On this page:
9.5.1 Beta Distributions
Beta-Dist
beta-dist
beta-dist-alpha
beta-dist-beta
9.5.2 Cauchy Distributions
Cauchy-Dist
cauchy-dist
cauchy-dist-mode
cauchy-dist-scale
9.5.3 Delta Distributions
Delta-Dist
delta-dist
delta-dist-mean
9.5.4 Exponential Distributions
Exponential-Dist
exponential-dist
exponential-dist-mean
9.5.5 Gamma Distributions
Gamma-Dist
gamma-dist
gamma-dist-shape
gamma-dist-scale
9.5.6 Logistic Distributions
Logistic-Dist
logistic-dist
logistic-dist-mean
logistic-dist-scale
9.5.7 Normal Distributions
Normal-Dist
normal-dist
normal-dist-mean
normal-dist-stddev
9.5.8 Triangular Distributions
Triangle-Dist
triangle-dist
triangle-dist-min
triangle-dist-max
triangle-dist-mode
9.5.9 Truncated Distributions
Truncated-Dist
truncated-dist
truncated-dist-original
truncated-dist-min
truncated-dist-max
9.5.10 Uniform Distributions
Uniform-Dist
uniform-dist
uniform-dist-min
uniform-dist-max

9.5 Real Distribution Families

The distribution object constructors documented in this section return uniquely defined distributions for the largest possible parameter domain. This usually means that they return distributions for a larger domain than their mathematical counterparts are defined on.

For example, those that have a scale parameter, such as cauchy-dist, logistic-dist, exponential-dist and normal-dist, are typically undefined for a zero scale. However, in floating-point math, it is often useful to simulate limits in finite time using special values like +inf.0. Therefore, when a scale-parameterized family’s constructor receives 0, it returns a distribution object that behaves like a Delta-Dist:
> (pdf (normal-dist 1 0) 1)

+inf.0

> (pdf (normal-dist 1 0) 1.0000001)

0.0

Further, negative scales are accepted, even for exponential-dist, which results in a distribution with positive scale reflected about zero.

Some parameters’ boundary values give rise to non-unique limits. Sometimes the ambiguity can be resolved using necessary properties; see Gamma-Dist for an example. When no resolution exists, as with (beta-dist 0 0), which puts an indeterminate probability on the value 0 and the rest on 1, the constructor returns an undefined distribution.

Some distribution object constructors attempt to return sensible distributions when given special values such as +inf.0 as parameters. Do not count on these yet.

Many distribution families, such as Gamma-Dist, can be parameterized on either scale or rate (which is the reciprocal of scale). In all such cases, the implementations provided by math/distributions are parameterized on scale.

9.5.1 Beta Distributions

Wikipedia: Beta Distribution.

syntax

Beta-Dist

procedure

(beta-dist alpha beta)  Beta-Dist

  alpha : Real
  beta : Real

procedure

(beta-dist-alpha d)  Flonum

  d : Beta-Dist

procedure

(beta-dist-beta d)  Flonum

  d : Beta-Dist
Represents the beta distribution family parameterized by two shape parameters, or pseudocounts, which must both be nonnegative.

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([α  (in-list '(1 2 3 1/2))]
                   [β  (in-list '(1 3 1 1/2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (beta-dist α β))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Beta(~a,~a)" α β)))
        #:x-min 0 #:x-max 1 #:y-max 4 #:y-label "density")

image

> (plot (for/list ([α  (in-list '(1 2 3 1/2))]
                   [β  (in-list '(1 3 1 1/2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (beta-dist α β))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Beta(~a,~a)" α β)))
        #:x-min 0 #:x-max 1 #:y-label "probability")

image

(beta-dist 0 0) and (beta-dist +inf.0 +inf.0) are undefined distributions.

When a = 0 or b = +inf.0, the returned distribution acts like (delta-dist 0).

When a = +inf.0 or b = 0, the returned distribution acts like (delta-dist 1).

9.5.2 Cauchy Distributions

syntax

Cauchy-Dist

procedure

(cauchy-dist [mode scale])  Cauchy-Dist

  mode : Real = 0
  scale : Real = 1

procedure

(cauchy-dist-mode d)  Flonum

  d : Cauchy-Dist

procedure

(cauchy-dist-scale d)  Flonum

  d : Cauchy-Dist
Represents the Cauchy distribution family parameterized by mode and scale.

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([m  (in-list '(0 -1 0 2))]
                   [s  (in-list '(1 1/2 2.25 0.7))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (cauchy-dist m s))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Cauchy(~a,~a)" m s)))
        #:x-min -8 #:x-max 8 #:y-label "density"
        #:legend-anchor 'top-right)

image

> (plot (for/list ([m  (in-list '(0 -1 0 2))]
                   [s  (in-list '(1 1/2 2.25 0.7))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (cauchy-dist m s))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Cauchy(~a,~a)" m s)))
        #:x-min -8 #:x-max 8 #:y-label "probability")

image

9.5.3 Delta Distributions

syntax

Delta-Dist

procedure

(delta-dist [mean])  Delta-Dist

  mean : Real = 0

procedure

(delta-dist-mean d)  Flonum

  d : Delta-Dist
Represents the family of distributions whose densities are Dirac delta functions.

Examples:
> (pdf (delta-dist) 0)

+inf.0

> (pdf (delta-dist) 1)

0.0

> (plot (for/list ([μ  (in-list '(-1 0 1))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (delta-dist μ))
                    #:color i #:style i #:label (format "δ(~a)" μ)))
        #:x-min -2 #:x-max 2 #:y-label "probability")

image

9.5.4 Exponential Distributions

syntax

Exponential-Dist

procedure

(exponential-dist [mean])  Exponential-Dist

  mean : Real = 1

procedure

(exponential-dist-mean d)  Flonum

  d : Exponential-Dist
Represents the exponential distribution family parameterized by mean, or scale.

Warning: The exponential distribution family is often parameterized by rate, which is the reciprocal of mean or scale. Construct exponential distributions from rates using

(exponential-dist (/ 1.0 rate))

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([μ  (in-list '(2/3 1 2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (exponential-dist μ))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Exponential(~a)" μ)))
        #:x-min 0 #:x-max 5 #:y-label "density"
        #:legend-anchor 'top-right)

image

> (plot (for/list ([μ  (in-list '(2/3 1 2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (exponential-dist μ))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Exponential(~a)" μ)))
        #:x-min 0 #:x-max 5 #:y-label "probability"
        #:legend-anchor 'bottom-right)

image

9.5.5 Gamma Distributions

Wikipedia: Gamma Distribution.

syntax

Gamma-Dist

procedure

(gamma-dist [shape scale])  Gamma-Dist

  shape : Real = 1
  scale : Real = 1

procedure

(gamma-dist-shape d)  Flonum

  d : Gamma-Dist

procedure

(gamma-dist-scale d)  Flonum

  d : Gamma-Dist
Represents the gamma distribution family parameterized by shape and scale. The shape parameter must be nonnegative.

Warning: The gamma distribution family is often parameterized by shape and rate, which is the reciprocal of scale. Construct gamma distributions from rates using

(gamma-dist shape (/ 1.0 rate))

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([k  (in-list '(1 2 3 9))]
                   [s  (in-list '(2 2 3 1/2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (gamma-dist k s))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Gamma(~a,~a)" k s)))
        #:x-min 0 #:x-max 15 #:y-label "density"
        #:legend-anchor 'top-right)

image

> (plot (for/list ([k  (in-list '(1 2 3 9))]
                   [s  (in-list '(2 2 3 1/2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (gamma-dist k s))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Gamma(~a,~a)" k s)))
        #:x-min 0 #:x-max 15 #:y-label "probability"
        #:legend-anchor 'bottom-right)

image

The cdf of the gamma distribution with shape = 0 could return either 0.0 or 1.0 at x = 0, depending on whether a double limit is taken with respect to scale or with respect to x first. However the limits are taken, the cdf must return 1.0 for x > 0. Because cdfs are right-continuous, the only correct choice is
> (cdf (gamma-dist 0 1) 0)

1.0

Therefore, a gamma distribution with shape = 0 behaves like (delta-dist 0).

9.5.6 Logistic Distributions

syntax

Logistic-Dist

procedure

(logistic-dist [mean scale])  Logistic-Dist

  mean : Real = 0
  scale : Real = 1

procedure

(logistic-dist-mean d)  Flonum

  d : Logistic-Dist

procedure

(logistic-dist-scale d)  Flonum

  d : Logistic-Dist
Represents the logistic distribution family parameterized by mean (also called “location”) and scale. In this parameterization, the variance is (* 1/3 (sqr (* pi scale))).

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([μ  (in-list '(0 -1 0 2))]
                   [s  (in-list '(1 1/2 2.25 0.7))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (logistic-dist μ s))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Logistic(~a,~a)" μ s)))
        #:x-min -8 #:x-max 8 #:y-label "density"
        #:legend-anchor 'top-right)

image

> (plot (for/list ([μ  (in-list '(0 -1 0 2))]
                   [s  (in-list '(1 1/2 2.25 0.7))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (logistic-dist μ s))
                    #:color i #:label (format "Logistic(~a,~a)" μ s)))
        #:x-min -8 #:x-max 8 #:y-label "probability")

image

9.5.7 Normal Distributions

syntax

Normal-Dist

procedure

(normal-dist [mean stddev])  Normal-Dist

  mean : Real = 0
  stddev : Real = 1

procedure

(normal-dist-mean d)  Flonum

  d : Normal-Dist

procedure

(normal-dist-stddev d)  Flonum

  d : Normal-Dist
Represents the normal distribution family parameterized by mean and standard deviation.

Warning: The normal distribution family is often parameterized by mean and variance, which is the square of standard deviation. Construct normal distributions from variances using

(normal-dist mean (sqrt var))

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([μ  (in-list '(0 -1 0 2))]
                   [σ  (in-list '(1 1/2 2.25 0.7))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (normal-dist μ σ))
                    #:color i #:label (format "N(~a,~a)" μ σ)))
        #:x-min -5 #:x-max 5 #:y-label "density")

image

> (plot (for/list ([μ  (in-list '(0 -1 0 2))]
                   [σ  (in-list '(1 1/2 2.25 0.7))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (normal-dist μ σ))
                    #:color i #:label (format "N(~a,~a)" μ σ)))
        #:x-min -5 #:x-max 5 #:y-label "probability")

image

9.5.8 Triangular Distributions

syntax

Triangle-Dist

procedure

(triangle-dist [min max mode])  Triangle-Dist

  min : Real = 0
  max : Real = 1
  mode : Real = (* 0.5 (+ min max))

procedure

(triangle-dist-min d)  Flonum

  d : Triangle-Dist

procedure

(triangle-dist-max d)  Flonum

  d : Triangle-Dist

procedure

(triangle-dist-mode d)  Flonum

  d : Triangle-Dist
Represents the triangular distribution family parameterized by minimum, maximum and mode.

If min, mode and max are not in ascending order, they are sorted before constructing the distribution object.

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([a  (in-list '(-3 -1 -2))]
                   [b  (in-list '(0 1 3))]
                   [m  (in-list '(-2 0 2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (triangle-dist a b m)) #:color i
                    #:label (format "Triangle(~a,~a,~a)" a b m)))
        #:x-min -3.5 #:x-max 3.5 #:y-label "density")

image

> (plot (for/list ([a  (in-list '(-3 -1 -2))]
                   [b  (in-list '(0 1 3))]
                   [m  (in-list '(-2 0 2))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (triangle-dist a b m)) #:color i
                    #:label (format "Triangle(~a,~a,~a)" a b m)))
        #:x-min -3.5 #:x-max 3.5 #:y-label "probability")

image

(triangle-dist c c c) for any real c behaves like a support-limited delta distribution centered at c.

9.5.9 Truncated Distributions

syntax

Truncated-Dist

procedure

(truncated-dist d)  Truncated-Dist

  d : Real-Dist
(truncated-dist d max)  Truncated-Dist
  d : Real-Dist
  max : Real
(truncated-dist d min max)  Truncated-Dist
  d : Real-Dist
  min : Real
  max : Real

procedure

(truncated-dist-original t)  Real-Dist

  t : Truncated-Dist

procedure

(truncated-dist-min t)  Flonum

  t : Truncated-Dist

procedure

(truncated-dist-max t)  Flonum

  t : Truncated-Dist
Represents distributions like d, but with zero density for x < min and for x > max. The probability of the interval [min, max] is renormalized to one.

(truncated-dist d) is equivalent to (truncated-dist d -inf.0 +inf.0). (truncated-dist d max) is equivalent to (truncated-dist d -inf.0 max). If min > max, they are swapped before constructing the distribution object.

Samples are taken by applying the truncated distribution’s inverse cdf to uniform samples.

Examples:
> (define d (normal-dist))
> (define t (truncated-dist d -2 1))
> t

(truncated-dist (normal-dist 0.0 1.0) -2.0 1.0)

> (plot (list (function (distribution-pdf d) #:label "N(0,1)" #:color 0)
              (function (distribution-pdf t) #:label "T(N(0,1),-2,1)"))
        #:x-min -3.5 #:x-max 3.5 #:y-label "density")

image

> (plot (list (function (ordered-dist-cdf d) #:label "N(0,1)" #:color 0)
              (function (ordered-dist-cdf t) #:label "T(N(0,1),-2,1)"))
        #:x-min -3.5 #:x-max 3.5 #:y-label "probability")

image

9.5.10 Uniform Distributions

Wikipedia: Uniform Distribution.

syntax

Uniform-Dist

procedure

(uniform-dist)  Uniform-Dist

(uniform-dist max)  Uniform-Dist
  max : Real
(uniform-dist min max)  Uniform-Dist
  min : Real
  max : Real

procedure

(uniform-dist-min d)  Flonum

  d : Uniform-Dist

procedure

(uniform-dist-max d)  Flonum

  d : Uniform-Dist
Represents the uniform distribution family parameterized by minimum and maximum.

(uniform-dist) is equivalent to (uniform-dist 0 1). (uniform-dist max) is equivalent to (uniform-dist 0 max). If max < min, they are swapped before constructing the distribution object.

Examples:
> (plot (for/list ([a  (in-list '(-3 -1 -2))]
                   [b  (in-list '(0 1 3))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (distribution-pdf (uniform-dist a b)) #:color i
                    #:label (format "Uniform(~a,~a)" a b)))
        #:x-min -3.5 #:x-max 3.5 #:y-label "density")

image

> (plot (for/list ([a  (in-list '(-3 -1 -2))]
                   [b  (in-list '(0 1 3))]
                   [i  (in-naturals)])
          (function (ordered-dist-cdf (uniform-dist a b)) #:color i
                    #:label (format "Uniform(~a,~a)" a b)))
        #:x-min -3.5 #:x-max 3.5 #:y-label "probability")

image

(uniform-dist x x) for any real x behaves like a support-limited delta distribution centered at x.