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SHORT VERSION: how would I go about solving the following inverse problem:

$F(a,a_v,b,b_v,c,c_v)=\frac{A B}{C}$ where $A,B,C$ are gamma distributed according to A's mean=$a$, A's variance=$a_v$, etc. I'd like to determine the gamma distribution shape parameters from the shape of $F$.

LONG VERSION:

I have an output probability distribution function $F$ which is produced by taking a simple equation $\frac{a b}{c}$ and varying each of those constants according to a gamma distribution. For simplicity, I can assume that these distributions are independent of each other, though I'd be interested in the case where they are not.

Numerically, it is simple to generate $F$. I randomly select a value $a_i$ from a gamma distribution with mean=$a$ and variance=$a_v$. I do the same with $b$ and $c$. Then I compute and record $F_i=\frac{a_i b_i}{c_i}$. I do this many times until I have enough $F_i$'s to build a histogram, and ultimately the PDF of $F$ which is a function of 6 parameters, the three means and three variances of the gamma distribution inputs.

The problem is that I'm trying to derive the means and variances of the input gamma distributions from the output distribution. I've searched extensively, and have not found anyone with a close-formed result for the PDF of the product / division of gamma distributions. Is it possible to derive these functions?

Alternatively, is it possible to derive moments of the $F$ as a function of the gamma distribution parameters? This would be almost as helpful.

OPTIONAL BACKGROUND One reason I'd love to work these out analytically is that, for example, it's clear to me that there are multiple, or even an infinite number of child gamma distributions that can produce one $F$. Fortunately, I have more information about my system to help determine the parameters. Unfortunately, numerical solvers are very unhappy when the "solution" is a plane or line rather than being discrete minima. If I could set constraints on the system analytically, it would be very helpful.

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In general, the distribution of the product of Gammas is quite complicated. See the following paper, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2099424. I would imagine that the distribution of AB/C is far more complicated even with independence.

If you want a functional relationship between the moments of F and A,B, and C, then this is a lot more straight forward. If you assume independence, then the k-th moment of F is simply

$E(F^k) = E(A^k)E(B^k)E(C^{-k})$

for which, each of these are well known for the gamma distribution.

In principle, you may be able to solve for the parameters with something like method of moments (if you have observed data) or just invert numerically with the true moments, but I'm not sure how good it will be.

EDIT There is an unfortunate definite answer for you. The parameters of F are unidentifiable. In other words, you can not uniquely solve for the 6 parameters in a single way.

First note that the gamma distribution is closed under scalar multiplication. So if $X$ is gamma then $aX$ is gamma, $a > 0$.

Let $u,v, w$ be positive constants then if $uv/w = 1$.

$F = AB/C = uv/w AB/C = (uA) (vB) / (wC)$

So you need to put constraints in order to solve this problem uniquely.

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    Sorry, I missed your edit. I think this does help. It appears that the scalar multiplication modulates the theta parameter, so gamma(k,c*theta)=c*gamma(k,theta). I can't assume $uv/w=1$, but I can call $uv/w=K$. That eliminates two parameters. IF I can uniquely map K*gamma(a,1)*gamma(b,1)/gamma(c,1)=F, then I have a really nice constraint in K for limiting my parameter search in the rest of the problem. However, even this simplified expression has at least 2 solutions, because the two gammas in the numerator are interchangeable (unless a=b).2012-09-28