[Math] What’s the distribution of gaussian squared with mean $\mu$ and variance $\sigma^2$

probability

Based on my understanding, Chi square distribution and noncentral Chi-squared distribution are used for special Gaussian distribution. However, when the Gaussian is not standard and with no unit variance, how could I calculate the distribution of this Gaussian squared?

Mathematically, $X \sim N(\mu,\sigma^2)$. Let $Y=X^2$, what is the distribution of Y?

Best Answer

Note that $X_1=\frac{X-\mu}{\sigma^2}$ follows the standard normal distribution, and so $X_1^2$ has the $\chi^2$ distribution.

Now, $X_1^2=(X^2-2\mu X+\mu^2)/\sigma^4$. Thus you can get the distribution of $X^2$ in terms of distributions of $X_1^2$, $X$ and a constant.

I do not know though, if the distribution of $X^2$ has any standard name or not.