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discrete probability distribution

3 messages · robin hankin, Matthias Kohl, (Ted Harding)

#
Hi

I want to sample from a discrete random variable X,  defined on
the  non-negative integers, with

prob(X=0) = (1-p)
prob(X=1) = (1-p)*p
...
prob(X=i)=(1-p)*p^i
...



Before reinventing the wheel,
is there a ready-made R function to give me such a thing?


--
Robin Hankin
Uncertainty Analyst
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
  tel  023-8059-7743
#
Hi,

have a look at
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/GeometricDistribution.html
respectively
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/NegativeBinomialDistribution.html
with r = 1.

In R have a look at
?rnbinom
with n = 1 and in your case: prob = 1-p

hth
Matthias

  
    
#
On 23-Feb-06 Robin Hankin wrote:
Use rgeom(n,(1-p))

Note (from ?rgeom) that these functions use the definition

  P(n) = p*(1-p)^n

i.e. the complementary value of p to the one in your description.

Best wishes,
Ted.

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Date: 23-Feb-06                                       Time: 09:18:50
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