Re: Any randomly generated numbers according to *non-uniform* probability distribution?

[Alex Lancaster]

>>>>> "WS" == William S Shu <address@hidden> writes:

WS> I would like to attribute the probablity of events occuring based
WS> on known (or user-defined probability distributions other than
WS> "uniformly random".  E.g., An agent has different probabilities of
WS> being in one of a number of distinct positions, and has to visit
WS> it based on this probability.  The way I currently implement it is
WS> associate each position with an interval of the real line (in the
WS> range [0,1]), the length of which corresponds to its probablility
WS> of being visited.  I then randomly generate numbers in [0,1].  If
WS> the number falls in the line segment corresponing to a position, I
WS> move to that position.

WS> The trouble is that I have a number of such scenarios, for
WS> different situations with different probabilities.  I cannot
WS> easily build them, especially for more complicated cases.

WS> Do packages exist to do this, or similar?

You might try pinging Sven Thommesen <address@hidden>,
author of the random number library.  It's on the random library docs
`TODO' list:

"g. ADD an 'empirical' distribution, whose f is defined by a set of
user- supplied data"

See the URL at:

http://www.santafe.edu/projects/swarm/swarmdocs/refbook/swarm.random.sgml.appendix.sect1.implementation.html#AEN21406

  --- Alex

-- 
  Alex Lancaster           |  e-mail: address@hidden
  Swarm Program            |     web: http://www.santafe.edu/~alex
  Santa Fe Institute       |     tel: +1-(505) 984-8800 (ext 242)
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