Random.NextCauchy Method

Generates a pseudorandom number from a Cauchy distribution.

public virtual double NextCauchy();

Return Value

A double which specifies a pseudorandom number from a Cauchy distribution.

Remarks

The probability density function is

$f\left( x \right) = \frac{1}{\pi (1 + x^2)}$

Use of the inverse CDF technique would yield a Cauchy deviate from a uniform (0, 1) deviate, u, as $\tan \left[ {\pi \left( {u - .5} \right)}\right]$ . Rather than evaluating a tangent directly, however, NextCauchy generates two uniform (-1, 1) deviates, and . These values can be thought of as sine and cosine values. If

is less than or equal to 1, then is delivered as the Cauchy deviate; otherwise, and are rejected and two new uniform (-1, 1) deviates are generated. This method is also equivalent to taking the ratio of two independent normal deviates.

Deviates from the Cauchy distribution with median t and first quartile t - s, that is, with density

$f\left( x \right) = \frac{s}{{\pi \left[ {s^2 + \left( {x - t} \right)^2 } \right]}}$

can be obtained by scaling the output from NextCauchy. To do this, first scale the output from NextCauchy by S and then add T to the result.

Random.NextCauchy Method

Return Value

Remarks

See Also