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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 June 2018
If the observed parallax ϖ′ has a gaussian measurement error σ, there is a 68% probability that the actual parallax ϖ is in the range ϖ′ − σ < ϖ < ϖ′ + σ (the frequentist approach). The probability distribution within this range is not known from ϖ′ and σ alone, and in particular, we cannot state that the most probable distance D is given by D = 1/ϖ′. To obtain a probability distribution, we need to know or assume a distribution of pulsar distances. Similar assumptions are also required to estimate the velocity distribution of radio pulsars.