Properties and estimation of the mean past lifetime

Abstract

Let T be a lifetime random variable. In order to study the properties of T in reliability theory and survival analysis, several measures are proposed in the literature. Among these measures, hazard rate, mean residual lifetime, reversed hazard rate and the mean past lifetime (MPL) play important roles. In the present paper, we focus mainly on the MPL. We investigate its properties in connection with other reliability measures. Some results on partial ordering and characterization are also given. Finally, we deal with its statistical estimation. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.