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Extreme value theory studies limiting probability distributions of normalized sample maxima and related extremes. The standard limits for maxima include the Fréchet distribution, negative Weibull distribution, and Gumbel distribution.

For $\alpha >0$, the standard Fréchet distribution has distribution function ${\Phi }_{\alpha }(x)=e^{-x^{-\alpha }}$ for $x>0$ and zero for $x\le 0$. Its maximum domain of attraction consists of distribution functions with an infinite right endpoint of a distribution and a survival function with regular variation of index $-\alpha$.

For independent and identically distributed random variables with distribution function $F$, let $M_n={\max }_{1\le i\le n}{X}_i$ be the sample maximum. In extreme value theory, $F$ belongs to the maximum domain of attraction $D(G)$ of a nondegenerate distribution function $G$ when there exist $a_n>0$ and $b_n\in \mathbb{R}$ such thatat every continuity point of $G$. Thus the normalized sample maxima have convergence in distribution to $G$.

A positive measurable function $q$ has regular variation at infinity with index $\rho$, written $q\in {\mathrm{RV}}_{\rho }$, ifThe case $\rho =0$ defines a slowly varying function; equivalently a regularly varying function is $q(t)=t^{\rho }\ell (t)$ with $\ell$ a slowly varying function.

Write $\overline{F}=1-F$ for the survival function and $x_F=\sup \{x:F(x)<1\}$ for the right endpoint of a distribution. For $\alpha >0$, use the following standard extreme value theory normalization conventions:They are respectively the Fréchet distribution, the negative Weibull distribution, and the Gumbel distribution for maxima. The negative Weibull distribution is supported to the left of its finite endpoint; it is not the usual positive Weibull distribution.

The necessary and sufficient maximum domain of attraction criteria are:

For the corresponding sufficient hazard function conditions, assume $F$ is absolutely continuous near $x_F$, its survival function tends to zero there, and its probability density function $f$ is positive there. Write $\eta (t)=f(t)/\overline{F}(t)$. The Von Mises conditions for extreme values giveThe last condition additionally assumes that the reciprocal hazard function is continuously differentiable near the endpoint. It concerns the derivative of the reciprocal hazard function, not the derivative of the hazard function itself. Equivalently, when $f$ is differentiable, it is $\overline{F}(t)f^{\prime }(t)/f(t{)}^2\to -1$.

To see the connection, taking an integral of the hazard function givesThe first two limits make the logarithmic tail ratios over multiplicative or endpoint-distance intervals tend to $-\alpha \log u$ or $\alpha \log u$, giving the required regular variation. For the Gumbel distribution, set $a(t)=1/\eta (t)$. The derivative condition makes $a(t+a(t)v)/a(t)\to 1$ uniformly on bounded $v$-intervals, soThe endpoint assumptions ensure these shifts are admissible: at an infinite endpoint $a(t)/t\to 0$, and at a finite endpoint $a(t)/(x_F-t)\to 0$. These are sufficient smooth-tail conditions; the tail-ratio characterizations above are necessary and sufficient without differentiability assumptions. For a source using the same reciprocal-hazard convention, see Smith and Weissman's university lecture notes, equations (2.18)–(2.24).

For the Gamma distribution with integer shape $m$ and rate one, let ${\overline{F}}_m(t)={\int }_t^{\infty }{u}^{m-1}{e}^{-u}du/(m-1)!$. The base case is ${\overline{F}}_1(t)=e^{-t}$, and integration by parts givesInduction provesThis survival function has the asymptotic form ${\overline{F}}_m(t)\sim e^{-t}{t}^{m-1}/(m-1)!$; for $m=1$ the relation is exact. Put $t_n={\beta }_n+x$. For every fixed real $x$, $t_n\to \infty$ and $t_n/\log n\to 1$. The proposed centering satisfiessoOnly the highest-degree term contributes to the limit, with the same reasoning covering $m=1$. The Taylor expansion $\log (1-u)=-u+O(u^2)$ now givesbecause $n{\overline{F}}_m({\beta }_n+x{)}^2\to 0$. Therefore the Gumbel limit for gamma maxima isEquivalently, $M_n-{\beta }_n$ has convergence in distribution to the standard Gumbel distribution, with scale $a_n=1$.

For an absolutely continuous distribution function with positive probability density function near its right endpoint of a distribution, write $\eta =f/(1-F)$ for its hazard function. The limits $t\eta (t)\to \alpha$ at an infinite endpoint or $(x_F-t)\eta (t)\to \alpha$ at a finite endpoint imply attraction to the Fréchet distribution or negative Weibull distribution, respectively. A continuously differentiable reciprocal hazard function with $(1/\eta {)}^{\prime }\to 0$ implies attraction to the Gumbel distribution, provided the survival function tends to zero at the endpoint.