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johnsrnd

Johnson system random numbers

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Syntax

r = johnsrnd(quantiles,m,n)
r = johnsrnd(quantiles)
[r,type] = johnsrnd(...)
[r,type,coefs] = johnsrnd(...)

Description

r = johnsrnd(quantiles,m,n) returns an m-by-n matrix of random numbers drawn from the distribution in the Johnson system that satisfies the quantile specification given by quantiles. quantiles is a four-element vector of quantiles for the desired distribution that correspond to the standard normal quantiles [–1.5 –0.5 0.5 1.5]. In other words, you specify a distribution from which to draw random values by designating quantiles that correspond to the cumulative probabilities [0.067 0.309 0.691 0.933]. quantiles may also be a 2-by-4 matrix whose first row contains four standard normal quantiles, and whose second row contains the corresponding quantiles of the desired distribution. The standard normal quantiles must be spaced evenly.

Note

Because r is a random sample, its sample quantiles typically differ somewhat from the specified distribution quantiles.

r = johnsrnd(quantiles) returns a scalar value.

r = johnsrnd(quantiles,m,n,...) or r = johnsrnd(quantiles,[m,n,...]) returns an m-by-n-by-... array.

[r,type] = johnsrnd(...) returns the type of the specified distribution within the Johnson system. type is 'SN', 'SL', 'SB', or 'SU'. Set m and n to zero to identify the distribution type without generating any random values.

The four distribution types in the Johnson system correspond to the following transformations of a normal random variate:

  • 'SN' — Identity transformation (normal distribution)

  • 'SL' — Exponential transformation (lognormal distribution)

  • 'SB' — Logistic transformation (bounded)

  • 'SU' — Hyperbolic sine transformation (unbounded)

[r,type,coefs] = johnsrnd(...) returns coefficients coefs of the transformation that defines the distribution. coefs is [gamma, eta, epsilon, lambda]. If z is a standard normal random variable and h is one of the transformations defined above, r = lambda*h((z-gamma)/eta)+epsilon is a random variate from the distribution type corresponding to h.

Examples

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Open Live Script

This example shows several different approaches to using the Johnson system of flexible distribution families to generate random numbers and fit a distribution to sample data.

Generate random values with longer tails than a standard normal.

rng default;  % For reproducibility
r = johnsrnd([-1.7 -.5 .5 1.7],1000,1);
figure;
qqplot(r);

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title QQ Plot of Sample Data versus Standard Normal, xlabel Standard Normal Quantiles, ylabel Quantiles of Input Sample contains 3 objects of type line. One or more of the lines displays its values using only markers

Generate random values skewed to the right.

r = johnsrnd([-1.3 -.5 .5 1.7],1000,1);
figure;
qqplot(r);

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title QQ Plot of Sample Data versus Standard Normal, xlabel Standard Normal Quantiles, ylabel Quantiles of Input Sample contains 3 objects of type line. One or more of the lines displays its values using only markers

Generate random values that match some sample data well in the right-hand tail.

load carbig;
qnorm = [.5 1 1.5 2];
q = quantile(Acceleration, normcdf(qnorm));
r = johnsrnd([qnorm;q],1000,1);
[q;quantile(r,normcdf(qnorm))]
ans = 2×4

   16.7000   18.2086   19.5376   21.7263
   16.6986   18.2220   19.9078   22.0918

Determine the distribution type and the coefficients.

[r,type,coefs] = johnsrnd([qnorm;q],0)
r =

     []

type = 
'SU'

coefs = 1×4

    1.0920    0.5829   18.4382    1.4494

References

[1] Johnson, Norman Lloyd, et al. Continuous Univariate Distributions. 2nd ed, Wiley 1994.

[2] Johnson, N. L. "Systems of Frequency Curves Generated by Methods of Translation." Biometrika 36, no. 1–2, Jun. 1949, 149–176.

[3] Slifker, James F., and Samuel S. Shapiro. "The Johnson System: Selection and Parameter Estimation." Technometrics 22, no. 2, May 1980, 239–246.

[4] Wheeler, Robert E. "Quantile Estimators of Johnson Curve Parameters." Biometrika 67, no. 3, Dec .1980, 725–728.

Version History

Introduced in R2006a

See Also

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