I have some random variable with an expected value of $n/8$. I want to use Chernoff bounds to show that with some high probability, the actual value is at least $(1 - \epsilon)n/24$. How could I go about this?
Chernoff bounds on a random variable
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0I would advise some caution when using the answer leif refers to, for reasons explained in the comments. – 2011-04-12
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The result isn't true. Take the random variable which is $0$ w.p. $1-\epsilon$ and $n/8\epsilon$ w.p. $\epsilon$. Its expectation is $n/8$ yet it is not concentrated at all around its expectation.
In order to use a concentration bound you need to know more about your random variable, e.g. its variance (then you can use Chebyshev), boundedness (then you can use Markov) or it being a sum of a lot of "small" variables (then you can use Chernoff).