# Moment generating function of a gamma distribution

If I have a variable $X$ that has a gamma distribution with parameters $s$ and $\lambda$, what is its momment generating function.

I know that it is $\int_0^\infty e^{tx}\frac{1}{\Gamma(s)}\lambda^sx^{s-1} e^{-x\lambda}dx$ and the final answer should be $(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda-t})^s$, but how can i compute this?

P.S. I know that there are other questions on this site about the MGF of the gamma distibution, but none of those use this specific definition for the density function of a gamma distribution. And I would like to see it with this one. Thanks a lot!

• Look at Wikipedia. It has such info for most of the common probability distribution families. Usually, in a box on RHS very near the top. – BruceET Apr 21 '15 at 20:28

Your question ultimately becomes to show the following: $$\int_0^\infty e^{tx}\frac{1}{\Gamma(s)}\lambda^sx^{s-1} e^{-x\lambda}\ dx = \left(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda - t}\right)^s$$ $$\int_0^\infty e^{tx}\frac{1}{\Gamma(s)}\lambda^sx^{s-1} e^{-x\lambda}\ dx = \frac{\lambda^s}{\Gamma(s)}\int_0^\infty x^{s-1}e^{-(\lambda-t)x} \ dx$$ From repeated applications of integration by parts, it is known that $$\int_0^\infty x^ae^{-bx} \ dx = \frac{\Gamma(a+1)}{b^{a+1}}$$ Making this substitution we get: $$\frac{\lambda^s}{\Gamma(s)}\int_0^\infty x^{s-1}e^{-(\lambda-t)x} \ dx = \frac{\lambda^s}{\Gamma(s)}\frac{\Gamma(s)}{(\lambda - t)^s} = \left(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda - t}\right)^s$$

I'd like to give another answer. Instead of the "repeated integration by parts" in the other answer, we can do the following:

We know the definition of the gamma function to be as follows:

$$\Gamma(s) = \int_{0}^\infty x^{s-1}e^{-x}dx$$

Now $$\int_0^\infty e^{tx}\frac{1}{\Gamma(s)}\lambda^sx^{s-1} e^{-x\lambda}dx$$ = $$\frac{\lambda^s}{\Gamma(s)}\int_0^\infty e^{(t-\lambda)x}x^{s-1}dx$$. We then integrate by substitution, using $$u = (\lambda - t)x$$, so also $$x=\frac{u}{\lambda-t}$$. This gives us $$\frac{du}{dx}=\lambda - t$$, i.e. $$dx = \frac{du}{\lambda-t}$$. Now let's put this into the integral, so then we get:

$$\frac{\lambda^s}{\Gamma(s)}\int_0^\infty e^{-u}{\left(\frac{u}{\lambda -t}\right)}^{s-1}\frac{du}{\lambda-t} = \left(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda-t}\right)^s\frac{1}{\Gamma(s)}\int_0^\infty u^{s-1}e^{-u}du$$

Here on the right-hand side we recognize the integral as the gamma function, so we get $$\left(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda-t}\right)^s\frac{\Gamma(s)}{\Gamma(s)}$$. Those gamma's cancel so then we get what we want:

$$\left(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda-t}\right)^s$$