Editing Circular distribution (section)

{{Short description|Type of probability distribution}}
{{broader|Directional statistics}}
In [[probability]] and [[statistics]], a '''circular distribution''' or '''polar distribution''' is a [[probability distribution]] of a [[random variable]] whose values are angles, usually taken to be in the range {{nowrap|{{Not a typo|[0, 2''π'')}}.}}<ref name=D>{{Cite book |last=Dodge |first=Y. |year=2006 |title=The Oxford Dictionary of Statistical Terms |publisher=OUP |isbn=0-19-920613-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary0000unse }}</ref> A circular distribution is often a [[continuous probability distribution]], and hence has a [[probability density function|probability density]], but such distributions can also be [[discrete probability distribution|discrete]], in which case they are called '''circular lattice distributions'''.<ref name=D/> Circular distributions can be used even when the variables concerned are not explicitly angles: the main consideration is that there is not usually any real distinction between events occurring at the opposite ends of the range, and the division of the range could notionally be made at any point.