How to use GAMMA.DIST Function in Excel

The GAMMA.DIST function returns the gamma distribution. You can use this function to study variables that may have a skewed distribution. The gamma distribution is commonly used in queuing analysis.

Syntax:= GAMMADIST(x,alpha,beta,cumulative)

The GAMMA.DIST function syntax has the following arguments:

• X     Required. The value at which you want to evaluate the distribution.
• Alpha     Required. A parameter to the distribution.
• Beta     Required. A parameter to the distribution. If beta = 1, GAMMA.DIST returns the standard gamma distribution.

• Cumulative     Required. A logical value that determines the form of the function. If cumulative is TRUE, GAMMA.DIST returns the cumulative distribution function; if FALSE, it returns the probability density function.

Example: Let’s look at some Excel GAMMA.DIST function examples and explore how to use the GAMMA.DIST function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Syntax:  =GAMMA.DIST(B1,B2,B3,FALSE)

Result: 0.112020904

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following GAMMA.DIST examples would return:

Note:

• If x, alpha, or beta is nonnumeric, GAMMA.DIST returns the #VALUE! error value.
• If x < 0, GAMMA.DIST returns the #NUM! error value.
• If alpha ≤ 0 or if beta ≤ 0, GAMMA.DIST returns the #NUM! error value.

• The equation for the gamma probability density function is:
  
  The standard gamma probability density function is:
  

• When alpha = 1, GAMMADIST returns the exponential distribution with:
• For a positive integer n, when alpha = n/2, beta = 2, and cumulative = TRUE, GAMMA.DIST returns (1 – CHISQ.DIST.RT(x)) with n degrees of freedom.

• When alpha is a positive integer, GAMMA.DIST is also known as the Erlang distribution.