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Re: Biased Random[Integer]?

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg19050] Re: Biased Random[Integer]?
  • From: "Stephen P Luttrell" <luttrell at signal.dra.hmg.gb>
  • Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 01:34:43 -0400
  • Organization: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  • References: <7o5gbi$rim@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

AES <siegman at stanford.edu> wrote in message news:7o5gbi$rim at smc.vnet.net...
> "Random[Integer]" gives 0 or 1 with .probability 1/2.
>
> What's the simplest expression that will yield 0 or 1 with probabilities
> p  and  1-p ?
>
> (p itself might be a rational fraction, p = p1/p2.)
>
> I can write various expressions that do this, but what's the cleanest or
> tersest way?

Here's my attempt:

If[Random[Real, {0, 1}] < p, 0, 1]

--
Dr Stephen P Luttrell
Room EX21, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
Malvern, Worcs, WR14 3PS, U.K.
luttrell at signal.dera.gov.uk
01684-894046 (phone), 01684-894384 (fax)
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