dull but serious maffs question

[BlasterBates]

Its quite simple really...

Use the random number (between 0 and 1) and

sample from normal disb. = Sum of 12 Rnd Numbers - 6

[Clownio]

Wait a minute....

It's a trick question isn't it ?

[Bagpuss]

Anyone tell me what the mathematical formula is to generate a random number that follows a normal distribution given:

Have RND function that generates evenly distributed values.
Have basic math function like log, sin, sqrt, exp etc.

I want to generate random heights, weights, shoe sizes with the values following the expected normal dist of mostly 5'9" with a few tall gits and a few short arses etc.

Not expecting you rabble to be any use whatsoever.

find out the mean height of adults

say 170 (+-) SD say 20cm

generate any random number from 0-1

multiply mean by SD

mirror the positive section of the bell curve with negatives

[tim123]

Not expecting you rabble to be any use whatsoever.

Well it seems that I can google better than you at least:

"The most important and useful member of the family of normal curves is the one having a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. This curve is called the "standard normal curve" and has the equation y = (1/(2)) e(-1/2)x2."

Not sure how that actually helps you?

tim

[mcquiggd]

Actually we are probably the best people to generate random answers...

The problem is when you try to set paramaters...

[OwlHoot]

Anyone tell me what the mathematical formula is to generate a random number that follows a normal distribution given:

Have RND function that generates evenly distributed values.
Have basic math function like log, sin, sqrt, exp etc.

I want to generate random heights, weights, shoe sizes with the values following the expected normal dist of mostly 5'9" with a few tall gits and a few short arses etc.

Not expecting you rabble to be any use whatsoever.

See http://www.taygeta.com/random/gaussian.html

[Jabberwocky]

Try Box-Muller algorithm - do a google for numerical recipes for the code to do this.

[Clownio]

Is the answer 12 ?

No wait ..................13 ?

[DimPrawn]

Anyone tell me what the mathematical formula is to generate a random number that follows a normal distribution given:

Have RND function that generates evenly distributed values.
Have basic math function like log, sin, sqrt, exp etc.

I want to generate random heights, weights, shoe sizes with the values following the expected normal dist of mostly 5'9" with a few tall gits and a few short arses etc.

Not expecting you rabble to be any use whatsoever.