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Suppose $X,Y$ are independent chi-squared distributed random variables with $m,n$ degrees of freedom, $X \sim \chi^2(m)$ and $Y \sim \chi^2(n)$. What is the distribution of

$$ Z = \frac{1}{m} X + \frac{1}{n} Y $$.

Is there a closed formula or an approximation? Is there a generalisation to a sum of more than two terms?

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The Chi-squared distribution $\chi^2(\nu)$ is the the Gamma distribution ${\cal G}(\nu/2,1/2)$. Then $\frac{1}{m}X \sim {\cal G}(m/2,m/2)$ and $\frac{1}{n}Y \sim {\cal G}(n/2,n/2)$. These are Gamma distributions with different rate parameters (the second parameter) when $m \neq n$, and there is no closed-form formula (or formula in terms of elementary functions) for the convolution (sum of two independent) of these distributions.

I don't know whether there is a known approximation but I would not be surprised this question has already been adressed here. However, depending on what you exactly want, the Welch-Satterthwaite approximation might be an answer.

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  • $\begingroup$ It would help if you could clarify whether you apply the "shape-scale" or the "shape-rate" parametrization of the Gamma distribution. $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 21, 2015 at 11:06
  • $\begingroup$ @AlecosPapadopoulos I wrote "different rate parameters (the second parameter)" so it should be clear. $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 21, 2015 at 12:16
  • $\begingroup$ See stats.stackexchange.com/questions/72479/… $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 4, 2021 at 16:14

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