Random variable functions

The following functions give a random variate from a specified distribution. The arguments are the parameters of the distribution. You can repeat the sequence of pseudorandom numbers by setting a seed in the Preferences dialog box before each sequence. Note the period in each function name.

NORMAL. NORMAL(stddev). Numeric. Returns a normally distributed pseudorandom number from a distribution with mean 0 and standard deviation stddev, which must be a positive number. You can repeat the sequence of pseudorandom numbers by setting a seed in the Random Number Seed dialog box before each sequence.

RV.BERNOULLI. RV.BERNOULLI(prob). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Bernoulli distribution with the specified probability parameter prob.

RV.BETA. RV.BETA(shape1, shape2). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Beta distribution with specified shape parameters.

RV.BINOM. RV.BINOM(n, prob). Numeric. Returns a random value from a binomial distribution with specified number of trials and probability parameter.

RV.CAUCHY. RV.CAUCHY(loc, scale). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Cauchy distribution with specified location and scale parameters.

RV.CHISQ. RV.CHISQ(df). Numeric. Returns a random value from a chi-square distribution with specified degrees of freedom df.

RV.EXP. RV.EXP(scale). Numeric. Returns a random value from an exponential distribution with specified scale parameter.

RV.F. RV.F(df1, df2). Numeric. Returns a random value from an F distribution with specified degrees of freedom, df1 and df2.

RV.GAMMA. RV.GAMMA(shape, scale). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Gamma distribution with specified shape and scale parameters.

RV.GEOM. RV.GEOM(prob). Numeric. Returns a random value from a geometric distribution with specified probability parameter.

RV.HALFNRM. RV.HALFNRM(mean, stddev). Numeric. Returns a random value from a half normal distribution with the specified mean and standard deviation.

RV.HYPER. RV.HYPER(total, sample, hits). Numeric. Returns a random value from a hypergeometric distribution with specified parameters.

RV.IGAUSS. RV.IGAUSS(loc, scale). Numeric. Returns a random value from an inverse Gaussian distribution with the specified location and scale parameters.

RV.LAPLACE. RV.LAPLACE(mean, scale). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Laplace distribution with specified mean and scale parameters.

RV.LOGISTIC. RV.LOGISTIC(mean, scale). Numeric. Returns a random value from a logistic distribution with specified mean and scale parameters.

RV.LNORMAL. RV.LNORMAL(a, b). Numeric. Returns a random value from a log-normal distribution with specified parameters.

RV.NEGBIN. RV.NEGBIN(threshold, prob). Numeric. Returns a random value from a negative binomial distribution with specified threshold and probability parameters.

RV.NORMAL. RV.NORMAL(mean, stddev). Numeric. Returns a random value from a normal distribution with specified mean and standard deviation.

RV.PARETO. RV.PARETO(threshold, shape). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Pareto distribution with specified threshold and shape parameters.

RV.POISSON. RV.POISSON(mean). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Poisson distribution with specified mean/rate parameter.

RV.T. RV.T(df). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Student's t distribution with specified degrees of freedom df.

RV.UNIFORM. RV.UNIFORM(min, max). Numeric. Returns a random value from a uniform distribution with specified minimum and maximum. See also the UNIFORM function.

WEIBULL. RV.WEIBULL(a, b). Numeric. Returns a random value from a Weibull distribution with specified parameters.

UNIFORM. UNIFORM(max). Numeric. Returns a uniformly distributed pseudorandom number between 0 and the argument max, which must be numeric (but can be negative). You can repeat the sequence of pseudorandom numbers by setting the same Random Number Seed (available in the Transform menu) before each sequence.