[Numpy-discussion] error in beta random variate generation
Christopher Fonnesbeck
chris at trichech.us
Wed Jan 25 09:23:10 EST 2006
There appears to be a bug in the beta random number
generator in numpy. A 2-parameter beta distribution
has an expected value of a/(a+b). Hence, a beta(1,1)
should have an expected value of 0.5 (since it is the
equivalent of a uniform random variable on [0,1]).
However, numpy gives the following:
In [6]: from numpy.random import beta
In [7]: from numpy import *
In [8]: mean(beta(1,1,size=10000))
Out[8]: 0.33397400928538834
--
Christopher J. Fonnesbeck
Population Ecologist, Marine Mammal Section
Fish & Wildlife Research Institute (FWC)
St. Petersburg, FL
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Warnell School of Forest Resources
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
T: 727.235.5570
E: chris at trichech.us
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