On positive definite quadratic forms in correlatedt variables

Summary In this paper we extend Ruben's 4] result for quadratic forms in normal variables. He represented the distribution function of the quadratic form in normal variables as an infinite mixture of chi-square distribution functions. In the central case, we show that the distribution function of a quadratic form int-variables can be represented as a mixture of beta distribution functions. In the noncentral case, the distribution function presented is an infinite series in beta distribution functions. An application to quadratic discrimination is given.