Vas Simulation Modeling . Random Numbers

Any algorithm of simulating the behavior of a real system requires a random number generator. A computer does not really generate random numbers because computer employs a deterministic algorithm but a list of pseudo-random numbers which can be considered random. There are many algorithms for computing random numbers and there is not a single best among them. Most programing languages have built-in random number generators (Excel, TI83+, Matlab all have it). In Matlab, the command rand(1) returns a random number between 0 and 1 assuming uniform distribution. We can build other random variables using rand. For example, to get a random number between a and b we can use a+rand(1)(b − a). To get a 0 or 1 on a random way in Matlab, you can use round(rand(1)). The function round(x) returns 0 of x ≤ 1/2 and returns 1 if x > 1/2. The function round is built-in in Matlab so you can use it without entering the M-file round given below.