rand vs normal in Numpy.random in Python

In this article, we will look into the principal difference between the Numpy.random.rand() method and the Numpy.random.normal() method in detail.

• About random: For random we are taking .rand()
  numpy.random.rand(d0, d1, …, dn) :
  creates an array of specified shape and
  fills it with random values.
  Parameters :

  d0, d1, ..., dn : [int, optional]
  Dimension of the returned array we require, 
  
  If no argument is given a single Python float 
  is returned.
  

  Return :

  Array of defined shape, filled with random values.
  

• About normal: For random we are taking .normal()
  numpy.random.normal(loc = 0.0, scale = 1.0, size = None) : creates an array of specified shape and fills it with random values which is actually a part of Normal(Gaussian)Distribution. This is Distribution is also known as Bell Curve because of its characteristics shape.
  Parameters :

  loc   : [float or array_like]Mean of 
  the distribution. 
  scale : [float or array_like]Standard 
  Derivation of the distribution. 
  size  : [int or int tuples]. 
  Output shape given as (m, n, k) then
  m*n*k samples are drawn. If size is 
  None(by default), then a single value
  is returned. 
  

  Return :

  Array of defined shape, filled with 
  random values following normal 
  distribution.
  

Code 1 : Randomly constructing 1D array

# Python Program illustrating
# numpy.random.rand() method

import numpy as geek

# 1D Array
array = geek.random.rand(5)
print("1D Array filled with random values : \n", array)

Output :

1D Array filled with random values : 
 [ 0.84503968  0.61570994  0.7619945   0.34994803  0.40113761]

Code 2 : Randomly constructing 1D array following Gaussian Distribution

# Python Program illustrating
# numpy.random.normal() method

import numpy as geek

# 1D Array
array = geek.random.normal(0.0, 1.0, 5)
print("1D Array filled with random values "
      "as per gaussian distribution : \n", array)
# 3D array
array = geek.random.normal(0.0, 1.0, (2, 1, 2))
print("\n\n3D Array filled with random values "
      "as per gaussian distribution : \n", array)

Output :

1D Array filled with random values as per gaussian distribution : 
 [-0.99013172 -1.52521808  0.37955684  0.57859283  1.34336863]

3D Array filled with random values as per gaussian distribution : 
 [[[-0.0320374   2.14977849]]

 [[ 0.3789585   0.17692125]]]


Code3 : Python Program illustrating graphical representation of random vs normal in NumPy

# Python Program illustrating
# graphical representation of
# numpy.random.normal() method
# numpy.random.rand() method

import numpy as geek
import matplotlib.pyplot as plot

# 1D Array as per Gaussian Distribution
mean = 0
std = 0.1
array = geek.random.normal(0, 0.1, 1000)
print("1D Array filled with random values "
      "as per gaussian distribution : \n", array);

# Source Code :
# https://docs.scipy.org/doc/numpy-1.13.0/reference/
# generated/numpy-random-normal-1.py
count, bins, ignored = plot.hist(array, 30, normed=True)
plot.plot(bins, 1/(std * geek.sqrt(2 * geek.pi)) *
          geek.exp( - (bins - mean)**2 / (2 * std**2) ),
          linewidth=2, color='r')
plot.show()


# 1D Array constructed Randomly
random_array = geek.random.rand(5)
print("1D Array filled with random values : \n", random_array)

plot.plot(random_array)
plot.show()

Output :

1D Array filled with random values as per gaussian distribution : 
 [ 0.12413355  0.01868444  0.08841698 ..., -0.01523021 -0.14621625
 -0.09157214]



1D Array filled with random values : 
 [ 0.72654409  0.26955422  0.19500427  0.37178803  0.10196284]

Important :
In code 3, plot 1 clearly shows Gaussian Distribution as it is being created from the values generated through random.normal() method thus following Gaussian Distribution.
plot 2 doesn’t follow any distribution as it is being created from random values generated by random.rand() method.

Note :
Code 3 won’t run on online-ID. Please run them on your systems to explore the working.
.