On upper bounds on expectations of gOSs based on DFR and DFRA distributions

Abstract: We focus on the problem of establishing the optimal upper bounds on generalized order statistics which are based on the underlying cdf belonging to the family of distributions with decreasing failure rate and decreasing failure rate on the average. This issue has been previously considered by Bieniek [Projection bounds on expectations of generalized order statistics from DFR and DFRA families, Statistics, 2006; 40: 339--351], who established upper nonnegative mean-variance bounds with use of the projections of the compositions of density functions of the uniform generalized order statistic and the exponential distribution function onto the properly chosen convex cones. In this paper we obtain possibly negative upper bounds, by improving the zero bounds obtained by Bieniek for some particular cases of gOSs. We express the bounds in the scale units generated by the central absolute moments of arbitrary orders. We also describe the attainability conditions.