nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) (PDF version)
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NAG Library Manual

NAG Library Function Documentnag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc)

1  Purpose

nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) allows for the generation of multiple, independent, sequences of pseudorandom numbers using the skip-ahead method. The base pseudorandom number sequence defined by state is advanced ${2}^{n}$ places.

2  Specification

 #include #include
 void nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (Integer n, Integer state[], NagError *fail)

3  Description

nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) adjusts a base generator to allow multiple, independent, sequences of pseudorandom numbers to be generated via the skip-ahead method (see the g05 Chapter Introduction for details).
If, prior to calling nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) the base generator defined by state would produce random numbers ${x}_{1},{x}_{2},{x}_{3},\dots$, then after calling nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) the generator will produce random numbers ${x}_{{2}^{n}+1},{x}_{{2}^{n}+2},{x}_{{2}^{n}+3},\dots$.
One of the initialization functions nag_rand_init_repeatable (g05kfc) (for a repeatable sequence if computed sequentially) or nag_rand_init_nonrepeatable (g05kgc) (for a non-repeatable sequence) must be called prior to the first call to nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc).
The skip-ahead algorithm can be used in conjunction with any of the six base generators discussed in the g05 Chapter Introduction.

4  References

Haramoto H, Matsumoto M, Nishimura T, Panneton F and L'Ecuyer P (2008) Efficient jump ahead for F2-linear random number generators INFORMS J. on Computing 20(3) 385–390
Knuth D E (1981) The Art of Computer Programming (Volume 2) (2nd Edition) Addison–Wesley

5  Arguments

1:     nIntegerInput
On entry: $n$, where the number of places to skip-ahead is defined as ${2}^{n}$.
Constraint: ${\mathbf{n}}\ge 0$.
2:     state[$\mathit{dim}$]IntegerCommunication Array
Note: the dimension, $\mathit{dim}$, of this array is dictated by the requirements of associated functions that must have been previously called. This array MUST be the same array passed as argument state in the previous call to nag_rand_init_repeatable (g05kfc) or nag_rand_init_nonrepeatable (g05kgc).
On entry: contains information on the selected base generator and its current state.
On exit: contains updated information on the state of the generator.
3:     failNagError *Input/Output
The NAG error argument (see Section 3.6 in the Essential Introduction).

6  Error Indicators and Warnings

NE_ALLOC_FAIL
Dynamic memory allocation failed.
NE_ARRAY_SIZE
On entry, the state vector defined on initialization is not large enough to perform a skip-ahead (applies to Mersenne Twister base generator). See the initialization function nag_rand_init_repeatable (g05kfc) or nag_rand_init_nonrepeatable (g05kgc).
NE_BAD_PARAM
On entry, argument $⟨\mathit{\text{value}}⟩$ had an illegal value.
NE_INT
On entry, ${\mathbf{n}}=⟨\mathit{\text{value}}⟩$.
Constraint: ${\mathbf{n}}\ge 0$.
NE_INT_ARRAY
On entry, cannot use skip-ahead with the base generator defined by state.
NE_INTERNAL_ERROR
An internal error has occurred in this function. Check the function call and any array sizes. If the call is correct then please contact NAG for assistance.
NE_INVALID_STATE
On entry, state vector has been corrupted or not initialized.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

9  Further Comments

Calling nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) and then generating a series of uniform values using nag_rand_basic (g05sac) is equivalent to, but more efficient than, calling nag_rand_basic (g05sac) and discarding the first ${2}^{n}$ values. This may not be the case for distributions other than the uniform, as some distributional generators require more than one uniform variate to generate a single draw from the required distribution.

10  Example

This example initializes a base generator using nag_rand_init_repeatable (g05kfc) and then uses nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) to advance the sequence ${2}^{17}$ places before generating five variates from a uniform distribution using nag_rand_basic (g05sac).

10.1  Program Text

Program Text (g05kkce.c)

10.2  Program Data

Program Data (g05kkce.d)

10.3  Program Results

Program Results (g05kkce.r)

nag_rand_skip_ahead_power2 (g05kkc) (PDF version)
g05 Chapter Contents
g05 Chapter Introduction
NAG Library Manual