Cauchy Distribution: Simple Definition, PDF, Uses

Probability Distributions > Cauchy Distribution

What is a Cauchy Distribution?

The Cauchy distribution, sometimes called the Lorentz distribution Cauchy–Lorentz distribution, Lorentz(ian) function, or Breit–Wigner distribution, is a family of continuous probably distributions which resemble the normal distribution family of curves. While the resemblance is there, it has a taller peak than a normal. And unlike the normal distribution, it’s fat tails decay much more slowly.

The distribution, named after 18th century mathematician Augustin-Louis Cauchy, is well known for the fact that it’s expected value and other moments do not exist. The median and mode do exist. And for the Cauchy, they are equal. Together, they tell you where the line of symmetry is. However, the Central Limit theorem doesn’t work for the limiting distribution of the mean. In sum, this distribution behaves so abnormally it’s sometimes considered the Hannibal Lecter of distributions.

  • “It’s best known as a pathological case” [1].
  • It is “perhaps more curious than useful” [2].

In addition to moments, the following are undefined or do not exist:

Uses

So, if it doesn’t work so well, why study it at all? While it’s often used as an example of the “opposite” of how distributions should work, it does have a few practical applications. For example:

  • It’s a popular distribution for robustness studies. The Cauchy is robust because it has heavy tails, which means is has a high probability of producing extreme values — thus making it a good choice for robustness studies.
  • It models the ratio of two normal random variables.
  • It models polar and non-polar liquids in porous glasses [3].
  • In quantum mechanics, it models the distribution of energy of an unstable state [4].

Defining the Cauchy distribution

The Cauchy distribution has two main parts: a scale parameter (λ) and a location parameter (x0).

In other words, the location parameter x0 shifts the graph along the x-axis and the scale parameter λ results in a shorter or taller graph. The smaller the scale parameter, the taller and thinner the curve. In the image below, the smaller value for lambda (0.5) gives the tallest and thinnest graph, shown in orange.

cauchy distribution
The Cauchy family. [5]

The standard Cauchy distribution (shown in purple on the above graph) has a location parameter of 0 and a scale parameter of 1; the notation for the standard distribution is X ~ Cauchy(1,0) or more simply, C(1,0).

On μ and σ

Sometimes, you might see the more recognizable μ (i.e. the mean) instead of (x0). However, as the mean doesn’t technically exist, the notation μ is best avoided because of the potential confusion. If you do use μ you should think of it as the middle of the curve (rather than the average). Lambda is about the same as the standard deviation, σ. But as the standard deviation doesn’t exist for this distribution either, you may want to avoid using σ as well.

Expected Value

If the expected value did exist, it would equal the mean, which is zero. However, the mean in a Cauchy doesn’t exist (nor do higher moments like the standard deviation and skewness). So the expected value doesn’t exist either. Calculus can prove these properties. Basically, ∫xrf(x)d(x) don’t converge in absolute value. Therefore, there aren’t any moments. You can find a different interpretation here.

Properties of the Cauchy Distribution

The formula for the probability density function is: cauchy pdf

Where

When t = 0, s = 1, the equation reduces to the standard Cauchy distribution:

pdf for the standard cauchy distribution

Support (range) for the PDF is on (-∞, ∞)

Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF):

cauchy cdf formula

This online calculator at Casio.com will calculate the PDF as well as the upper and lower CDF for a Cauchy distribution.

References

  1. Segura et. al (2004). A Guide to Laws and Theorems Named After Economists. Edward Elgar publishing.
  2. Marshall and Olkin (2007). Life Distributions. Springer Science and Business.
  3. Stapf et. al (1996). Proton and deuteron field-cycling. Colloids and Surfaces: A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 115, 107-114.
  4. Grewel and Andrews (2015). Kalman Filtering. John Wiley & Sons.
  5. Image: Skbkekas | Wikimedia Commons. CC 3.0.

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