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Is there closed formula to calculate the probability of beta distribution?

Mathematics Asked by vesii on December 16, 2020

Part of my investigation of the properties of the beta distribution, I was trying to figure if for $Xsim Beta(a,b)$ is there a closed formula for $P(X>x)$, $P(X<x)$ and $P(X=x)$? For example, if $Xsimexp(lambda)$ then we know that $P(X >a)=e^{-lambda a}$ and $P(Xleq a)=1-e^{-lambda a}$. Is there something similar for beta distribution?

One Answer

In general, we need a special function for $P(Xle x)$. However, if $a$ and/or $b$ is a positive integer, we can obtain a closed-form solution (indeed, if both are positive integers it's a polynomial). Suppose $a$ is an integer:$$begin{align}int_0^x(1-t)^{b-1}dt&=frac{1-(1-x)^b}{b},\int_0^xt^{c+1}(1-t)^{b-1}dt&=int_0^xt^c(1-t)^{b-1}dt-int_0^xt^c(1-t)^bdt.end{align}$$Further, the normalization constant that ensures probabilities sum to $1$ will still be a value of the Beta function. Suppose $a$ is an integer:$$operatorname{B}(1,,b)=frac1b,,frac{operatorname{B}(c+1,,b)}{operatorname{B}(c,,b)}=frac{c}{b+c}.$$

Answered by J.G. on December 16, 2020

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