contrib.distributions.Distribution
tf.contrib.distributions.Distribution
class tf.contrib.distributions.Distribution
Defined in tensorflow/python/ops/distributions/distribution.py
.
See the guide: Statistical Distributions (contrib) > Base classes
A generic probability distribution base class.
Distribution
is a base class for constructing and organizing properties (e.g., mean, variance) of random variables (e.g, Bernoulli, Gaussian).
Subclassing
Subclasses are expected to implement a leading-underscore version of the same-named function. The argument signature should be identical except for the omission of name="..."
. For example, to enable log_prob(value, name="log_prob")
a subclass should implement _log_prob(value)
.
Subclasses can append to public-level docstrings by providing docstrings for their method specializations. For example:
@util.AppendDocstring("Some other details.") def _log_prob(self, value): ...
would add the string "Some other details." to the log_prob
function docstring. This is implemented as a simple decorator to avoid python linter complaining about missing Args/Returns/Raises sections in the partial docstrings.
Broadcasting, batching, and shapes
All distributions support batches of independent distributions of that type. The batch shape is determined by broadcasting together the parameters.
The shape of arguments to __init__
, cdf
, log_cdf
, prob
, and log_prob
reflect this broadcasting, as does the return value of sample
and sample_n
.
sample_n_shape = [n] + batch_shape + event_shape
, where sample_n_shape
is the shape of the Tensor
returned from sample_n
, n
is the number of samples, batch_shape
defines how many independent distributions there are, and event_shape
defines the shape of samples from each of those independent distributions. Samples are independent along the batch_shape
dimensions, but not necessarily so along the event_shape
dimensions (depending on the particulars of the underlying distribution).
Using the Uniform
distribution as an example:
minval = 3.0 maxval = [[4.0, 6.0], [10.0, 12.0]] # Broadcasting: # This instance represents 4 Uniform distributions. Each has a lower bound at # 3.0 as the `minval` parameter was broadcasted to match `maxval`'s shape. u = Uniform(minval, maxval) # `event_shape` is `TensorShape([])`. event_shape = u.event_shape # `event_shape_t` is a `Tensor` which will evaluate to []. event_shape_t = u.event_shape_tensor() # Sampling returns a sample per distribution. `samples` has shape # [5, 2, 2], which is [n] + batch_shape + event_shape, where n=5, # batch_shape=[2, 2], and event_shape=[]. samples = u.sample_n(5) # The broadcasting holds across methods. Here we use `cdf` as an example. The # same holds for `log_cdf` and the likelihood functions. # `cum_prob` has shape [2, 2] as the `value` argument was broadcasted to the # shape of the `Uniform` instance. cum_prob_broadcast = u.cdf(4.0) # `cum_prob`'s shape is [2, 2], one per distribution. No broadcasting # occurred. cum_prob_per_dist = u.cdf([[4.0, 5.0], [6.0, 7.0]]) # INVALID as the `value` argument is not broadcastable to the distribution's # shape. cum_prob_invalid = u.cdf([4.0, 5.0, 6.0])
Parameter values leading to undefined statistics or distributions.
Some distributions do not have well-defined statistics for all initialization parameter values. For example, the beta distribution is parameterized by positive real numbers concentration1
and concentration0
, and does not have well-defined mode if concentration1 < 1
or concentration0 < 1
.
The user is given the option of raising an exception or returning NaN
.
a = tf.exp(tf.matmul(logits, weights_a)) b = tf.exp(tf.matmul(logits, weights_b)) # Will raise exception if ANY batch member has a < 1 or b < 1. dist = distributions.beta(a, b, allow_nan_stats=False) mode = dist.mode().eval() # Will return NaN for batch members with either a < 1 or b < 1. dist = distributions.beta(a, b, allow_nan_stats=True) # Default behavior mode = dist.mode().eval()
In all cases, an exception is raised if invalid parameters are passed, e.g.
# Will raise an exception if any Op is run. negative_a = -1.0 * a # beta distribution by definition has a > 0. dist = distributions.beta(negative_a, b, allow_nan_stats=True) dist.mean().eval()
Properties
allow_nan_stats
Python bool
describing behavior when a stat is undefined.
Stats return +/- infinity when it makes sense. E.g., the variance of a Cauchy distribution is infinity. However, sometimes the statistic is undefined, e.g., if a distribution's pdf does not achieve a maximum within the support of the distribution, the mode is undefined. If the mean is undefined, then by definition the variance is undefined. E.g. the mean for Student's T for df = 1 is undefined (no clear way to say it is either + or - infinity), so the variance = E[(X - mean)**2] is also undefined.
Returns:
-
allow_nan_stats
: Pythonbool
.
batch_shape
Shape of a single sample from a single event index as a TensorShape
.
May be partially defined or unknown.
The batch dimensions are indexes into independent, non-identical parameterizations of this distribution.
Returns:
-
batch_shape
:TensorShape
, possibly unknown.
dtype
The DType
of Tensor
s handled by this Distribution
.
event_shape
Shape of a single sample from a single batch as a TensorShape
.
May be partially defined or unknown.
Returns:
-
event_shape
:TensorShape
, possibly unknown.
name
Name prepended to all ops created by this Distribution
.
parameters
Dictionary of parameters used to instantiate this Distribution
.
reparameterization_type
Describes how samples from the distribution are reparameterized.
Currently this is one of the static instances distributions.FULLY_REPARAMETERIZED
or distributions.NOT_REPARAMETERIZED
.
Returns:
An instance of ReparameterizationType
.
validate_args
Python bool
indicating possibly expensive checks are enabled.
Methods
__init__
__init__( dtype, reparameterization_type, validate_args, allow_nan_stats, parameters=None, graph_parents=None, name=None )
Constructs the Distribution
.
This is a private method for subclass use.
Args:
-
dtype
: The type of the event samples.None
implies no type-enforcement. -
reparameterization_type
: Instance ofReparameterizationType
. Ifdistributions.FULLY_REPARAMETERIZED
, thisDistribution
can be reparameterized in terms of some standard distribution with a function whose Jacobian is constant for the support of the standard distribution. Ifdistributions.NOT_REPARAMETERIZED
, then no such reparameterization is available. -
validate_args
: Pythonbool
, defaultFalse
. WhenTrue
distribution parameters are checked for validity despite possibly degrading runtime performance. WhenFalse
invalid inputs may silently render incorrect outputs. -
allow_nan_stats
: Pythonbool
, defaultTrue
. WhenTrue
, statistics (e.g., mean, mode, variance) use the value "NaN
" to indicate the result is undefined. WhenFalse
, an exception is raised if one or more of the statistic's batch members are undefined. -
parameters
: Pythondict
of parameters used to instantiate thisDistribution
. -
graph_parents
: Pythonlist
of graph prerequisites of thisDistribution
. -
name
: Pythonstr
name prefixed to Ops created by this class. Default: subclass name.
Raises:
-
ValueError
: if any member of graph_parents isNone
or not aTensor
.
batch_shape_tensor
batch_shape_tensor(name='batch_shape_tensor')
Shape of a single sample from a single event index as a 1-D Tensor
.
The batch dimensions are indexes into independent, non-identical parameterizations of this distribution.
Args:
-
name
: name to give to the op
Returns:
-
batch_shape
:Tensor
.
cdf
cdf( value, name='cdf' )
Cumulative distribution function.
Given random variable X
, the cumulative distribution function cdf
is:
cdf(x) := P[X <= x]
Args:
-
value
:float
ordouble
Tensor
. -
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
cdf
: aTensor
of shapesample_shape(x) + self.batch_shape
with values of typeself.dtype
.
copy
copy(**override_parameters_kwargs)
Creates a deep copy of the distribution.
Note: the copy distribution may continue to depend on the original initialization arguments.
Args:
**override_parameters_kwargs: String/value dictionary of initialization arguments to override with new values.
Returns:
-
distribution
: A new instance oftype(self)
initialized from the union of self.parameters and override_parameters_kwargs, i.e.,dict(self.parameters, **override_parameters_kwargs)
.
covariance
covariance(name='covariance')
Covariance.
Covariance is (possibly) defined only for non-scalar-event distributions.
For example, for a length-k
, vector-valued distribution, it is calculated as,
Cov[i, j] = Covariance(X_i, X_j) = E[(X_i - E[X_i]) (X_j - E[X_j])]
where Cov
is a (batch of) k x k
matrix, 0 <= (i, j) < k
, and E
denotes expectation.
Alternatively, for non-vector, multivariate distributions (e.g., matrix-valued, Wishart), Covariance
shall return a (batch of) matrices under some vectorization of the events, i.e.,
Cov[i, j] = Covariance(Vec(X)_i, Vec(X)_j) = [as above]
where Cov
is a (batch of) k' x k'
matrices, 0 <= (i, j) < k' = reduce_prod(event_shape)
, and Vec
is some function mapping indices of this distribution's event dimensions to indices of a length-k'
vector.
Args:
-
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
covariance
: Floating-pointTensor
with shape[B1, ..., Bn, k', k']
where the firstn
dimensions are batch coordinates andk' = reduce_prod(self.event_shape)
.
entropy
entropy(name='entropy')
Shannon entropy in nats.
event_shape_tensor
event_shape_tensor(name='event_shape_tensor')
Shape of a single sample from a single batch as a 1-D int32 Tensor
.
Args:
-
name
: name to give to the op
Returns:
-
event_shape
:Tensor
.
is_scalar_batch
is_scalar_batch(name='is_scalar_batch')
Indicates that batch_shape == []
.
Args:
-
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
is_scalar_batch
:bool
scalarTensor
.
is_scalar_event
is_scalar_event(name='is_scalar_event')
Indicates that event_shape == []
.
Args:
-
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
is_scalar_event
:bool
scalarTensor
.
log_cdf
log_cdf( value, name='log_cdf' )
Log cumulative distribution function.
Given random variable X
, the cumulative distribution function cdf
is:
log_cdf(x) := Log[ P[X <= x] ]
Often, a numerical approximation can be used for log_cdf(x)
that yields a more accurate answer than simply taking the logarithm of the cdf
when x << -1
.
Args:
-
value
:float
ordouble
Tensor
. -
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
logcdf
: aTensor
of shapesample_shape(x) + self.batch_shape
with values of typeself.dtype
.
log_prob
log_prob( value, name='log_prob' )
Log probability density/mass function.
Args:
-
value
:float
ordouble
Tensor
. -
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
log_prob
: aTensor
of shapesample_shape(x) + self.batch_shape
with values of typeself.dtype
.
log_survival_function
log_survival_function( value, name='log_survival_function' )
Log survival function.
Given random variable X
, the survival function is defined:
log_survival_function(x) = Log[ P[X > x] ] = Log[ 1 - P[X <= x] ] = Log[ 1 - cdf(x) ]
Typically, different numerical approximations can be used for the log survival function, which are more accurate than 1 - cdf(x)
when x >> 1
.
Args:
-
value
:float
ordouble
Tensor
. -
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
Tensor
of shape sample_shape(x) + self.batch_shape
with values of type self.dtype
.
mean
mean(name='mean')
Mean.
mode
mode(name='mode')
Mode.
param_shapes
param_shapes( cls, sample_shape, name='DistributionParamShapes' )
Shapes of parameters given the desired shape of a call to sample()
.
This is a class method that describes what key/value arguments are required to instantiate the given Distribution
so that a particular shape is returned for that instance's call to sample()
.
Subclasses should override class method _param_shapes
.
Args:
-
sample_shape
:Tensor
or python list/tuple. Desired shape of a call tosample()
. -
name
: name to prepend ops with.
Returns:
dict
of parameter name to Tensor
shapes.
param_static_shapes
param_static_shapes( cls, sample_shape )
param_shapes with static (i.e. TensorShape
) shapes.
This is a class method that describes what key/value arguments are required to instantiate the given Distribution
so that a particular shape is returned for that instance's call to sample()
. Assumes that the sample's shape is known statically.
Subclasses should override class method _param_shapes
to return constant-valued tensors when constant values are fed.
Args:
-
sample_shape
:TensorShape
or python list/tuple. Desired shape of a call tosample()
.
Returns:
dict
of parameter name to TensorShape
.
Raises:
-
ValueError
: ifsample_shape
is aTensorShape
and is not fully defined.
prob
prob( value, name='prob' )
Probability density/mass function.
Args:
-
value
:float
ordouble
Tensor
. -
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
prob
: aTensor
of shapesample_shape(x) + self.batch_shape
with values of typeself.dtype
.
quantile
quantile( value, name='quantile' )
Quantile function. Aka "inverse cdf" or "percent point function".
Given random variable X
and p in [0, 1]
, the quantile
is:
quantile(p) := x such that P[X <= x] == p
Args:
-
value
:float
ordouble
Tensor
. -
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
quantile
: aTensor
of shapesample_shape(x) + self.batch_shape
with values of typeself.dtype
.
sample
sample( sample_shape=(), seed=None, name='sample' )
Generate samples of the specified shape.
Note that a call to sample()
without arguments will generate a single sample.
Args:
-
sample_shape
: 0D or 1Dint32
Tensor
. Shape of the generated samples. -
seed
: Python integer seed for RNG -
name
: name to give to the op.
Returns:
-
samples
: aTensor
with prepended dimensionssample_shape
.
stddev
stddev(name='stddev')
Standard deviation.
Standard deviation is defined as,
stddev = E[(X - E[X])**2]**0.5
where X
is the random variable associated with this distribution, E
denotes expectation, and stddev.shape = batch_shape + event_shape
.
Args:
-
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
stddev
: Floating-pointTensor
with shape identical tobatch_shape + event_shape
, i.e., the same shape asself.mean()
.
survival_function
survival_function( value, name='survival_function' )
Survival function.
Given random variable X
, the survival function is defined:
survival_function(x) = P[X > x] = 1 - P[X <= x] = 1 - cdf(x).
Args:
-
value
:float
ordouble
Tensor
. -
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
Tensor
of shape sample_shape(x) + self.batch_shape
with values of type self.dtype
.
variance
variance(name='variance')
Variance.
Variance is defined as,
Var = E[(X - E[X])**2]
where X
is the random variable associated with this distribution, E
denotes expectation, and Var.shape = batch_shape + event_shape
.
Args:
-
name
: The name to give this op.
Returns:
-
variance
: Floating-pointTensor
with shape identical tobatch_shape + event_shape
, i.e., the same shape asself.mean()
.
© 2017 The TensorFlow Authors. All rights reserved.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0.
Code samples licensed under the Apache 2.0 License.
https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/contrib/distributions/Distribution