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July 2005
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Random vector with constraints

The problem: generate a random array v[n] subject to the following constraints:
  1. 0.0 <= v[i] <= 1.0  for all i = 0, 1, ...,  n-1.
  2. v[0] + ... + v[n-1] = 1.0
  3. The method generating the random array v[n] should give a
     uniform distribution over the space determined by (1) and (2).
There are two methods that come to mind:

Method 1

We observe that the v[0] is distributed with the distribution function (n-1)(1-x)^(n-2), x in [0,1]. Select v[0]. Similarly v[1] is distributed C(1-x)^n-3 , x in [1-v[0],1], for suitable C, v[2] distributed C(1-x)^4, x in [1-v[0]-v[1],1], et cetera. There is some moderately messy algebra here and you have to know how to transform a uniform distribution into a specified distribution. The procedure is a pain to set up but it is mathematically correct.

Method 2

Construct an orthonormal linear basis for the subspace orthogonal to (1,1,…,1) and construct a box in this subspace containing the desired region. I haven’t worked out a formula for this but it should be easy. Select points in the enclosing box using independent uniform distributions. Add the selected point to (1/n,…,1/n) and use the rejection criterion of method 2 (are all coordinates in the original space in [0…1]).


This page was last updated July 1, 2005.

home
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mathematics
July 2005
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Hyde County, South Dakota is the Pin Tail Duck Capital of the world. Visit scenic Highmore, SD in 2005!