Random distribution functions

Term definitions

• Random-number generator: A function that generates numbers that are uniformly distributed over the interval (0,1).
• Random-variate generator: A function that generates numbers whose probability distribution is different from that of the uniform on the interval (0,1).

Random-variate generators

Below is a brief summary of the random-number generators that are available. Click on a function name to see a more detailed explanation.

• bernoulli(p:real) : int, raises Bernoulli exception, if p<0.0 or p>1.0.
• beta(a:real, b:real) : real , raises Beta exception, if a<=0.0 or b<=0.0.
• binomial(n:int, p:real) : int, raises Binomial exception, if n<1 or p<0.0 or p>1.0.
• chisq(n:int) : real , raises Chisq exception, if n<1.
• discrete(a:int, b:int) : int, raises Discrete exception, if a>b.
• erlang(n:int, r:real) : real, raises Erlang exception, if n<1 or r<=0.0.
• exponential(r:real) : real , raises Exponential exception, if r<=0.0.
• gamma(l:real, k:real) : real, raises Gamma exception, if k<=0.0 or l<=0.0.
• normal(n:real, v:real) : real, raises Normal exception, if v<0.0.
• poisson(m:real) : int , raises Poisson exception, if m<=0.0.
• rayleigh(s:real) : real, raises Rayleigh exception, if s<0.0.
• student(n:int) : real, raises Student exception, if n<1.
• uniform(a:real, b:real) : real, raises Uniform exception, if a>b.
• weibull(lambda:real, k:real) : real, raises Weibull exception, if lambda<=0 or k<=0.