Triangular distribution
You can estimate a minimum, most-likely value, and maximum but have little raw data.
On this page
Shape previewBounded by the minimum and maximum, with the highest likelihood at the mode.
Relative densityDuration (seconds)
- min
- 2 s
- mode
- 5 s
- max
- 11 s
- Use when
- You can estimate a minimum, most-likely value, and maximum but have little raw data.
- Avoid when
- You already have observations that should be represented empirically.
- Support
- Bounded between the stated minimum and maximum.
- Parameters
- Minimum, mode, and maximum.
- Common mistake
- Presenting an expert-estimated triangle as though it were a fitted distribution from measured data.
- Example
- Expert estimate: a task takes 2–11 minutes and is usually around 5.