makedist

Create probability distribution object

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Syntax

pd = makedist(distname)
pd = makedist(distname,Name,Value)
list = makedist
makedist -reset

Description

pd = makedist(distname) creates a probability distribution object for the distribution distname, using the default parameter values.

example

pd = makedist(distname,Name,Value) creates a probability distribution object with one or more distribution parameter values specified by name-value pair arguments.

example

list = makedist returns a cell array list containing a list of the probability distributions that makedist can create.

makedist -reset resets the list of distributions by searching the path for files contained in a namespace named prob and implementing classes derived from ProbabilityDistribution. Use this syntax after you define a custom distribution function. For details, see Define Custom Distributions Using the Distribution Fitter App.

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create a normal distribution object using the default parameter values, which correspond to the parameters of the standard normal distribution.

pd = makedist('Normal')
pd = 
  NormalDistribution

  Normal distribution
       mu = 0
    sigma = 1

You can use the object functions of pd to evaluate the distribution and generate random numbers. Display the supported object functions.

methods(pd)
Methods for class prob.NormalDistribution:

cdf        gather     icdf       iqr        mean       median     negloglik  paramci    pdf        plot       proflik    random     std        truncate   var

For example, compute the interquartile range of the distribution by using the iqr function.

r = iqr(pd)
r = 
1.3490
Open Live Script

Create a gamma distribution object using the default parameter values. 

pd = makedist('Gamma')
pd = 
  GammaDistribution

  Gamma distribution
    a = 1
    b = 1

Compute the mean of the gamma distribution. 

mean = mean(pd)
mean = 
1
Open Live Script

Create a normal distribution object with parameter values mu = 75 and sigma = 10.

pd = makedist('Normal','mu',75,'sigma',10)
pd = 
  NormalDistribution

  Normal distribution
       mu = 75
    sigma = 10
Open Live Script

Create a gamma distribution object with the parameter value a = 3 and the default value b = 1. 

pd = makedist('Gamma','a',3)
pd = 
  GammaDistribution

  Gamma distribution
    a = 3
    b = 1

Input Arguments

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Distribution name, specified as one of the following character vectors or string scalars. The distribution specified by distname determines the type of the returned probability distribution object.

Distribution NameDescriptionDistribution Object
'Beta'Beta distributionBetaDistribution
'Binomial'Binomial distributionBinomialDistribution
'BirnbaumSaunders'Birnbaum-Saunders distributionBirnbaumSaundersDistribution
'Burr'Burr distributionBurrDistribution
'Exponential'Exponential distributionExponentialDistribution
'ExtremeValue'Extreme Value distributionExtremeValueDistribution
'Gamma'Gamma distributionGammaDistribution
'GeneralizedExtremeValue'Generalized Extreme Value distributionGeneralizedExtremeValueDistribution
'GeneralizedPareto'Generalized Pareto distributionGeneralizedParetoDistribution
'HalfNormal'Half-normal distributionHalfNormalDistribution
'InverseGaussian'Inverse Gaussian distributionInverseGaussianDistribution
'Logistic'Logistic distributionLogisticDistribution
'Loglogistic'Loglogistic distributionLoglogisticDistribution
'Lognormal'Lognormal distributionLognormalDistribution
'Loguniform'Loguniform distributionLoguniformDistribution
'Multinomial'Multinomial distributionMultinomialDistribution
'Nakagami'Nakagami distributionNakagamiDistribution
'NegativeBinomial'Negative Binomial distributionNegativeBinomialDistribution
'Normal'Normal distributionNormalDistribution
'Pearson'Pearson distributionPearsonDistribution
'PiecewiseLinear'Piecewise Linear distributionPiecewiseLinearDistribution
'Poisson'Poisson distributionPoissonDistribution
'Rayleigh'Rayleigh distributionRayleighDistribution
'Rician'Rician distributionRicianDistribution
'Stable'Stable distributionStableDistribution
'tLocationScale't Location-Scale distributiontLocationScaleDistribution
'Triangular'Triangular distributionTriangularDistribution
'Uniform'Uniform distributionUniformDistribution
'Weibull'Weibull distributionWeibullDistribution

Name-Value Arguments

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Specify optional pairs of arguments as Name1=Value1,...,NameN=ValueN, where Name is the argument name and Value is the corresponding value. Name-value arguments must appear after other arguments, but the order of the pairs does not matter.

Before R2021a, use commas to separate each name and value, and enclose Name in quotes.

Example: makedist('Normal','mu',10) specifies a normal distribution with parameter mu equal to 10, and parameter sigma equal to the default value of 1.

Beta Distribution

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First shape parameter of a beta distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Beta'.

Example: 'a',3

Data Types: single | double

Second shape parameter of a beta distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Beta'.

Example: 'b',5

Data Types: single | double

Binomial Distribution

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Number of trials for a binomial distribution, specified as a positive integer value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Binomial'.

Example: 'N',25

Data Types: single | double

Probability of success of any individual trial for a binomial distribution, specified as a scalar value in the range [0,1]. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Binomial'.

Example: 'p',0.25

Data Types: single | double

Birnbaum-Saunders Distribution

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Scale parameter of a Birnbaum-Saunders distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'BirnbaumSaunders'.

Example: 'beta',2

Data Types: single | double

Shape parameter of a Birnbaum-Saunders distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'BirnbaumSaunders'.

Example: 'gamma',0.5

Data Types: single | double

Burr Distribution

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Scale parameter of a Burr distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Burr'.

Example: 'alpha',2

Data Types: single | double

First shape parameter of a Burr distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Burr'.

Example: 'c',2

Data Types: single | double

Second shape parameter of a Burr distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Burr'.

Example: 'k',5

Data Types: single | double

Exponential Distribution

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Mean of an exponential distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Exponential'.

Example: 'mu',5

Data Types: single | double

Extreme Value Distribution

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Location parameter of an extreme value distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'ExtremeValue'.

Example: 'mu',-2

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of an extreme value distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'ExtremeValue'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Gamma Distribution

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Shape parameter of a gamma distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Gamma'.

Example: 'a',2

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a gamma distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Gamma'.

Example: 'b',0

Data Types: single | double

Generalized Extreme Value Distribution

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Shape parameter of a generalized extreme value distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'GeneralizedExtremeValue'.

Example: 'k',0

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a generalized extreme value distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'GeneralizedExtremeValue'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Location parameter of a generalized extreme value distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'GeneralizedExtremeValue'.

Example: 'mu',1

Data Types: single | double

Generalized Pareto Distribution

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Shape parameter of a generalized Pareto distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'GeneralizedPareto'.

Example: 'k',0

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a generalized Pareto distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'GeneralizedPareto'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Location (threshold) parameter of a generalized Pareto distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'GeneralizedPareto'.

Example: 'theta',2

Data Types: single | double

Half-Normal Distribution

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Location parameter of a half-normal distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'HalfNormal'.

Example: 'mu',1

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a half-normal distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'HalfNormal'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Inverse Gaussian Distribution

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Scale parameter of an inverse Gaussian distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'InverseGaussian'.

Example: 'mu',2

Data Types: single | double

Shape parameter of an inverse Gaussian distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'InverseGaussian'.

Example: 'lambda',4

Data Types: single | double

Logistic Distribution

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Mean of a logistic distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Logistic'.

Example: 'mu',2

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a logistic distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Logistic'.

Example: 'sigma',4

Data Types: single | double

Loglogistic Distribution

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Mean of logarithmic values for a loglogistic distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Loglogistic'.

Example: 'mu',2

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of logarithmic values for a loglogistic distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Loglogistic'.

Example: 'sigma',4

Data Types: single | double

Lognormal Distribution

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Mean of logarithmic values for a lognormal distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Lognormal'.

Example: 'mu',2

Data Types: single | double

Standard deviation of logarithmic values for a lognormal distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Lognormal'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Loguniform Distribution

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Lower limit for a loguniform distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Loguniform'.

Example: 'Lower',2

Data Types: single | double

Upper limit for a loguniform distribution, specified as a scalar value greater than Lower. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Loguniform'.

Example: 'Upper',6

Data Types: single | double

Multinomial Distribution

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Outcome probabilities for a multinomial distribution, specified as a vector of scalar values in the range [0,1]. The probabilities sum to 1 and correspond to outcomes [1, 2, ..., k], where k is the number of elements in the probabilities vector. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Multinomial'.

Example: 'Probabilities',[0.1 0.2 0.5 0.2] gives the probabilities that the outcome is 1, 2, 3, or 4, respectively.

Data Types: single | double

Nakagami Distribution

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Shape parameter of a Nakagami distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Nakagami'.

Example: 'mu',5

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a Nakagami distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Nakagami'.

Example: 'omega',5

Data Types: single | double

Negative Binomial Distribution

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Number of successes for a negative binomial distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'NegativeBinomial'.

Example: 'R',5

Data Types: single | double

Probability of success of any individual trial for a negative binomial distribution, specified as a scalar value in the range (0,1]. This argument is valid only when distname is 'NegativeBinomial'.

Example: 'P',0.1

Data Types: single | double

Normal Distribution

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Mean of a normal distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Normal'.

Example: 'mu',2

Data Types: single | double

Standard deviation of a normal distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Normal'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Piecewise Linear Distribution

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Data values at which the cumulative distribution function (cdf) changes slope for a piecewise linear distribution, specified as a monotonically increasing vector of scalar values. This argument is valid only when distname is 'PiecewiseLinear'.

Example: 'x',[1 2 3]

Data Types: single | double

cdf value at each value in x for a piecewise linear distribution, specified as a monotonically increasing vector of scalar values that start at 0 and end at 1. This argument is valid only when distname is 'PiecewiseLinear'.

Example: 'Fx',[0.2 0.5 1]

Data Types: single | double

Pearson Distribution

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Mean of the Pearson distribution, specified as a scalar. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Pearson'.

Example: 'mu',1

Data Types: single | double

Standard deviation of the Pearson distribution, specified as a positive scalar. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Pearson'.

Example: 'sigma',5

Data Types: single | double

Skewness for the Pearson distribution, specified as a scalar. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Pearson'. The value of gamma must be less than sqrt(kappa – 1). For more information, see Skewness.

Example: 'gamma',1

Data Types: single | double

Kurtosis for the Pearson distribution, specified as a scalar. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Pearson'. The value of kurt must be greater than gamma^2 + 1. For more information, see Kurtosis.

Example: 'kappa',3

Data Types: single | double

Poisson Distribution

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Mean of a Poisson distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Poisson'.

Example: 'lambda',5

Data Types: single | double

Rayleigh Distribution

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Defining parameter of a Rayleigh distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Rayleigh'.

Example: 'B',3

Data Types: single | double

Rician Distribution

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Noncentrality parameter of a Rician distribution, specified as a nonnegative scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Rician'.

Example: 's',0

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a Rician distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Rician'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Stable Distribution

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First shape parameter of a stable distribution, specified as a scalar value in the range (0,2]. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Stable'.

Example: 'alpha',1

Data Types: single | double

Second shape parameter of a stable distribution, specified as a scalar value in the range [–1,1]. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Stable'.

Example: 'beta',0.5

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a stable distribution, specified as a scalar value in the range (0,∞). This argument is valid only when distname is 'Stable'.

Example: 'gam',2

Data Types: single | double

Location parameter of a stable distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Stable'.

Example: 'delta',5

Data Types: single | double

t Location-Scale Distribution

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Location parameter of a t location-scale distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'tLocationScale'.

Example: 'mu',-2

Data Types: single | double

Scale parameter of a t location-scale distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'tLocationScale'.

Example: 'sigma',2

Data Types: single | double

Degrees of freedom of a t location-scale distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'tLocationScale'.

Example: 'nu',20

Data Types: single | double

Triangular Distribution

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Lower limit for a triangular distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Triangular'.

Example: 'A',-2

Data Types: single | double

Peak location for a triangular distribution, specified as a scalar value greater than or equal to A. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Triangular'.

Example: 'B',1

Data Types: single | double

Upper limit for a triangular distribution, specified as a scalar value greater than or equal to B. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Triangular'.

Example: 'C',5

Data Types: single | double

Uniform Distribution

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Lower limit for a uniform distribution, specified as a scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Uniform'.

Example: 'Lower',-4

Data Types: single | double

Upper limit for a uniform distribution, specified as a scalar value greater than Lower. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Uniform'.

Example: 'Upper',2

Data Types: single | double

Weibull Distribution

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Scale parameter of a Weibull distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Weibull'.

Example: 'A',2

Data Types: single | double

Shape parameter of a Weibull distribution, specified as a positive scalar value. This argument is valid only when distname is 'Weibull'.

Example: 'B',5

Data Types: single | double

Output Arguments

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Probability distribution, returned as a probability distribution object of the type specified by distname.

List of probability distributions that makedist can create, returned as a cell array of character vectors.

Alternative Functionality

App

The Distribution Fitter app opens a graphical user interface for you to import data from the workspace and interactively fit a probability distribution to that data. You can then save the distribution to the workspace as a probability distribution object. Open the Distribution Fitter app using distributionFitter at the command line, or click Distribution Fitter on the Apps tab.

Version History

Introduced in R2013a

See Also

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