Python - Random Number using Exponential Distribution

Python - Generate Random Float using Exponential distribution

To generate a random floating point number using Exponential distribution in Python, use expovariate() function of Python random package.

In this tutorial, we shall learn how to generate a random floating point number based on Exponential distribution with specified mean and standard deviation.

Syntax of random.expovariate()

Following is the syntax of expovariate() function in random module.

f = random.expovariate(lambd)

where

Parameter	Description
lambd	Lambda (inverse of desired mean) for the Exponential distribution.

expovariate() function returns a random floating point value based on the given lambda for the Exponential distribution.

Examples

1. Generate a float value

In this example, we shall use random.expovariate() function to generate a random floating point number based on the Exponential distribution with a lambda of 2.

Python Program

import random

lambd = 2
randomnumber = random.expovariate(lambd)
print(randomnumber)

Output

0.903656293362958

2. Generate a float value using a lambda of 100

In this example, we shall use random.expovariate() function to generate a random floating point number based on the Exponential distribution with a lambda of 100.

Python Program

import random

lambd = 100
randomnumber = random.expovariate(lambd)
print(randomnumber)

Output

0.0036099278098569603

Summary

In this tutorial of Python Examples, we learned how to generate a random floating point number using Exponential distribution, with the help of well detailed example programs.