://front.math.ucdavis.edu/math.ST/0408270