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Why can't I call Random[NormalDistribution[10.0,0.0]]?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg56106] Why can't I call Random[NormalDistribution[10.0,0.0]]?
• From: barrowes at alum.mit.edu
• Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 04:48:13 -0400 (EDT)
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Why can't I call Random[NormalDistribution[10.0,0.0]]?

I get the error:
NormalDistribution::posscale: The scale parameter 0.` is expected to be
positive.

It seems like I should get a random number with mean 10 and sigma 0. Or
in other words, the result should 10 every time.

In my program I want an array of number taken from different
distributions
Map[Random,Thread[NormalDistribution[Array1,Array2]]]

And elements of Array2 may be 0 for which I woudl ike the corresponding
value in Array1 returned. In fact,
Random[NormalDistribution[10.0,0.000000001]]
does return 10.0 as expected.

This worked in 5.1, but now returns this error in 5.1.1.

Anyone have an easy workaround?

Thanks,
Ben Barrowes

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Why can't I call Random[NormalDistribution[10.0,0.0]]?
    • From: DrBob <drbob@bigfoot.com>