Asymmetry of a distribution

A qualitative property of the curve of a distribution, indicating that the distribution deviates from a symmetric one. The asymmetry of a distribution is positive (negative) if the asymmetry coefficient is positive (negative). If the asymmetry of a distribution is positive (negative), then the "longer" part of the density curve of the distribution is found to the right (left) of the mode.

Comments

In Western literature one commonly calls this notion the skewness of a distribution, and accordingly one speaks of the skewness coefficient.