Triangular Distribution

In probability theory and statistics, the triangular distribution is a continuous probability distribution with lower limit a, mode c and upper limit b.

The Triangular Distribution is typically used as a subjective description of a population for which there is only limited sample data, and especially in cases where the relationship between variables is known but data is scarce (possibly because of the high cost of collection). It is based on a knowledge of the minimum and maximum and an “inspired guess” as to the modal value.

The probability distribution function of the triangular distribution is:

f(x,a,b,c) =   

2(x-a)/((b-a)(c-a)), for a less than x⇐c   

2(b-x)/((b-a)(b-c)), for c less than x less than b   

0, otherwise

support a ⇐ x ⇐ b

ParameterDescription Default value
Min The minimum value 0.0
Max The maximum value 1.0
Mode The most likely value0.5