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Random Normal deviates within compiled function?

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg62282] Random Normal deviates within compiled function?
  • From: Gareth Russell <russell at njit.edu>
  • Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 05:54:02 -0500 (EST)
  • Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hi All,

I have a function which needs to be quick as it's used in simulations, 
and it requires the internal generation of a large vector of random 
normal deviates (up to 50,000). It appears that a function like 
Random[NormalDistribution[0,s]] cannot be compiled. Can anyone suggest 
an algorithm for getting such numbers that would work within a Compile 
statement and still be quicker than using the non-compiled function?

The non-compiled function would look as follows:

f[v_,r_,k_,s_,q_]:=Select[v*Exp[r*(1 - v/k) +
       RandomArray[NormalDistribution[0, s],
          Length[v]]], # > q &]

where v is a vector of 50,000 reals, and r, k, s and q are scalar reals.

(If anyone is interested, this is for population projection in 
population viability analysis.)

Thanks,

Gareth Russell
NJIT


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