GAMMADIST

GAMMADIST

Returns the gamma distribution. You can use this function to study variables that may have a skewed distribution. The gamma distribution is commonly used in queuing analysis.

Syntax

GAMMADIST(x,alpha,beta,cumulative)

X   is the value at which you want to evaluate the distribution.

Alpha   is a parameter to the distribution.

Beta   is a parameter to the distribution. If beta = 1, GAMMADIST returns the standard gamma distribution.

Cumulative   is a logical value that determines the form of the function. If cumulative is TRUE, GAMMADIST returns the cumulative distribution function; if FALSE, it returns the probability mass function.

Remarks

  • If x, alpha, or beta is nonnumeric, GAMMADIST returns the #VALUE! error value.
  • If x < 0, GAMMADIST returns the #NUM! error value.
  • If alpha £ 0 or if beta £ 0, GAMMADIST returns the #NUM! error value.
  • The equation for the gamma distribution is:

    The standard gamma distribution is:

  • When alpha = 1, GAMMADIST returns the exponential distribution with:

  • For a positive integer n, when alpha = n/2, beta = 2, and cumulative = TRUE, GAMMADIST returns (1 - CHIDIST(x)) with n degrees of freedom.
  • When alpha is a positive integer, GAMMADIST is also known as the Erlang distribution.

Examples

GAMMADIST(10,9,2,FALSE) equals 0.032639

GAMMADIST(10,9,2,TRUE) equals 0.068094