C++: generate gaussian distribution
Solution 1
The standard library does not. Boost.Random does, however. I'd use that if I were you.
Solution 2
The GNU Scientific Libraries has this feature. GSL - Gaussian Distribution
Solution 3
The answer to this question changes with C++11 which has the random header which includes std::normal_distribution. Walter Brown's paper N3551, Random Number Generation in C++11 is probably one of the better introductions to this library.
The following code demonstrates how to use this header (see it live):
#include <iostream>
#include <iomanip>
#include <map>
#include <random>
int main()
{
std::random_device rd;
std::mt19937 e2(rd());
std::normal_distribution<> dist(2, 2);
std::map<int, int> hist;
for (int n = 0; n < 10000; ++n) {
++hist[std::floor(dist(e2))];
}
for (auto p : hist) {
std::cout << std::fixed << std::setprecision(1) << std::setw(2)
<< p.first << ' ' << std::string(p.second/200, '*') << '\n';
}
}
I provide a more general set of examples to random number generation in C++11 in my answer to C++ random float number generation with an example in Boost and using rand()
as well.
puccio
Updated on July 26, 2022Comments
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puccio almost 2 years
I would like to know if in C++ standard libraries there is any gaussian distribution number generator, or if you have any code snippet to pass.
Thanks in advance.
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Matt Price almost 15 yearsLol, I wrote that before I looked up the answer... I guess I should change it :)