chi-square distribution

The chi-square distribution is a mathematical tool used to assess how well observed data matches what we would expect under a certain hypothesis. It’s often used in tests of independence or goodness-of-fit. Imagine checking if the differences between observed and expected results are just random variation or indicate a real effect. The chi-square distribution shows the range of these differences’ sizes; small values suggest good agreement, while large values suggest a significant discrepancy. Its shape depends on degrees of freedom, reflecting the complexity of the data or test being performed.