Python Random Generation

From Mathematical Distributions to Computational Samples

In Chapter 1.1, we established what probability means—whether as long-run frequencies or degrees of belief. In Chapter 1.2, we catalogued the probability distributions that model real phenomena—Normal, Exponential, Gamma, Poisson, and dozens more—understanding their mathematical properties, relationships, and when they arise naturally.

But theoretical understanding alone doesn’t generate data. When we need 10,000 bootstrap samples, a million Monte Carlo iterations, or posterior draws from an MCMC chain, we must bridge the gap from mathematical abstraction to computational reality. This chapter provides that bridge: a comprehensive guide to Python’s ecosystem for random number generation and probability computation.

Sampling from probability distributions underpins simulation, Bayesian inference, uncertainty quantification, and generative modeling. Python offers a rich ecosystem—from the zero-dependency standard library to high-performance scientific computing frameworks. Understanding when and how to use each tool is essential for effective computational statistics.

Road Map 🧭

• Understand: How pseudo-random number generators create reproducible “randomness” and why explicit seeding matters for scientific work

• Develop: Fluency with Python’s random module, NumPy’s Generator API, and SciPy’s stats distribution objects

• Implement: Sampling from all distributions covered in Chapter 1.2; weighted and stratified sampling; sequence operations

• Evaluate: Performance trade-offs, parameterization conventions, and management of parallel random streams

The Python Ecosystem at a Glance

Before diving into details, here’s a map of the tools we’ll explore:

Table 3 Python Libraries for Random Generation

Category	Library	Why You Might Pick It	Best For
Standard Library	random	Always available; quick scalar draws; simple shuffles; 11 classic distributions	Teaching, prototyping, dependency-free scripts
Scientific Computing	numpy.random	Vectorized C/Fortran backends; 10–100× faster; array output; 50+ distributions	Monte Carlo, bootstrap, large-scale simulation
Statistical Modeling	scipy.stats	100+ distributions; PDF/CDF/PPF/fitting; statistical tests	Distribution fitting, hypothesis testing, complete statistical toolkit
Deep Learning	torch, tensorflow	GPU acceleration; differentiable distributions	Neural network initialization, VAEs, reinforcement learning
Probabilistic Programming	PyMC, Pyro, Stan	High-level model syntax; MCMC & VI engines	Complex Bayesian models (covered in Chapter 5)

The choice of library depends on your task. As a rule of thumb:

• Need just a few random numbers? → random module

• Need arrays of random numbers fast? → NumPy Generator

• Need probability calculations (PDF, CDF, quantiles)? → scipy.stats

• Building a Bayesian model? → PyMC, Pyro, or Stan (Chapter 5)

Understanding Pseudo-Random Number Generation

Before using any library, we should understand what’s happening under the hood. Computers are deterministic machines—given the same input, they produce the same output. So how do they generate “random” numbers?

The Nature of Pseudo-Randomness

Pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) are deterministic algorithms that produce sequences of numbers which, while entirely predictable given the algorithm and starting point, pass stringent statistical tests for randomness. When you call random.random(), you’re executing a mathematical formula that computes the next number in a deterministic sequence.

This determinism is actually a feature, not a bug:

1. Reproducibility: Given the same starting point (the seed), a PRNG produces exactly the same sequence. This enables scientific reproducibility—if you report bootstrap results, others can verify your exact computation.

2. Debugging: When a simulation produces unexpected results, fixing the seed lets you reproduce the problematic run while investigating.

3. Testing: Unit tests for stochastic code can have deterministic pass/fail criteria.

What Makes a Good PRNG?

A sequence \(u_1, u_2, u_3, \ldots\) behaves like independent draws from \(\text{Uniform}(0, 1)\) if it satisfies:

Uniformity: Values should be evenly distributed across \([0, 1)\). Dividing into \(k\) equal bins, each should contain approximately \(n/k\) of \(n\) total values.

Independence: Knowing \(u_t\) should provide no information about \(u_{t+1}\). No correlation between values at any lag.

Long period: The period—the length before the sequence repeats—should vastly exceed any practical simulation length.

High-dimensional equidistribution: When consecutive outputs are used as coordinates in high-dimensional space, points should fill the space uniformly.

Modern PRNGs are tested against extensive statistical test suites (like TestU01’s BigCrush). The generators in Python and NumPy pass these tests.

The Mersenne Twister

Python’s standard library uses the Mersenne Twister (MT19937), developed by Matsumoto and Nishimura in 1997:

• Period: \(2^{19937} - 1\) (approximately \(10^{6001}\))—far exceeding any simulation need

• 623-dimensional equidistribution: Suitable for high-dimensional Monte Carlo

• State size: 624 × 32-bit integers (19,968 bits)

• Speed: Uses simple bit operations; very fast

Limitations: Not cryptographically secure (given 624 outputs, the state can be reconstructed). For security applications, use Python’s secrets module.

NumPy’s PCG64

NumPy’s modern Generator API defaults to PCG64 (Permuted Congruential Generator):

• Period: \(2^{128}\) with smaller state (128 bits)

• Better statistical properties: Passes even more stringent tests

• Faster: Simpler operations on modern 64-bit CPUs

• Jumpable: Can efficiently skip ahead, enabling parallel streams

For new projects, NumPy’s PCG64 is generally preferred over Mersenne Twister.

The Standard Library: random Module

The random module ships with every Python installation—no pip install required. It’s ideal for teaching, prototyping, and situations where external dependencies are problematic.

Generating Random Numbers

The foundation of all random generation is the uniform distribution on \([0, 1)\):

Table 4 Basic Random Number Functions

Function	Output	Notes
random.random()	float	Uniform on \([0, 1)\); the fundamental building block
random.uniform(a, b)	float	Uniform on \([a, b]\); implemented as a + (b-a) * random(); if a > b silently swaps
random.randint(a, b)	int	Discrete uniform on \(\{a, a+1, \ldots, b\}\); inclusive on both ends
random.randrange(start, stop, step)	int	Like range() but random element; half-open (excludes stop)

Rule of thumb: Use random() for unit-interval floats; uniform(a, b) for self-documenting intervals; randint(a, b) for dice rolls and indices.

import random
from statistics import mean, pvariance

random.seed(42)  # For reproducibility

# Generate U(0,1) samples
n = 1000
samples = [random.random() for _ in range(n)]

# Verify distributional properties
print(f"U(0,1)  n={n}")
print(f"  mean     : {mean(samples):.5f}  (theory 0.5000)")
print(f"  variance : {pvariance(samples):.5f}  (theory 0.0833)")
print(f"  min…max  : {min(samples):.5f} … {max(samples):.5f}")

Random Operations on Sequences

Beyond generating numbers, we often need to sample from existing sequences—selecting survey respondents, shuffling experimental treatments, or drawing cards.

Table 5 Sequence Sampling Functions

Function	Returns	Replacement?	Size	Weights?	When to Use
random.choice(seq)	One element	—	—	No	Pick a single winner, coin-flip between labels
random.choices(seq, k=, weights=)	List of k	With	k=	Yes	Bootstrap resampling, Monte Carlo from categorical
random.sample(seq, k)	List of k unique	Without	k positional	No	Deal cards, random subset for cross-validation
random.shuffle(seq)	None	—	whole seq	—	In-place permutation (e.g., shuffle deck)

Key distinction: choices (with replacement) allows duplicates; sample (without replacement) guarantees uniqueness. Bootstrap resampling uses choices; survey sampling uses sample.

import random
from collections import Counter

random.seed(42)

# choice: single random element
volunteers = ["Alice", "Bob", "Carol", "Deepak", "Eve"]
print(f"Today's volunteer: {random.choice(volunteers)}")

# choices: weighted sampling WITH replacement (loaded die)
faces = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
weights = [0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.25]  # Biased toward high values
rolls = random.choices(faces, weights=weights, k=10000)

print("\nLoaded die frequencies:")
for face, target_p in zip(faces, weights):
    empirical_p = rolls.count(face) / len(rolls)
    print(f"  {face}: {empirical_p:.3f}  (target {target_p:.2f})")

# sample: WITHOUT replacement (poker hand)
deck = [f"{r}{s}" for s in "♠♥♦♣" for r in "A23456789TJQK"]
hand = random.sample(deck, 5)
print(f"\nPoker hand: {hand}")

# shuffle: in-place randomization
items = list(range(10))
random.shuffle(items)
print(f"Shuffled: {items}")

Common Pitfall ⚠️

shuffle() works only on mutable sequences (lists). For strings or tuples, convert to a list first:

text = "HELLO"
letters = list(text)
random.shuffle(letters)
shuffled = ''.join(letters)  # e.g., "OELHL"

Distribution Generators

The random module provides generators for common continuous distributions. Each uses the rate or scale parameterization noted below—pay attention to avoid errors.

Table 6 Continuous Distribution Functions in random

Function	Distribution	Parameters & Notes
gauss(mu, sigma)	Normal \(N(\mu, \sigma^2)\)	Slightly faster than normalvariate
normalvariate(mu, sigma)	Normal \(N(\mu, \sigma^2)\)	Thread-safe version
expovariate(lambd)	Exponential with rate \(\lambda\)	Mean = \(1/\lambda\). Not scale!
gammavariate(alpha, beta)	Gamma with shape \(\alpha\), scale \(\beta\)	Mean = \(\alpha \beta\)
betavariate(alpha, beta)	Beta(\(\alpha, \beta\))	Support \([0, 1]\); mean = \(\alpha/(\alpha+\beta)\)
lognormvariate(mu, sigma)	Log-Normal	\(\exp(N(\mu, \sigma^2))\)
weibullvariate(alpha, beta)	Weibull with scale \(\alpha\), shape \(\beta\)	Note: scale first, shape second
paretovariate(alpha)	Pareto Type I with shape \(\alpha\)	Support \([1, \infty)\)
vonmisesvariate(mu, kappa)	Von Mises (circular normal)	\(\mu\) = mean angle, \(\kappa\) = concentration
triangular(low, high, mode)	Triangular	Peak at mode

import random
random.seed(42)

# Normal distribution
normal_samples = [random.gauss(0, 1) for _ in range(5)]
print(f"N(0,1): {[f'{x:.3f}' for x in normal_samples]}")

# Exponential - RATE parameter (mean = 1/rate)
# For mean = 2, use rate = 0.5
exp_samples = [random.expovariate(0.5) for _ in range(5)]
print(f"Exp(rate=0.5, mean=2): {[f'{x:.3f}' for x in exp_samples]}")

# Gamma distribution
gamma_samples = [random.gammavariate(2, 3) for _ in range(5)]
print(f"Gamma(α=2, β=3): {[f'{x:.3f}' for x in gamma_samples]}")

# Beta distribution
beta_samples = [random.betavariate(2, 5) for _ in range(5)]
print(f"Beta(2,5): {[f'{x:.3f}' for x in beta_samples]}")

Example 💡: Verifying Distribution Properties

Problem: Verify that samples from standard distributions match their theoretical moments.

Implementation:

import random
from statistics import mean, pvariance
from math import gamma as math_gamma

random.seed(42)
n = 10000

distributions = [
    ("Normal(0,1)", lambda: random.gauss(0, 1), 0, 1),
    ("Exponential(λ=1)", lambda: random.expovariate(1), 1, 1),
    ("Gamma(α=2, θ=3)", lambda: random.gammavariate(2, 3), 6, 18),
    ("Beta(2,5)", lambda: random.betavariate(2, 5), 2/7, (2*5)/(49*8)),
]

print(f"{'Distribution':<22} {'Sample μ':>10} {'Theory μ':>10} {'Sample σ²':>10} {'Theory σ²':>10}")
print("-" * 66)

for name, sampler, mu_th, var_th in distributions:
    samples = [sampler() for _ in range(n)]
    mu_emp = mean(samples)
    var_emp = pvariance(samples)
    print(f"{name:<22} {mu_emp:>10.4f} {mu_th:>10.4f} {var_emp:>10.4f} {var_th:>10.4f}")

Result: Sample moments closely match theoretical values, confirming correct implementation.

Controlling Randomness: Seeds and State

Reproducibility is essential for scientific computing. The random module provides three mechanisms:

Table 7 State Control Functions

Function	Purpose	Key Details
seed(a=None)	Initialize the PRNG	Same seed → identical sequence; None uses system entropy
getstate()	Capture full internal state	Returns ~6300-integer tuple (Mersenne Twister state)
setstate(state)	Restore captured state	Resumes stream exactly where it left off
Random(seed)	Independent RNG object	Keeps multiple deterministic streams without touching global

Typical patterns:

Table 8 When to Use Each Control Method

Scenario	Recommended Approach
Intro demo / unit test	Call random.seed(42) at the top
Pause & resume long simulation	state = random.getstate() → save to disk → later random.setstate(state)
Parallel simulations	Create random.Random(seed+i) per worker to avoid overlap
Temporary determinism	Store state, run code, restore: state = getstate(); ...; setstate(state)

import random

# Reproducibility demonstration
random.seed(42)
run1 = [random.random() for _ in range(5)]

random.seed(42)  # Reset to same seed
run2 = [random.random() for _ in range(5)]

print(f"Run 1: {run1}")
print(f"Run 2: {run2}")
print(f"Identical: {run1 == run2}")  # True

# State save/restore
random.seed(42)
_ = [random.random() for _ in range(100)]  # Advance state
saved = random.getstate()

batch1 = [random.random() for _ in range(5)]
random.setstate(saved)  # Restore
batch2 = [random.random() for _ in range(5)]
print(f"Batches match: {batch1 == batch2}")  # True

NumPy: Fast Vectorized Random Sampling

For serious scientific computing—Monte Carlo simulations, bootstrap resampling, machine learning—NumPy’s random module is essential. It’s typically 50–100× faster than Python loops and provides far more distributions.

Why NumPy Is the Default for Scientific Work

Table 9 NumPy Advantages

Feature	What It Buys You
ndarray-native	Draws arrive in the same structure you use for linear algebra, broadcasting, pandas I/O
Vectorized C/Fortran core	rng.normal(size=1_000_000) finishes in milliseconds—no Python loop overhead
Modern Generator API	Independent streams (rng1, rng2) → no accidental global-state collisions
PCG64 PRNG	Tiny state, period \(2^{128}\), passes BigCrush; spawns parallel streams safely
Dozens of distributions	Uniform to Dirichlet, plus multinomial, hypergeometric, log-series, …

The Modern Generator API

NumPy provides two APIs: the legacy API (np.random.rand(), etc.) using global state, and the modern Generator API using explicit objects. Always use the modern API:

import numpy as np

# Create a Generator with specific seed
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)

# Generate arrays of random numbers
uniforms = rng.random(10)           # 10 U(0,1) values
normals = rng.standard_normal(10)   # 10 N(0,1) values
integers = rng.integers(1, 7, 10)   # 10 dice rolls {1,2,3,4,5,6}

print(f"Uniforms: {uniforms[:5].round(4)}")
print(f"Normals: {normals[:5].round(4)}")
print(f"Integers: {integers}")

Why explicit generators are better:

1. No hidden global state: Different code sections don’t interfere

2. Clear reproducibility: Pass generators to functions explicitly

3. Parallel safety: Create independent streams for workers

4. Better algorithms: Default PCG64 beats Mersenne Twister

Performance Comparison

import random
import numpy as np
import time

n = 1_000_000

# Python standard library
random.seed(42)
start = time.perf_counter()
python_samples = [random.random() for _ in range(n)]
python_time = time.perf_counter() - start

# NumPy Generator
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)
start = time.perf_counter()
numpy_samples = rng.random(n)
numpy_time = time.perf_counter() - start

print(f"Python: {python_time:.4f} sec")
print(f"NumPy:  {numpy_time:.4f} sec")
print(f"Speedup: {python_time/numpy_time:.1f}×")
# Typical: 50-100× speedup

Fig. 20 NumPy Performance Advantage. Speedups of 50–100× come from eliminating Python’s per-element overhead, not from faster random number algorithms.

Univariate Distributions

NumPy provides generators for all distributions from Chapter 1.2:

import numpy as np
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)
n = 10000

# Continuous distributions
uniform_01 = rng.random(n)                        # U(0,1)
uniform_ab = rng.uniform(-3, 2, n)                # U(-3, 2)
normal = rng.normal(loc=100, scale=15, size=n)   # N(100, 225)
exponential = rng.exponential(scale=2, size=n)   # Exp(scale=2), mean=2
gamma = rng.gamma(shape=2, scale=3, size=n)      # Gamma(k=2, θ=3)
beta = rng.beta(a=2, b=5, size=n)                # Beta(2, 5)

# Discrete distributions
binomial = rng.binomial(n=20, p=0.3, size=n)     # Binom(20, 0.3)
poisson = rng.poisson(lam=5, size=n)             # Poisson(λ=5)
geometric = rng.geometric(p=0.2, size=n)         # Geom(p=0.2)

# Verify moments
print(f"N(100,15²):  mean={normal.mean():.2f}, std={normal.std():.2f}")
print(f"Exp(θ=2):    mean={exponential.mean():.3f}")
print(f"Gamma(2,3):  mean={gamma.mean():.2f} (theory: 6)")
print(f"Poisson(5):  mean={poisson.mean():.2f}, var={poisson.var():.2f}")

Fig. 21 Sampling from Common Distributions. Histograms of 10,000 samples with theoretical curves overlaid confirm correct implementation.

Multivariate Distributions

NumPy excels at multivariate distributions essential for modeling correlated data:

Multivariate Normal:

import numpy as np
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)

# Bivariate normal with correlation ρ = 0.8
mean = [0, 0]
cov = [[1.0, 0.8],
       [0.8, 1.0]]

samples = rng.multivariate_normal(mean, cov, size=5000)

print(f"Sample correlation: {np.corrcoef(samples.T)[0,1]:.3f}")
print(f"Sample covariance:\n{np.cov(samples.T).round(3)}")

Fig. 22 Bivariate Normal with Different Correlations. Negative correlation creates downward-sloping clouds; positive correlation creates upward-sloping clouds.

Dirichlet Distribution:

The Dirichlet generates probability vectors (samples sum to 1)—essential as a prior for categorical data in Bayesian statistics:

import numpy as np
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)

# Dirichlet with concentration α = [2, 5, 3]
alpha = [2, 5, 3]
samples = rng.dirichlet(alpha, size=5)

print("Dirichlet samples (each row sums to 1):")
for i, s in enumerate(samples):
    print(f"  {i+1}: [{s[0]:.3f}, {s[1]:.3f}, {s[2]:.3f}], sum={s.sum():.6f}")

# Theoretical mean = α / sum(α)
print(f"\nTheory mean: {np.array(alpha)/sum(alpha)}")

NumPy Sampling Utilities

NumPy provides powerful functions for sampling from existing arrays:

Table 10 NumPy Sampling Functions

Function	Description
rng.choice(a, size, replace, p, axis)	Weighted sampling with/without replacement; axis-aware (NumPy ≥1.23)
rng.permutation(x, axis)	Return permuted copy along axis
rng.shuffle(x, axis)	Shuffle in-place along axis
rng.bytes(n)	Generate n random bytes
rng.integers(low, high, size)	Random integers in [low, high)

import numpy as np
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)

data = np.array([10, 20, 30, 40, 50])

# Sample WITH replacement (bootstrap)
bootstrap = rng.choice(data, size=10, replace=True)
print(f"Bootstrap sample: {bootstrap}")

# Sample WITHOUT replacement
subset = rng.choice(data, size=3, replace=False)
print(f"Unique subset: {subset}")

# Weighted sampling
weights = [0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.3, 0.4]
weighted = rng.choice(data, size=10, replace=True, p=weights)
print(f"Weighted (favors 40,50): {weighted}")

# Axis-aware bootstrap of rows
X = np.arange(15).reshape(5, 3)
boot_rows = rng.choice(X, size=5, replace=True, axis=0)
print(f"\nOriginal:\n{X}")
print(f"Bootstrap rows:\n{boot_rows}")

Fig. 23 Sampling With vs Without Replacement. Bootstrap resampling (with replacement) allows duplicates; simple random sampling (without) guarantees uniqueness.

Parallel Random Number Generation

For parallel computing, each worker needs an independent random stream. Naively using seeds 0, 1, 2, … doesn’t guarantee independence. NumPy’s SeedSequence provides the solution:

import numpy as np
from numpy.random import SeedSequence, default_rng

def mc_pi(child_seed, n_points=1_000_000):
    """Estimate π using one worker's independent stream."""
    rng = default_rng(child_seed)
    x, y = rng.random(n_points), rng.random(n_points)
    return 4 * np.sum(x**2 + y**2 <= 1) / n_points

# Create master seed and spawn children
master = SeedSequence(42)
child_seeds = master.spawn(4)

# Each worker gets independent stream
estimates = [mc_pi(seed) for seed in child_seeds]
print(f"π estimates from 4 workers: {estimates}")
print(f"Mean: {np.mean(estimates):.6f}")

Common Pitfall ⚠️

Never share a Generator across threads or processes! Each parallel worker must have its own Generator from SeedSequence.spawn(). Sharing leads to:

• Race conditions (undefined behavior)

• Correlated streams (invalid statistics)

• Non-reproducibility (results depend on timing)

SciPy Stats: The Complete Statistical Toolkit

While NumPy generates samples fast, scipy.stats provides the complete mathematical infrastructure: probability density functions, cumulative distributions, quantile functions, parameter fitting, and statistical tests.

Why SciPy Is the “Next Stop” After NumPy

Table 11 SciPy Advantages Over NumPy Alone

Feature	What It Buys You
100+ distributions	Gaussian to Zipf, each with PDF, CDF, PPF, RVS, fit
Analytic functions	Evaluate density, quantile, or survival at any point—no Monte Carlo noise
Parameter fitting	stats.<dist>.fit(data) returns MLEs in one line
Hypothesis tests	t-, Z-, KS-, Shapiro-Wilk, χ², Levene, Kruskal-Wallis, …
Bootstrap helpers	stats.bootstrap, stats.permutation_test

Decision cheat-sheet:

Table 12 When to Use NumPy vs SciPy

Task	NumPy	SciPy	Go Beyond
Vectorized random draws	✅	—	—
Analytic PDF/CDF/quantile	—	✅	—
Fit distribution parameters	—	✅	—
Classical tests (t, KS, χ², ANOVA)	—	✅	—
Linear/GLM/mixed models	—	—	statsmodels
Full Bayesian inference	—	—	PyMC, Stan

The Frozen Distribution Pattern

SciPy’s key design: create a distribution object with fixed parameters, then call methods on it:

from scipy import stats

# Create "frozen" distribution
iq_dist = stats.norm(loc=100, scale=15)

# Access properties
print(f"Mean: {iq_dist.mean()}")
print(f"Variance: {iq_dist.var()}")
print(f"Median: {iq_dist.median()}")

# Probability calculations
print(f"P(IQ ≤ 130) = {iq_dist.cdf(130):.4f}")
print(f"P(IQ > 130) = {iq_dist.sf(130):.4f}")

# Quantiles
print(f"90th percentile: {iq_dist.ppf(0.90):.2f}")

# Random samples
samples = iq_dist.rvs(size=5, random_state=42)
print(f"5 samples: {samples.round(1)}")

The Unified Interface

Every distribution provides the same methods:

Table 13 SciPy Distribution Methods

Method	Mathematical	Description
pdf(x)/pmf(x)	\(f(x)\) or \(P(X=x)\)	Density (continuous) or mass (discrete)
cdf(x)	\(F(x) = P(X \leq x)\)	Cumulative distribution function
sf(x)	\(1 - F(x)\)	Survival function
ppf(q)	\(F^{-1}(q)\)	Quantile function (inverse CDF)
rvs(size)	—	Random samples
mean(), var(), std()	\(E[X]\), \(\text{Var}(X)\)	Moments
interval(α)	\([a,b]\): \(P(a \leq X \leq b) = \alpha\)	Central probability interval
fit(data)	\(\hat{\theta}_{\text{MLE}}\)	Maximum likelihood estimation

Fig. 24 SciPy Distribution Methods. (A) PDF gives density at any point. (B) CDF gives cumulative probability. (C) PPF (quantile function) inverts the CDF. (D) RVS generates samples matching the distribution.

Parameterization: The Most Common Error Source

Different sources use different parameterizations. SciPy has its own conventions:

Table 14 SciPy Parameterization Reference

Distribution	SciPy Call	Notes & Gotchas
Normal	stats.norm(loc=μ, scale=σ)	scale is std dev σ, NOT variance σ²
Exponential	stats.expon(scale=β)	Mean = scale = 1/rate. For rate λ=2, use scale=0.5
Gamma	stats.gamma(a=k, scale=θ)	a is shape k. Mean = k·θ
Beta	stats.beta(a, b)	Shape parameters α, β
Chi-square	stats.chi2(df)	Degrees of freedom only
Student’s t	stats.t(df)	Add loc, scale for non-standard
F	stats.f(dfn, dfd)	Numerator df first
Poisson	stats.poisson(mu=λ)	mu is the rate λ
Binomial	stats.binom(n, p)	n trials, probability p
Negative Binomial	stats.nbinom(n, p)	Counts failures before n successes

Common Pitfall ⚠️: Exponential Parameterization

The exponential distribution causes endless confusion:

• Rate parameterization (textbooks): \(f(x) = \lambda e^{-\lambda x}\), mean = \(1/\lambda\)

• Scale parameterization (SciPy/NumPy): \(f(x) = \frac{1}{\beta}e^{-x/\beta}\), mean = \(\beta\)

For mean = 2:

• random.expovariate(0.5) — rate = 0.5

• rng.exponential(2) — scale = 2

• stats.expon(scale=2) — scale = 2

Always verify by checking the sample mean!

from scipy import stats
import numpy as np

# Want mean = 2
dist = stats.expon(scale=2)  # Correct
samples = dist.rvs(10000, random_state=42)
print(f"Mean: {samples.mean():.3f}")  # ≈ 2.0

# Common mistake
wrong = stats.expon(scale=0.5)  # This has mean = 0.5!

Complete Analysis Example

Example 💡: Distribution Fitting and Diagnostics

Problem: Fit a Gamma distribution to data and assess the fit.

from scipy import stats
import numpy as np

# Generate "observed" data
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)
true_dist = stats.gamma(a=2, scale=2)
data = true_dist.rvs(1000, random_state=rng)

# Fit Gamma distribution (fix location at 0)
a_hat, loc_hat, scale_hat = stats.gamma.fit(data, floc=0)
print(f"Fitted: shape={a_hat:.3f}, scale={scale_hat:.3f}")
print(f"True:   shape=2.000, scale=2.000")

# Create fitted distribution
fitted = stats.gamma(a=a_hat, loc=loc_hat, scale=scale_hat)

# Goodness-of-fit test
D, p_value = stats.kstest(data, fitted.cdf)
print(f"\nKS test: D={D:.4f}, p-value={p_value:.4f}")

# Theoretical vs empirical quantiles
print(f"\n95th percentile: fitted={fitted.ppf(0.95):.2f}, empirical={np.percentile(data, 95):.2f}")

Bringing It All Together: Library Selection Guide

Use ``random`` (standard library) when:

• Zero dependencies required

• Teaching probability concepts

• Simple prototypes or scripts

• Sample sizes under ~10,000

• You need choice, shuffle, sample on lists

Use NumPy ``Generator`` when:

• Working with arrays and matrices

• Sample sizes exceed 10,000

• Performance is critical

• You need multivariate distributions

• Parallel computing with independent streams

Use ``scipy.stats`` when:

• You need PDF, CDF, or quantile functions

• Fitting distributions to data

• Performing statistical tests

• Computing theoretical properties exactly

• You need exotic distributions (100+ available)

Combine them:

from scipy import stats
import numpy as np

# SciPy for distribution definition and analysis
dist = stats.gamma(a=2, scale=3)
theoretical_mean = dist.mean()
critical_value = dist.ppf(0.95)

# NumPy for efficient sampling
rng = np.random.default_rng(42)
samples = rng.gamma(shape=2, scale=3, size=100000)

# Verify
print(f"Theory mean: {theoretical_mean}, Sample mean: {samples.mean():.4f}")

Key Takeaways 📝

1. Pseudo-randomness is deterministic: PRNGs produce sequences determined by their seed. Reproducibility requires explicit seeding.

2. Three libraries, three purposes: Standard library for simplicity; NumPy for performance with arrays; SciPy for complete distribution analysis.

3. Know your parameterizations: Rate vs scale causes endless bugs. Always verify sample means match expectations.

4. Vectorize for speed: NumPy provides 50–100× speedup by eliminating Python loop overhead.

5. Independent streams for parallel work: Use SeedSequence.spawn(). Never share generators across threads/processes.

6. Outcome alignment: This chapter directly supports Learning Outcome 1 (simulation techniques) and provides the computational foundation for all subsequent chapters.

Looking Ahead: From Random Numbers to Monte Carlo Methods

With Python’s random generation ecosystem mastered, we are ready to put these tools to work. The ability to draw samples from probability distributions is not merely a computational convenience—it is the engine that powers modern statistical inference.

In Chapter 2, we turn to Monte Carlo methods: using random sampling to solve problems that would be analytically intractable. The techniques you’ve learned here—generating uniforms, transforming to other distributions, managing random streams—become the building blocks for:

• Monte Carlo integration: Estimating integrals via random sampling, essential when closed-form solutions don’t exist

• The inverse CDF method: Transforming uniform samples to arbitrary distributions using quantile functions (ppf)

• Rejection sampling: Generating samples from complex distributions by accepting/rejecting proposals

• Variance reduction: Techniques like antithetic variates and control variates that improve Monte Carlo efficiency

The connection is direct: every Monte Carlo estimate begins with a call to a random number generator. The numpy.random.Generator you’ve learned to use will generate the uniform samples; the scipy.stats distributions will provide the CDFs and PDFs needed for transformations and density evaluation. Understanding the computational tools in this chapter is prerequisite to understanding why Monte Carlo methods work and how to implement them efficiently.

Consider the preview exercise on parallel Monte Carlo integration at the end of this chapter—it demonstrates exactly this bridge: spawning independent random streams, generating samples, and averaging to estimate an integral. Chapter 2 develops the theory behind why this works and when it fails.

References and Further Reading

Pseudo-Random Number Generation

[MatsumotoNishimura1998]

Matsumoto, M., and Nishimura, T. (1998). Mersenne Twister: A 623-dimensionally equidistributed uniform pseudo-random number generator. ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation, 8(1), 3–30.

[ONeill2014]

O’Neill, M. E. (2014). PCG: A family of simple fast space-efficient statistically good algorithms for random number generation. Technical Report HMC-CS-2014-0905, Harvey Mudd College. https://www.pcg-random.org/

[LEcuyerSimard2007]

L’Ecuyer, P., and Simard, R. (2007). TestU01: A C library for empirical testing of random number generators. ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software, 33(4), Article 22.

[Knuth1997]

Knuth, D. E. (1997). The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 2: Seminumerical Algorithms (3rd ed.). Addison-Wesley. The definitive reference on random number generation algorithms.

Random Variate Generation

[Devroye1986]

Devroye, L. (1986). Non-Uniform Random Variate Generation. New York: Springer-Verlag. Available free online at https://luc.devroye.org/rnbookindex.html

Software Documentation

[NumPyRandom]

NumPy Community. (2024). NumPy random sampling documentation. https://numpy.org/doc/stable/reference/random/index.html

[SciPyStats]

SciPy Community. (2024). SciPy statistical functions documentation. https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/stats.html

[PythonRandom]

Python Software Foundation. (2024). random — Generate pseudo-random numbers. https://docs.python.org/3/library/random.html

Computational Statistics

[Gentle2003]

Gentle, J. E. (2003). Random Number Generation and Monte Carlo Methods (2nd ed.). Springer.

[RobertCasella2004]

Robert, C. P., and Casella, G. (2004). Monte Carlo Statistical Methods (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.