A Note on the Computation of the Cumulative Distribution Function of the Noncentral F Distribution

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Statistics & Operations Research, Kuwait University, Kuwait.

2 Department of Biostatistics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A

Abstract

In this paper a computationally simple method is proposed for approximating the cumulative distribution function (c.d.f.) of the noncentral F distribution. A closed form expression for evaluating an incomplete beta integral is derived. Recursive formulas are obtained for computing products of the Poison probabilities and incomplete beta functions involved in an infinite series representing the c.d.f. of the noncentral F distribution. The proposed technique can easily be implemented on personal computers.

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