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Shape parameter
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Probability_theory/mFBn51rE">probability theory</a> and <a href="/facts/Statistics/DNPsKGYU">statistics</a>, a shape parameter (also known as form parameter) is a kind of <a href="/facts/Numerical_parameter/fkJju25M">numerical parameter</a> of a parametric family of <a href="/facts/Probability_distribution/EpsKKVRu">probability distributions</a> that is neither a <a href="/facts/Location_parameter/UQTyS3JU">location parameter</a> nor a <a href="/facts/Scale_parameter/6lxcyKUf">scale parameter</a> (nor a function of these, such as a <a href="/facts/Rate_parameter/6lxcyKUf">rate parameter</a>). Such a parameter must affect the <i><a href="/facts/Shape_(geometry)/nww0x85d">shape</a></i> of a distribution rather than simply shifting it (as a location parameter does) or stretching/shrinking it (as a scale parameter does). For example, "peakedness" refers to how round the main peak is. </p>