Tailweight and life distributions (Q1262637)

The authors characterize and order some nonparametric classes of life distributions based on a newly defined concept of \(L_ s\)-tailweight. The \(L_ s\)-ordering is based on the behavior of the function \[ T_{s,F}(x)=1-\{\int^{\infty}_{x}(t-x)^ sdF(t)/\int^{\infty}_{0}t^ sdF(t)\},\quad x>0,\quad s\geq 0, \] where F is a life distribution function. This unifies various definitions of the well-known life distribution classes and also produces new classes. For example, when \(s=1\), \(T_{s,F}\) becomes the total time on test function and one obtains IFR, IFRA,... type classes. With \(s=2\), DMRL, NBUE,... type classes are obtained.