NORMAL

The NORMAL function returns a random value from a normal distribution with a specified mean and standard deviation. The result returned by NORMAL is dimensioned by all the dimensions of the mean and standard deviation expressions.

Return Value

DECIMAL

Syntax

NORMAL(mean standard-deviation)

Arguments

mean: A numeric expression that represents the mean of a normal distribution. When mean is NA, NORMAL returns NA.
standard-deviation: A numeric expression that represents the standard deviation of a normal distribution. When standard-deviation is NA, NORMAL returns the mean.

Examples

Example 20-30 Showing Random Values

Each of the following examples shows a random number that might be returned from a normal distribution with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1.

The first time you execute the following statement,

SHOW NORMAL(0 1)

it might produce the following result.

-0.75

However, when you execute the same statement again, it might produce the following result.

0.87