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I am taking a probability course right now and have encountered a lot of interesting distributions and their related distributions.

For example, if we have two independent Poisson distribution random variables $X_1,X_2$ with parameters $\lambda_1,\lambda_2$ respectively, and $Y = X_1+X_2$, then $X_1\mid Y= y $ is a binomial distribution random variable with parameter $\left(y,\dfrac{\lambda_1}{\lambda_1+\lambda_2} \right)$.

I am wondering if there is a nice summary or something like that about all the distributions and their related distributions.

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    $\begingroup$ Does your example about Poisson random variables hold in all cases or do you need some assumptions (e.g. that $X_1$ and $X_2$ are independent random variables)? $\endgroup$ – Dilip Sarwate Dec 4 '11 at 21:49
  • $\begingroup$ @DilipSarwate Yes, I forgot to mention that. $\endgroup$ – geraldgreen Dec 4 '11 at 21:52
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The most complete reference I know is this paper by Leemis and McQueston ("Univariate Distribution Relationships," The American Statistician 62(1) 2008, pp. 45-53). In particular, see page 47 for a nice diagram of many of the relationships.

Added: The diagram is given below.

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ That is just awesome. $\endgroup$ – David Mitra Dec 4 '11 at 21:55
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for this. I had seen a version of the figure in the paper well before 2007, actually as a full-size wall poster in the office of a colleague I once visited, but never knew of a source for it. It looks relatively comprehensive and fairly decently laid out. $\endgroup$ – cardinal Dec 4 '11 at 22:45
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"a nice summary or something like that about all the distributions and their related distributions. "

is a very broad request and Mike Spivey has already pointed out a very nice summary to you and to the readership of math.SE. But, following the spirit of your example, consider independent Gaussian random variables $X$ and $Y$. Then, not only is the sum $X+Y$ a Gaussian random variable (so far very similar to your example of Poisson random variables) but the conditional distribution of $X$ (or of $Y$ for that matter) given $X + Y = \alpha$ is also a Gaussian distribution. Since you are taking what might be your first undergraduate course in probability, working out the details of this assertion might give you helpful drill in working with probability distributions. You will need the following facts.

  • $X$ and $X+Y$ have a bivariate Gaussian density (alternatively, are jointly Gaussian random variables) whose $5$ parameters $\mu_X$, $\mu_{X+Y}$, $\text{var}(X)$, $\text{var}(X+Y)$, and $\rho_{X,X+Y}$ can all be found without writing down the joint density $f_{X,X+Y}$ and integrating.

  • If $W$ and $Z$ are jointly Gaussian random variables, then the conditional density of $W$ given $Z = \alpha$ is a Gaussian density whose mean and variance can be expressed in terms of $\alpha$ and the $5$ parameters of $f_{W,Z}$.

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I have just found something like what Mike posted.

A pretty nice chart of relationships between distributions.

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  • $\begingroup$ Note that according to the author of this chart, it is adapted from, and a simplified version of, the Leemis-McQueston chart that Mike Spivey pointed out to you. $\endgroup$ – Dilip Sarwate Dec 5 '11 at 12:46

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