<div>Here is what I mean by "bias". I claim that my meaning for bias is consistent with the usual understood meaning for bias::</div><div> </div><div>For any two consecutive integers N and N+1, the interval between those two integers is "Interval N"</div>
<div> </div><div>If it is equally likely to find a party with its final quotient anywhere in interval N, then determine the expected s/v for parties in interval N.</div><div> </div><div>Compare that expected s/v for some small value of N, with the expected value of s/v for some large value of N.</div>
<div> </div><div>If the latter expected s/v is greater than the former, when using a certain seat allocation method, then that allocation method is large-biased.</div><div> </div><div>If the opposite is true, then the method is small-biased.</div>
<div> </div><div>If the expected s/v is equal for the two values of N, then the method is unbaised, under the assumption that a party is equally likely to be found anywhere</div><div>within whichever interval that you're considering.</div>
<div> </div><div>That's what I mean by bias, under the above-stated assumption.</div><div> </div><div>What if that assumption isn't quite correct? Then Sainte-Lague is very slightly large-biased.</div><div> </div>
<div>Bias compares the expected s/v, in two intervals such as I described above.</div><div> </div><div>Mike Ossipoff</div><div> </div>