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Pareto Distribution

#include <boost/math/distributions/pareto.hpp>
namespace boost{ namespace math{

template <class RealType = double,
          class Policy   = policies::policy<> >
class pareto_distribution;

typedef pareto_distribution<> pareto;

template <class RealType, class Policy>
class pareto_distribution
{
public:
   typedef RealType value_type;
   // Constructor:
   pareto_distribution(RealType scale = 1, RealType shape = 1)
   // Accessors:
   RealType scale()const;
   RealType shape()const;
};

}} // namespaces

The Pareto distribution is a continuous distribution with the probability density function (pdf):

f(x; α, β) = αβα / xα+ 1

For shape parameter α   > 0, and scale parameter β   > 0. If x < β  , the pdf is zero.

The Pareto distribution often describes the larger compared to the smaller. A classic example is that 80% of the wealth is owned by 20% of the population.

The following graph illustrates how the PDF varies with the scale parameter β:

And this graph illustrates how the PDF varies with the shape parameter α:

Related distributions
Member Functions
pareto_distribution(RealType scale = 1, RealType shape = 1);

Constructs a pareto distribution with shape shape and scale scale.

Requires that the shape and scale parameters are both greater than zero, otherwise calls domain_error.

RealType scale()const;

Returns the scale parameter of this distribution.

RealType shape()const;

Returns the shape parameter of this distribution.

Non-member Accessors

All the usual non-member accessor functions that are generic to all distributions are supported: Cumulative Distribution Function, Probability Density Function, Quantile, Hazard Function, Cumulative Hazard Function, mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, kurtosis_excess, range and support.

The supported domain of the random variable is [scale, ∞].

Accuracy

The Pareto distribution is implemented in terms of the standard library exp functions plus expm1 and so should have very small errors, usually only a few epsilon.

If probability is near to unity (or the complement of a probability near zero) see also why complements?.

Implementation

In the following table α   is the shape parameter of the distribution, and β   is its scale parameter, x is the random variate, p is the probability and its complement q = 1-p.

Function

Implementation Notes

pdf

Using the relation: pdf p = αβα/xα +1

cdf

Using the relation: cdf p = 1 - (β   / x)α

cdf complement

Using the relation: q = 1 - p = -(β   / x)α

quantile

Using the relation: x = β / (1 - p)1/α

quantile from the complement

Using the relation: x = β / (q)1/α

mean

αβ / (β - 1)

variance

βα2 / (β - 1)2 (β - 2)

mode

α

skewness

Refer to Weisstein, Eric W. "Pareto Distribution." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource.

kurtosis

Refer to Weisstein, Eric W. "Pareto Distribution." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource.

kurtosis excess

Refer to Weisstein, Eric W. "pareto Distribution." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource.

References

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