chi-square distribution

Noun

chi-square distribution (plural chi-square distributions)

1. A probability distribution widely used in inferential statistics.
   • The chi-square distribution with ν degrees of freedom is defined to be the distribution of the sum of ν independent squared random variables, each having the standard normal distribution.1992, Harold R. Lindman, Analysis of Variance in Experimental Design, Springer, Softcover Reprint, page 7
   • The family of chi-square distributions, like the "Student's" t distributions, has an infinite number of members, one for each number of degrees of freedom.2003, Chin Long Chiang, Statistical Methods of Analysis, World Scientific Publishing, page 204

   Synonyms:

   central chi-square distribution