measuring tape
contiguity of probability measures some applications in statistics
this tract presents an elaboration of the notion of contiguity which is a concept of nearness of sequences of probability measures . it provides a powerful mathematical tool for establishing certain theoretical results with applications in statistics particularly in large sample theory problems where it simplifies derivations and points the way to important results . the potential of this concept has so far only been touched upon in the existing literature and this book provides the first systematic discussion of it . alternative characterizations of contiguity are first described and related to more familiar mathematical ideas of a similar nature . a number of general theorems are formulated and proved . these results which provide the means of obtaining asymptotic expansions and distributions of likelihood functions are essential to the applications which follow .