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One of the most important special cases of the gamma distribution is the chi-square
distribution because the sum of the squares of independent normal random variables with
mean zero and standard deviation one has a chi-square distribution. This section collects
some basic properties of chi-square random variables, all of which are well known; see
Hogg and Tanis [6].
A random variable X has a chi-square distribution with n degrees of freedom if it is a
gamma random variable with parameters m = n/2 and = 2, i.e X ~ (n/2,2). Therefore,
its probability density function (pdf) has the form
(1)
f(t) = f(t; n) =
In this case we shall say X is a chi-square random variable with n degrees of freedom and
write X ~ (n). Usually n is assumed to be an integer, but we only assume n > 0.
Proposition 1. If X has a gamma distribution with parameters m and then 2X/ has a
chi-square distribution with 2m degrees of freedom.
Proof. By Proposition 5 in section 2.2 the random variable X has a gamma distribution
with parameters m and 2, i.e X ~ (m,2) = ((2m)/2,2). The proposition follows from
this.
2.3 - 1
Proof. Since X ~ (n/2,2) it follows from Proposition 2 of section 2.2 that X = (n/2)(2) =
n. One has Y/ = X where X has a chi-square distribution with n degrees of freedom.
Therefore E(Y) = E(X) = E(X) = n.
L(s) =
M(r) =
Proof. Since X ~ (n/2,2) this follows from Proposition 6 of section 2.2.
Proposition 7. Let Z1, , Zn be independent normal random variables with mean zero
and standard deviation one and let S = Z12 + + Zn2. Then S has a chi square distribution
with n degrees of freedom.
Proof. First consider the case n = 1, i.e. S =Z2 where Z is a normal random variable with
mean zero and standard deviation one. Let F(s) = Pr{S s} be the distribution function
of S. Then for s > 0 one has
F(s) = Pr{U2 s} = Pr{ - } =
where g(u) is the density function of Z. Therefore, the density function of S is
(19)
f(s) =
= =
This is a gamma random variable with parameters m = 1/2 and = 2.so the result is true
for n = 1. The case of general n follows from Proposition 5.
Corollary 8. Let V1, , Vn be independent normal random variables with mean zero and
standard deviation and let W = V12 + + Vn2. Then W/2 has a chi-square distribution
with n degrees of freedom and W is a gamma random variable with parameters n/2 and
22.
Proof. Vj = Zj where the Zj are independent normal random variables with mean zero
and standard deviation 1. So W = 2S where S = Z12 + + Zn2. By Proposition 7, S has a
chi-square distribution with n degrees of freedom and the result follows.
2.3 - 3
Corollary 9. Let U1, , Un be independent normal random variables with mean and
standard deviation and let W = (U1 - )2 + + (Un - )2. Then W/2 has a chi-square
distribution with n degrees of freedom.
Theorem 10. Let U1, , Un be independent normal random variables with the same
mean and standard deviation and let = (U1 + + Un)/n and Then W has a chi square
distribution with n 1 degrees of freedom and W is a gamma random variable with
parameters (n-1)/2 and 22.
The proof of this is more involved; see Rao [11, p. 147].
Let X have a chi-square distribution with n degrees of freedom and let
G(t) = G(t;n) =
m(t) =
be the upper incomplete gamma function and
m(t) =
be the lower incomplete gamma function.
Theorem 11.
G(t;m,) =
Proof. Since X ~ (n/2,2) this follows from Proposition 7 of section 2.2.
2.3 - 4