def wmom(arrin, weightsin, inputmean=None, calcerr=False, sdev=False):
    """
    NAME:
      wmom()
      
    PURPOSE:
      Calculate the weighted mean, error, and optionally standard deviation
      of an input array.

    CALLING SEQUENCE:
     wmean,werr = wmom(arr, weights, inputmean=None, calcerr=False, sdev=False)
    
    INPUTS:
      arr: A numpy array or a sequence that can be converted.
      weights: A set of weights for each elements in array.
    OPTIONAL INPUTS:
      inputmean: An input mean value, around which them mean is calculated.
      calcerr=False: Calculate the weighted error.  By default the error
        is calculated as 1/sqrt( weights.sum() ).  In this case it is
        calculated as sqrt( (w**2 * (arr-mean)**2).sum() )/weights.sum()
      sdev=False: If True, also return the weighted standard deviation 
        as a third element in the tuple.

    OUTPUTS:
      wmean, werr: A tuple of the weighted mean and error. If sdev=True the
         tuple will also contain sdev: wmean,werr,wsdev

    REVISION HISTORY:
      Converted from IDL: 2006-10-23. Erin Sheldon, NYU

   """
    from numpy import float64
    
    # no copy made if they are already arrays
    arr = numpy.array(arrin, ndmin=1, copy=False)
    weights = numpy.array(weightsin, ndmin=1, copy=False)
    
    # Weights is forced to be type double. All resulting calculations
    # will also be double
    if weights.dtype != float64:
        weights = numpy.array(weights, dtype=float64)
  
    wtot = weights.sum()
        
    # user has input a mean value
    if inputmean is None:
        wmean = ( weights*arr ).sum()/wtot
    else:
        wmean=float(inputmean)

    # how should error be calculated?
    if calcerr:
        werr2 = ( weights**2 * (arr-wmean)**2 ).sum()
        werr = numpy.sqrt( werr2 )/wtot
    else:
        werr = 1.0/numpy.sqrt(wtot)

    # should output include the weighted standard deviation?
    if sdev:
        wvar = ( weights*(arr-wmean)**2 ).sum()/wtot
        wsdev = numpy.sqrt(wvar)
        return wmean,werr,wsdev
    else:
        return wmean,werr
NAME:
      wmom()
      
    PURPOSE:
      Calculate the weighted mean, error, and optionally standard deviation
      of an input array.

    CALLING SEQUENCE:
     wmean,werr = wmom(arr, weights, inputmean=None, calcerr=False, sdev=False)
    
    INPUTS:
      arr: A numpy array or a sequence that can be converted.
      weights: A set of weights for each elements in array.
    OPTIONAL INPUTS:
      inputmean: An input mean value, around which them mean is calculated.
      calcerr=False: Calculate the weighted error.  By default the error
        is calculated as 1/sqrt( weights.sum() ).  In this case it is
        calculated as sqrt( (w**2 * (arr-mean)**2).sum() )/weights.sum()
      sdev=False: If True, also return the weighted standard deviation 
        as a third element in the tuple.

    OUTPUTS:
      wmean, werr: A tuple of the weighted mean and error. If sdev=True the
         tuple will also contain sdev: wmean,werr,wsdev

    REVISION HISTORY:
      Converted from IDL: 2006-10-23. Erin Sheldon, NYU