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Statistical Glossary

Beta Distribution:

Suppose x1, x2, ... , xn are n independent values of a random variable uniformly distributed within the interval [0,1]. If you sort the values in ascending order, then the k-th value will have a beta distribution with parameters a = k, b = n-k+1. The density of beta distribution is given by


f(x) = ì
ï
í
ï
î
 G(a+ b)

G(a) G(b)
xa-1 (1-x)b-1,
x Î [0,1]
0,
x Ï [0,1]

where a > 0, b > 0; G(·) is the gamma function.

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