generate a random number according to a probability distribution

Hello everyone! :)

I am trying to generate a random number according to a probability distribution that I create. Let me explain:

I have a matrix p (2 * n): p : row 1: 1 2 3 4 5   row 2: 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.2 0

I want to get a number randomly according to the distribution p (2, :) to be able to 1,2,3,4 or 5.

Do you know of a function that can do this in matlab?

Thank you very much

[Walter Roberson]

if p(2,5) is 0, then how would 5 be generated?

Answer 1

[Tom Lane]

Check out the datasample function, including its 'Weights' argument.

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

You can probably find the code for it in this File Exchange submission:

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/7309-randraw