Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 July 2016
This paper compares estimators of u = |P2 — P1| based on partial knowledge about points P1, P2 which are chosen independently from the same probability distribution in the plane. Typical estimators are the conditional expectations E(u | r1, r2), E(u | s), E(u | rM), E(u | θ) where ri is the distance from Pi to the origin 0, s = r1 + r2, rM = Max{r1, r2}, θ = ∠ P10P2. These expectations are the least squares estimators, given the conditioned variables. Simpler linear estimators are also considered.