R: Random numbers generation

Rng {gsl} | R Documentation

## Random numbers generation

### Description

Random number generation with the Gnu Scientific Library, as per the reference manual section 17

### Usage

    rng_alloc(type)
    rng_clone(r)
    rng_name(r)
    rng_max(r)
    rng_min(r)
    rng_set(r, seed)
    rng_get(r, length)
    rng_uniform(r, length)
    rng_uniform_int(r, N, length)
    rng_uniform_pos(r, length)

### Arguments

`type` | In function `rng_alloc()`, type of random number generator. This argument is taken to be a character string which is matched to the names of the random number generators given in the GSL manual section 17.9, with the initial “`gsl_rng_`” removed (for example, to use generator `gsl_rng_ranlux`, set `type` to `ranlux`). Partial matching is used; a null string is interpreted as `mt19937`.
`r` | Instance of a random number generator. Generate this using function `rng_alloc()`.
`seed` | Random number seed
`length` | Length of vector of random numbers to create
`N` | In function `rng_uniform_int()`, upper bound of uniform distribution

### Details

These are wrappers for the random number generator functions from the GSL http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl with arguments corresponding to those from the library. Calling `rng_free` is not necessary as R performs garbage collection automatically.

The functions that return random numbers (`rng_get`, `rng_uniform`, `rng_uniform_int`, `rng_uniform_pos`) take an extra argument that specifies the length of the vector of random numbers to be returned.

### Value

Function `rng_alloc()` returns an external pointer to a GSL random number generator.

### Author(s)

Max Bruche

### References

http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl

### Examples

    r <- rng_alloc("cmrg")
    rng_set(r, 100)
    rng_uniform(r, 10)

[Package gsl version 1.9-10.3 Index]