# Plotting the chi square distribution with TikZ

I have tried without success to plot the curve of the chi-squared distribution. Is there a generous soul who can come to my rescue.

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Show what you've tried so far in form of a minimal example and add this to your question. –  Thorsten Donig Jan 12 '12 at 20:33
Why haven't you accepted an answer? –  Magpie Jan 22 '13 at 19:11

If you can access gnuplot, you can try this. This is an adapted version of a gnuplot demo file.

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{axis}[%
xlabel = $x$,
ylabel = {Probability density},
samples = 200,
restrict y to domain = 0:0.5,
domain = 0.01:15]
\foreach \k in {0,...,8} {%
isint(x) = (int(x)==x);
log2 = 0.693147180559945;
chisq(x,k)=k<=0||!isint(k)?1/0:x<=0?0.0:exp((0.5*k-1.0)*log(x)-0.5*x-lgamma(0.5*k)-k*0.5*log2);
set xrange [1.00000e-10:15.0000];
set yrange [0.00000:0.500000];
samples=200;
plot chisq(x,\k)};
\addlegendentryexpanded{$k = \k$}}
\end{axis}
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

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To see a solution with LuaLaTeX, see here. –  Azoun Jan 15 '12 at 1:07

if you can use PSTricks, then it is easy. Run the example with xelatex

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{pst-plot,pst-func}
\begin{document}

\psset{xunit=1.2cm,yunit=10cm,plotpoints=200}
\begin{pspicture*}(-0.75,-0.05)(9.5,.65)
\multido{\rnue=0.5+0.5,\iblue=0+10}{10}{%
\psChiIIDist[linewidth=1pt,linecolor=blue!\iblue,nue=\rnue]{0.01}{9}}
\psaxes[Dy=0.1,ticksize=0 3pt]{->}(0,0)(9.5,.6)
\end{pspicture*}

\end{document}


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Thanks for taking the time to answer my request but when I run the code I have this message of error: ! Package xkeyval Error: plotpoints' undefined in families ,pstricks,pst-grad ,pst-slpe,pst-node,pst-fun'. See the xkeyval package documentation for explanation. Type H <return> for immediate help. ... l.5 \psset{xunit=1.2cm,yunit=10cm,plotpoints=200} ? x Any help would be appreciated. Sincerly. –  Zbigniew Jan 18 '12 at 20:10
best result with texlive Unlike MiKTteX. Thank you to everyone. –  Zbigniew Jan 18 '12 at 20:21
You may have an outdated version of pstricks. Since you're using TeX Live, call tlmgr update --self --all from your terminal (command prompt). –  Werner Jan 18 '12 at 20:46
add \usepackage{pst-plot} to the preamble –  Herbert Jan 18 '12 at 20:57