Skip to main content

Generating Functions and Characteristic Functions

  • Chapter
Probability and Statistics in Experimental Physics

Part of the book series: Undergraduate Texts in Contemporary Physics ((UTCP))

Abstract

Generating and characteristic functions are of considerable use in theoretical probability, i.e., proving probability theorems. They are also of use to us when we wish to put two distributions together. Consider x = x1 + x2 +... + xn, where x1 is distributed according to one distribution, x2 according to another, etc. Sometimes the number of distributions is not fixed, but distributed according to some random distribution also. In the present chapter, we will consider several examples of applications of this kind.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Roe, B.P. (2001). Generating Functions and Characteristic Functions. In: Probability and Statistics in Experimental Physics. Undergraduate Texts in Contemporary Physics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-9296-5_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-9296-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-2895-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-9296-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics