NAME

       Math::Random::OO::Normal - Generates random numbers from the normal (Gaussian)
       distribution

VERSION

       version 0.22

SYNOPSIS

         use Math::Random::OO::Normal;
         push @prngs,
             Math::Random::OO::Normal->new(),     # mean 0, stdev 1
             Math::Random::OO::Normal->new(5),    # mean 5, stdev 1
             Math::Random::OO::Normal->new(1,3);  # mean 1, stdev 3
         $_->seed(42) for @prngs;
         print( $_->next() . "\n" ) for @prngs;

DESCRIPTION

       This subclass of Math::Random::OO generates random reals from the normal probability
       distribution, also called the Gaussian or bell-curve distribution.

       The module generates random normals from the inverse of the cumulative normal distribution
       using an approximation algorithm developed by Peter J.  Acklam and released into the
       public domain.  This algorithm claims a relative error of less than 1.15e-9 over the
       entire region.

       See http://home.online.no/~pjacklam/notes/invnorm/ for details and discussion.

METHODS

   "new"
        $prng1 = Math::Random::OO::Normal->new();
        $prng2 = Math::Random::OO::Normal->new($mean);
        $prng3 = Math::Random::OO::Normal->new($mean,$stdev);

       "new" takes up to two optional parameters and returns a new "Math::Random::OO::Normal"
       object.  With no parameters, the object generates random numbers from the standard normal
       distribution (mean zero, standard deviation one).  With a single parameter, the object
       generates random numbers with mean equal to the parameter and standard deviation of one.
       With two parameters, the object generates random numbers with mean equal to the first
       parameter and standard deviation equal to the second parameter.  (Standard deviation
       should be positive, but this module takes the absolute value of the parameter just in
       case.)

   "seed"
        $rv = $prng->seed( @seeds );

       This method seeds the random number generator.  At the moment, only the first seed value
       matters.  It should be a positive integer.

   "next"
        $rnd = $prng->next();

       This method returns the next random number from the random number generator.  It does not
       take any parameters.

AUTHOR

       David Golden <dagolden@cpan.org>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

       This software is Copyright (c) 2013 by David Golden.

       This is free software, licensed under:

         The Apache License, Version 2.0, January 2004