If you can construct the inverse cumulative distribution function of a distribution, then it is dead easy to draw random samples.
E.g. for a logistic distribution with parameters m and b, the cumulative distribution function is:
F(x) = 1/(1+exp(-(x-m)/b))
so the inverse is
G(x) = m - b*log(1/y - 1)
A random sample can then be drawn with
gen y = `m' - `b'*log(1/uniform() - 1)
(where `m' and `b' are locals containing the parameters m and b)
Hope this helps
David
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Richard
Williams
Sent: 04 August 2005 15:27
To: [email protected]
Subject: st: Generating random variables with logistic distribution
I know how to generate random variables with normal and uniform
distributions. How about other distributions - in particular,
logistic? Is there a program around that already does this, or can
somebody tell me what the formula is? I seem to vaguely remember seeing
something like this but now I can't find it. Thanks.
-------------------------------------------
Richard Williams, Notre Dame Dept of Sociology
OFFICE: (574)631-6668, (574)631-6463
FAX: (574)288-4373
HOME: (574)289-5227
EMAIL: [email protected]
WWW (personal): http://www.nd.edu/~rwilliam
WWW (department): http://www.nd.edu/~soc
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