ABSTRACT
The number of iterations required for a specified degree of accuracy will to a considerable extent depend on the initial approximations. Satisfactory first approximations can, in many applications, be obtained from sample percentiles. The pattern of censoring in specific samples will of course determine which percentiles are available, but, in general, a suitable first approximation to Jl may be calculated as
where P; is the ith percentile of the sample. It is desirable, though not necessary, to restrict i to the interval 25 :5 i :5 50.
