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.

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).

Note: You can repeat the sequence of pseudorandom numbers by setting the same Random Number Seed (available in the Transform menu) before each sequence.