std::uniform_int_distribution class in C++


In Probability, Discrete Uniform Distribution Function refers to the distribution with constant probability for discrete values over a range and zero probability outside the range. The probability density function P(x) for uniform discrete distribution in interval [a, b] is constant for discrete values in the range [a, b] and zero otherwise. Mathematically the function is defined as:

    \[ f(x) = \begin{cases} \frac{1}{b-a}, & a\leq x \leq b\\ 0, & \text{otherwise}\\ \end{cases} \]



C++ have introduced uniform_int_distribution class in the random library whose member function give random integer numbers or discrete values from a given input range with uniform probabilty.

Public member functions in uniform_int_distribution class:

  1. operator(): This function returns a random number from the given range of distribution. The probability for any number to be obtained from this function is same. Operator() function takes constant time for generation.

    Example:

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    // C++ code to demonstrate the working of
    // operator() function
      
    #include <iostream>
      
    // for uniform_int_distribution function
    #include <random>
      
    using namespace std;
      
    int main()
    {
        // Here default_random_engine object
        // is used as source of randomness
        // We can give seed also to default_random_engine
        // if psuedorandom numbers are required
        default_random_engine generator;
      
        int a = 0, b = 9;
      
        // Initializing of uniform_int_distribution class
        uniform_int_distribution<int> distribution(a, b);
      
        // number of experiments
        const int num_of_exp = 10000;
      
        int n = b - a + 1;
        int p[n] = {};
        for (int i = 0; i < num_of_exp; ++i) {
      
            // using operator() function
            // to give random values
            int number = distribution(generator);
            ++p[number];
        }
      
        cout << "Expected probability: "
             << float(1) / float(n) << endl;
      
        cout << "uniform_int_distribution ("
             << a << ", " << b << ")" << endl;
      
        // Displaying the probability of each number
        // after generating values 10000 times.
        for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i)
            cout << a + i << ": "
                 << (float)p[i] / (float)(num_of_exp)
                 << endl;
      
        return 0;
    }

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Output:
    

    Expected probability: 0.1
uniform_int_distribution (0, 9)
0: 0.0993
1: 0.1007
2: 0.0998
3: 0.0958
4: 0.1001
5: 0.1049
6: 0.0989
7: 0.0963
8: 0.1026
9: 0.1016

    

    

    We could observe from the output that the probability of each number obtained from the random number is much closer to calculated probability.
       
    2. 

  2. a():  Returns the lower parameter of range. This specifies the lower bound of the range of values potentially returned by its member operator().
      
    3. 

  3. b():  Returns the higher parameter of range. This specifies the upper bound of the range of values potentially returned by its member operator().
      
    4. 

  4. max(): This function return the possible smallest upper bound of output possible from the operator() function.
    
    5. 

  5. min(): This function return the possible highest lower bound of output possible from the operator() function.
    
    6. 

  6. reset(): This function resets the distribution such that subsequent distributions are not dependent on the previously generated numbers.
    
    7. 



Example:











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// C++ code to demonstrate the working of 


// a(), b(), min(), max(), reset() function 


  


#include <iostream> 


  


// for uniform_int_distribution function 


#include <random> 


  


using namespace std; 


  


int main() 


{ 


    int a = 10, b = 100; 


  


    // Initializing of uniform_int_distribution class 


    uniform_int_distribution<int> distribution(a, b); 


  


    // Using a() and b() 


    cout << "Lower Bound"


         << " " << distribution.a() << endl; 


    cout << "Upper Bound"


         << " " << distribution.b() << endl; 


  


    // Using min() and max() 


    cout << "Minimum possible output"


         << " " << distribution.min() << endl; 


    cout << "Maximum possible output"


         << " " << distribution.max() << endl; 


  


    // Using reset() 


    distribution.reset(); 


    return 0; 


} 



















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Output:


Lower Bound 10
Upper Bound 100
Minimum possible output 10
Maximum possible output 100





Reference: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/numeric/random/uniform_int_distribution



          
          
          
          

            

    

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