Chi-Squared Distribution Random Number Generator

The chi-squared distribution with k degrees of freedom, denoted χ2k is the distribution of the sum of the squares of k normally distributed random variables (with mean 0 and variance 1). Chi-squared distributions are often encountered when studying multiple data sets whose elements come from a normal distribution. Statistical hypothesis testing is another application. You can use the calculator below to generate random variables from a χ2k distribution.

Degrees of Freedom =       N =
Decimal Precision
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The PDF of the chi-squared distribution is
The theoretical mean, median, mode, variance, and skewness of the chi-squared distribution depend solely on the value of k. The equations are

mean = k
mode = 0 if k < 3, k-2 otherwise
variance = 2k
skew = sqrt(8/k)

There is no closed form of the median of the χ2k distribution, Med(k). However, it can be approximated with the following equation:

Med(k) = 0.455 for k = 1,
Med(k) = 1.386 for k = 2,
Med(k) = k(1 - 0.224/k)³ for k > 2


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