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KernelDistribution

Kernel probability distribution object

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Description

A KernelDistribution object consists of parameters, a model description, and sample data for a nonparametric kernel-smoothing distribution.

The kernel distribution is a nonparametric estimation of the probability density function (pdf) of a random variable.

The kernel distribution uses the following options.

OptionDescriptionPossible Values
KernelKernel function typenormal, box, triangle, epanechnikov
BandwidthKernel smoothing parameterBandwidth > 0

Creation

There are several ways to create a KernelDistribution probability distribution object.

Properties

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Distribution Parameters

Kernel function type, specified as a valid kernel function type name.

Bandwidth of the kernel smoothing window, specified as a positive scalar value.

Data Types: single | double

Distribution Characteristics

This property is read-only.

Logical flag for truncated distribution, specified as a logical value. If IsTruncated equals 0, the distribution is not truncated. If IsTruncated equals 1, the distribution is truncated.

Data Types: logical

This property is read-only.

Truncation interval for the probability distribution, specified as a vector of scalar values containing the lower and upper truncation boundaries.

Data Types: single | double

Other Object Properties

This property is read-only.

Probability distribution name, specified as a character vector.

Data Types: char

This property is read-only.

Data used for distribution fitting, specified as a structure containing the following:

  • data: Data vector used for distribution fitting.

  • cens: Censoring vector, or empty if none.

  • freq: Frequency vector, or empty if none.

Data Types: struct

Object Functions

cdfCumulative distribution function
gatherGather properties of Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox object from GPU
icdfInverse cumulative distribution function
iqrInterquartile range of probability distribution
meanMean of probability distribution
medianMedian of probability distribution
negloglikNegative loglikelihood of probability distribution
pdfProbability density function
plotPlot probability distribution object
randomRandom numbers
stdStandard deviation of probability distribution
truncateTruncate probability distribution object
varVariance of probability distribution

Examples

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Open Live Script

Load the sample data. Visualize the patient weight data using a histogram. 

load hospital
histogram(hospital.Weight)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object contains an object of type histogram.

The histogram shows that the data has two modes, one for female patients and one for male patients.

Create a probability distribution object by fitting a kernel distribution to the patient weight data. 

pd_kernel = fitdist(hospital.Weight,'Kernel')
pd_kernel = 
  KernelDistribution

    Kernel = normal
    Bandwidth = 14.3792
    Support = unbounded

For comparison, create another probability distribution object by fitting a normal distribution to the patient weight data. 

pd_normal = fitdist(hospital.Weight,'Normal')
pd_normal = 
  NormalDistribution

  Normal distribution
       mu =     154   [148.728, 159.272]
    sigma = 26.5714   [23.3299, 30.8674]

Define the x values and compute the pdf of each distribution. 

x = 50:1:250;
pdf_kernel = pdf(pd_kernel,x);
pdf_normal = pdf(pd_normal,x);

Plot the pdf of each distribution. 

plot(x,pdf_kernel,'Color','b','LineWidth',2);
hold on;
plot(x,pdf_normal,'Color','r','LineStyle',':','LineWidth',2);
legend('Kernel Distribution','Normal Distribution','Location','SouthEast');
hold off;

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object contains 2 objects of type line. These objects represent Kernel Distribution, Normal Distribution.

Fitting a kernel distribution instead of a unimodal distribution such as the normal reveals the separate modes for the female and male patients.

Extended Capabilities

Version History

Introduced in R2013a

See Also

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