Chapter 11: Probability Distribution Functions and Inverses

gamma_inverse_cdf

Evaluates the inverse of the gamma distribution function.

Synopsis

#include <imsls.h>

float imsls_f_gamma_inverse_cdf (float p, float a)

The type double function is imsls_d_gamma_inverse_cdf.

Required Arguments

float p (Input)
Probability for which the inverse of the gamma distribution function is to be evaluated. p must be in the open interval (0.0, 1.0).

float a (Input)
The shape parameter of the gamma distribution.  This parameter must be positive.

Return Value

The probability that a gamma random variable takes a value less than or equal to the returned value is p.

Description

Function imsls_f_gamma_inverse_cdf evaluates the inverse distribution function of a gamma random variable with shape parameter a, that is, it determines x (=imsls_f_gamma_inverse_cdf (p, a)), such that

where G(×) is the gamma function. The probability that the random variable takes a value less than or equal to x is P. See the documentation for function imsls_f_gamma_cdf for further discussion of the gamma distribution.

Function imsls_f_gamma_inverse_cdf uses bisection and modified regula falsi to invert the distribution function, which is evaluated using function imsls_f_gamma_cdf.

Example

In this example, we find the 95-th percentage point for a gamma random variable with shape parameter of 4.

 

include "imsls.h"

void main()

{

  float p = .95, a = 4.0, x;

  x = imsls_f_gamma_inverse_cdf(p,a);

  printf("The 0.05 gamma(4) critical value is %6.4f\n", x);

}

Output

The 0.05 gamma(4) critical value is 7.7537


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