Definition:Ogive

Definition

Let $X$ be a continuous random variable.

The graph of the cumulative distribution function of $X$ is called an ogive.

Also see

• Results about ogives can be found here.

Linguistic Note

The word ogive can be pronounced with either a hard g (as in get) or a soft g (as in ginger), and with a long o and i.

Hence oh-gyve or oh-jyve.

The literal meaning of ogive calls to mind a sigmoid curve.

It is suggested by David Nelson in his The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics that the term is "unnecessary and best avoided".

Sources

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): ogive
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): ogive