Convolution random number generator: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Non-uniform number generator}}

In [[statistics]] and [[computer software]], a '''convolution random number generator''' is a type of [[random number generator]] that can be used to generate [[random variate]]s from certain classes of [[probability distribution]]. The particular advantage of this type of approach is that it allows advantage to be taken of existing software for generating random variates from other, usually non-uniform, distributions. However, faster algorithms may be obtainable for the same distributions by other more complicated approaches.

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In [[statistics]] and [[computer software]], a '''convolution random number generator''' is a type of [[pseudo-random number generatorsampling]] method that can be used to generate [[random variate]]s from certain classes of [[probability distribution]]. The particular advantage of this type of approach is that it allows advantage to be taken of existing software for generating random variates from other, usually non-uniform, distributions. However, faster algorithms may be obtainable for the same distributions by other more complicated approaches.<ref>Antonov, N. (2020). [https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/326322436.pdf ''Random number generator based on multiplicative convolution transform.'']</ref>

A number of distributions can be expressed in terms of the (possibly weighted) sum of two or more [[random variable]]s from other distributions. (The distribution of the sum is the [[convolution]] of the distributions of the individual random variables).

== Example ==

Consider the problem of generating a random number correspobding to a random variable with an [[Erlang distribution]], <math>X\ \sim \operatorname{Erlang}(k, \theta)</math>. Such a random variable can be defined as the sum of ''k'' random variables each with an [[exponential distribution]] <math>\operatorname{Exp}(k \theta) \,</math>. This problem is equivalent to generating a random number for a special case of the [[Gamma distribution]], in which the [[shape parameter]] takes an integer value.

Notice that:

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if <math>X_i\ \sim \operatorname{Exp}(k \theta)</math>&nbsp; &nbsp; then <math>X=\sum_{i=1}^k X_i \sim \operatorname{Erlang}(k,\theta) .</math>

== References ==

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[[Category:Non-uniform random numbers]]